alkalinity/calcium...question

Just checking to make sure that I am okay with my water parameters...i freak out that something might not be right and dont want to damage my corals...calcium 450...is okay, tad on the high side....alkalinity is 9.3 dkh...is that okay or not okay, ph is 8.3...ok...my magnesium levels were within limits when I had them checked a couple of weeks ago, i do not own a magnesium test kit yet...phosphates appeared to be close to zero...nitrates between 5 -10...due for a water change today....any other levels I should be looking at...have not been dosing with any calcium or alkalinity buffers lately, add iodine and phyto....what else should I be doing to make sure im taking care of the tank to the best of my ability...any other info needed let me know...2 250W metal halides on 120g....corals in tank are as follow...zoas, montipora, acropora, hammerhead, maxima clam, xenia, brain coral, maze coral, sun polyps, torch, mushrooms, plate coral, was thinking about adding some frogspawn...thoughts ideas, any recommendations for coral additions...zoas disappoint me, dont spread or expand at all.

 

Those Ca, DKH levels seem fine to me - well I ran 440 and 9 for a long period on my reef
mag - you will need a test kit - The Salifert one is easy to use IME and maintain at 1400 - 1450 IMO as it seems to help keep the CA and Alk stable

sub 10ppm Nitrate is OK but lower would be better IMO

zoas - try some in shaded areas as mine always seem to do better, low and at the sides in partial shade

corals = its all about personal taste - so Id say A millepora, or green or pink birdsnest as I favour SPS

Steve

 

This is just a tip ... take it or leave it, but unless you have an iodine test kit, I'd stop dosing until you can test it.

Iodine is one of those elements that has the power to be incredibly devastating when it reaches high levels.

General rule of thumb, if you can't test for it, don't dose it ...

HTH

P.S ... the levels seem good to me, but you'll need to know your magnesium. High levels of Cal and Alk are pretty much useless if your magnesium is too low for your corals to take advantage of the other paramaters

 

probably picking up a magnesium kit today