Adding Corals

[Myka]

You still didn't mention anything about parameters...one of the most important determining factors in whether your tank is ready to sustain corals or not.

Canisters are nitrate factories when used with media or any kind, as they cause huge biological filtration, and that produces nitrates. Not a big deal with freshwater aquariums, but a big issue with reefs. You're best off filling it with live rock rubble.

[MMAX]

Yeah I've seen guys who take everything out of the cannister and put a couple of chunks of live rock in. Parameters: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate 0, pH about 8.3, kH 1.8 and I've never tested for phosphates and calcium. I add a capfull of Kent Marine calcium every few days.

[marie]

Originally Posted by MMAX

...and I've never tested for phosphates and calcium. I add a capfull of Kent Marine calcium every few days.

Never add anything you don't/can't test for it's too easy to overdose.

Get alk, calcium and magnesium test kits. If you want to keep corals these are important things to test for and maintain at certain levels.
Alk should be kept between 7dkh - 10dkh
cal between 380-450
and Mg should be over 1250ppm
These and other trace minerals and elements can be kept up with regular water changes but as your coral collection grows your going to find that you have to supplement with calcium, alk and magnesium additives of some sort

[Myka]

^ Pretty much what I was going to say. Adding a capful of Kent Calcium every few days, you're going to be SKY HIGH on calcium. I'd suggest you get a Calcium test kit before you add any more.

Adding a photo of your tank MMAX will probably help us to help you as well. With saltwater, we call it Alkalinity instead of KH. Your reading of 8.3 is in dKH, right?

[MMAX]

It's more like every week, not every few days and usually right after I add water. I didn't even know I was supposed to be testing for phosphates and magnesium and stuff like that.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by MMAX

It's more like every week, not every few days and usually right after I add water. I didn't even know I was supposed to be testing for phosphates and magnesium and stuff like that.

Never put anything in you can't/don't test for

[Myka]

Originally Posted by MMAX

It's more like every week, not every few days and usually right after I add water. I didn't even know I was supposed to be testing for phosphates and magnesium and stuff like that.

If you want to keep corals you need (should) to. Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium should be tested on a weekly basis and dosed to keep optimum levels. Pick up some good quality test kits like Salifert or Elos so you know you're getting accurate readings.

For Calcium I like to use Kent Liquid Calcium or Turbo Calcium. For Alkalinity I like to use SeaChem Reef Buffer if low pH is an issue (like my tank), or SeaChem Reef Builder if pH isn't an issue. For Magnesium I like to use SeaChem Reef Advantage Magnesium. To suck up phosphates I run a PhosBan Reactor with RowaPhos media in it.

Don't add any more calcium until you get a test kit. It doesn't sound like there is anything in your tank that is using up the calcium to any significant amount, so you're likely quite high on the calcium.

It also depends what kind of salt you're using as some are high in elements, and some are low. What brand of salt do you use?

So basically, your answer for if your tank is ready for corals right now...no, it's not. You need to get some more test kits first, and get your levels all sorted out. Once you've done that, then it sounds like you're ready.

[MMAX]

I use Instant Ocean salt

[Myka]

Instant Ocean is low in Calcium, low in Magnesium, and kinda of high in Alkalinity. So you're going to be low in Magnesium as well, and it's possible that the low Calcium in IO has countered the amount of Calcium you've been adding.

Let us know when you get some new test kits, and what your new parameters are.

[MMAX]

I picked up a Nutrafin Master Test Kit last night. Here's my parameters...Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 15 mg/L, Phosphate 0.5 mg/L, Calcium 340 mg/L (it says optimum range is 400-450), pH 8.3, and Alkalinity (KH) 130 mg/L (it says 105-125 is ideal). Temp is 27 celcius and SG is 1.0245. There were no tests for magnesium in the kit I bought.