Ideal Water Parameters for SPS or Mixed Reef Tank

[Myka]

FWIW, I wouldn't be trusting a Hagen test kit for the most important parameter in your tank (alkalinity). Hanna and Salifert both make more reliable kits. I use Salifert for calcium, Salifert and Hanna for alk, Salifert and Red Sea Pro for Mg and NO3, Hanna for PO4, Hanna handheld digital meter for pH. Temp I use a NIST certified thermometer (about $50 on Amazon) which I use to calibrate cheap thermometers that stay in the tank.

IME, for best SPS growth, you're best off running higher than natural parameters:

Ca: 440 ppm ish
Alk 8-9 dKH
Mg 1300-1400 ppm ish
NO3 2-10 ppm
PO4 0.08-0.1 ppm ish
pH 8.4-8.5
Temp: 81-82F



For best color, closer to natural seawater parameters seem to be better.

Ca 400-410 ppm
Alk 6.8-7.2 dKH
Mg 1200-1300 pm
NO3 0.5-2 ppm
PO4 0.001-0.05 ppm
pH 8.1-8.3
Temp 78-79F

[DKoKoMan]

Thanks Mindy! I definitely agree with not using the Hagen test kit. I have ordered the Salifert and Red Sea Reef Pro test kits as the pre-boxing day sales at the LFS emptied them out. There is so much conflicting information out on the internet for these parameters, although I don't mind tweaking, I don't want my tank to suffer.