Previous Water Parameters
When keeping an aquarium, the best husbandry requires owning and using test kits to measure water parameters. Most kits have enough tests to last a full year, and using these kits frequently assures happy livestock. If a kit has 50 tests, that's an indicator it should be used weekly. I'd recommend that kits be replaced annually. Mark the date on the box when you purchase it and open it for the first time to avoid relying on a dated kit. Older reagents may lead to false readings. Please read my full article here: http://www.melevsreef.com/articles/maintaining-good-water-quality
| Test Type | Recommended Parameters matching Natural Sea Water (NSW) |
| Salinity | 1.026 sg - a calibrated refractometer is the best tool to measure salinity. A hydrometer will measure specific gravity, while a refractometer will show parts per million. 35ppt is the target measurement that is closely equal to 1.026 sg. |
| pH | 7.9 to 8.3 - this varies daily in a tank; measure with a Pinpoint Meter or controller rather than a test kit. |
| Temperature | 78° F to 84° F - average reef temperature tends to be 81° F; try to keep within a 1.5° to 2° swing at the most. |
| Alkalinity | 8 to 11 dKH -or- 2.86 to 3.89 meq/L |
| Calcium | 390 to 450 ppm |
| Magnesium | 1350 - 1400 ppm (or 3x Calcium levels) |
| Phosphate | .03 ppm - leading cause of nuisance algae in your tank: click for article |
| Ammonia | 0 - anything higher is toxic |
| Nitrite | 0 - anything higher is toxic |
| Nitrate | 10 ppm or less - huge water changes bring down nitrates: click for article |
In February 2011, my new 400g reef was started. Readings are taken at various times, and are documented here to allow you to see how the parameters vary over time.
2011
Readings from my 280g reef were taken at various times, and are documented here to allow you to see how the parameters vary over time. This aquarium ran for nearly six years, but in early July 2010 it sprung a leak. Any measurements thereafter were taken from the livestock vats while the new system was being built from the ground up.
2010
2009
2008
2007 - 2006
2005 - 2004
2004*
* Both reef tanks were upgraded to a 280g during this year.
2003
Blank entries were not taken for whatever reason. Certain tests are ignored, such as Ammonia because they typically result in 0.
