Are your parameters "within normal limits"? Honest answers only.

[AlyciaMarie]

What does "within normal limits" even look like? Yes, we have charts that lots of people go by, but there can be some convincing debates on if the charts we have are 100% correct. Based on the parameters required for your reef to be happy...

Are your parameters "within normal limits"? Share what your parameters are!

 

[AlyciaMarie]

I'm not sure what mine are, and I'm scared to check if I'm being honest.

 

[KrisReef]

I'm not sure, but they have been fine for awhile now.

 

[JayM]

I voted “other”.
They’re all within “normal” limits for my tank, but my nitrates are considerably higher than what most people consider normal, and my phosphate is a bit higher as well.

 

[Subsea]

I don’t measure parameters aside from temperature & salinity.

Also, when I hear that stability in a captive reef tank is paramount: Nature does not work that way on a wild reef and I emulate nature.

 

[KrisReef]

I voted “other”.
They’re all within “normal” limits for my tank, but my nitrates are considerably higher than what most people consider normal, and my phosphate is a bit higher as well.

Good Answer!

ULN isn't for most people anymore!

 

[CHSUB]

“Normal” has changed recently, I try to maintain natural reef parameters . Some in the hobby think they know a better way than how Mother Nature does it.

 

[exnisstech]

To be honest I have no idea what "normal" limits really means. Normal for me is whatever levels the tank settles in at that makes life easy for me. I typically don't worry about higher levels but will dose N and P when I see zeros. I'm not about to start gfo because my PO4 is 0.5 (it is at times ) if the tanks looks healthy. Calcium is about the only thing I test that is pretty consistent on all 3 tanks.
Latest results
Tank 1
NO3 8.3, PO4 0.25, alk 9.6 calcium 420
Tank 2
NO3 0.4, PO4 0.05, alk 9, calcium 430
Tank 3
NO3 4.7, PO4 0.03, alk 8.7, calcium 425

 

[ColorMeGone]

I check every weekend, and my perimeters are stable as long as I dose .5ml ammonium and 2ml of phosphates every day. (dry rock started in May of 24 still soaking up phosphates)
8.3 gal. nano with 7.1 gal. of water.
PH 8
KH 8-9
Cal. 420
N03 12
P04 .03 - .05
Mag 1280
Have Zoes, Palys, GSP, Blue cloves, Rhodactis shrooms, and some red sea grape macro

 

[ReefGeezer]

I have been traveling for work for the past year. The tank basically has to run itself for weeks at a time. As last tested, nitrate was ~10 ppm but phosphate is >.3. Alk, Ca, & Mg are usually OK thanks to All for Reef.

 

[shakacuz]

other: before i tore my tank down, everything was within level except no3/po4. was struggling with very low nutrients.

 

[sixty_reefer]

N&P are detectable everything else is within acceptable range

 

[tbrown]

I've run alk up to 12 before, phosphates are around 0.75, and nitrates have been over 100...

 

[Reefer Matt]

I check Neptune Fusion multiple times everyday to keep up on most parameters (even though I have alarms). I manually test nutrients once a week to keep in range. Reefing isn’t just my hobby, it’s part of my life. It is as routine and serious as breathing to me.

 

[JTP424]

Nitrates seem to run STUPID high. My salinity swings as well. I.e. i shoot for 35 when mixing but if its 34.6 im not going to stress. But I've never seemed to have too much issue. Corals and fish seem happy

 

[pattepa]

Phosphates 0.4ppm right now due to overfeeding. Dang autofeeder. Bringing them down with 25% water changes and a lot less feeding.

 

[Dom]

I love it when a post states "all parameters are withing normal limits".

Translation: I want a really nice reef tank but don't want to put in the work. When I see this statement, I move on to the next thread.

 

[subodhs]

Here’s a snapshot of my tank parameters from the past week. I monitor with Apex daily, supplement with weekly tests, and confirm with monthly ICP. Granted, these are hobby-grade test kits, but still, something is better than nothing. I'm curious to know if others prefer a different approach to keeping them in check.

 

[jayala12]

Only check salinity and that’s 1.026. Never check or chase parameters. Just do bi weekly water changes and let my tank do its thing

 

[Chuck_e]

My tank is a 90 g mixed reef, I do weekly tests for Ca & kH (Salifert), Nitrates & Phosphate (Hanna), and salinity (hand held refractometer), monthly Mg (Salifert), plus continuous pH (Neptune pH probe & Apex). Results are recorded in AquaticLog, which provides these charts:

The limits are based on an article that I believe was by Randy Holmes-Farley, adjusted slightly to align with what I'm seeing in the tank. I dose daily with Brighwell NeoNitro, MicroBacter 7, and Red Sea Foundation A & B, just recently switched from Reef Fusion 1 & 2. I also run a PhosGuard reactor. If I need to make an adjustment I'll slowly tweak the dosing or runtime on the reactor, less something has really gone off or there's visual evidence of issues in the tank. At the moment it seems to be a happy reef...