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	Parameters
jmara Big Fish Posts: 438 Kudos: 431 Votes: 145 Registered: 06-Mar-2003	What are the most important parameters to monitor in a saltwater aquarium? I know Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. What else? -Josh
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
swiftshark88 Enthusiast Posts: 205 Kudos: 143 Votes: 61 Registered: 17-Apr-2005	Specific Gravity, or the amount of salt in the water. The more salt in the water the higher the specific gravity. Normally SG is kept at about 1.023-1.027. Calcium and alkalinity are two others that need to be checked. Calcium is mainly for SPS, when lots of corals are in the tank at once, the calcium will be drained from the water. Nick "Impossumable- unable to play dead"
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
jmara Big Fish Posts: 438 Kudos: 431 Votes: 145 Registered: 06-Mar-2003	How did I forget SG? I just checked mine just before I wrote the post. Temp I guess would be another. What are SPS? I have seen that all over but don't know what they are -Josh
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
swiftshark88 Enthusiast Posts: 205 Kudos: 143 Votes: 61 Registered: 17-Apr-2005	Also dissolved Oxygen can be important in seriously stocked reef tanks. Phosphates can also be checked. Large amounts of Phosphates can contribute to algae growth. Last edited by swiftshark88 at 18-Dec-2005 12:21 Nick "Impossumable- unable to play dead"
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
swiftshark88 Enthusiast Posts: 205 Kudos: 143 Votes: 61 Registered: 17-Apr-2005	SPS are small polyp stony corals corals can be SPS LPS, or soft, LPS are known as Large polyp stony, and soft corals are well....soft. In gerneral SPS and LPS require higher levels of calcium in the water because they create their exoskeleton out of calcium. Nick "Impossumable- unable to play dead"
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
terranova Fish Master Posts: 1984 Kudos: 1889 Votes: 229 Registered: 09-Jul-2003	I'd say the necessities are: pH ammonia nitrIte nitrAte dkh DO salinity calcium -Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0] -Formerly known as the Ferretfish
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
jmara Big Fish Posts: 438 Kudos: 431 Votes: 145 Registered: 06-Mar-2003	Are there much difference in the liquid test kits? I currently have a aquarium pharm. "saltwater master liquid test kit" -Josh
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
terranova Fish Master Posts: 1984 Kudos: 1889 Votes: 229 Registered: 09-Jul-2003	Some kits are better than others. I use a pinpoint monitor for my pH. But for actual kits, Salifert are the best on the market. Lab quality. I use the tetra kits for normal parameters, but will slowly be switching over to 100% salifert. They make good stocking stuffers. -Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0] -Formerly known as the Ferretfish
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
jmara Big Fish Posts: 438 Kudos: 431 Votes: 145 Registered: 06-Mar-2003	maybe santa will drop some in mine...lol -Josh
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40
terranova Fish Master Posts: 1984 Kudos: 1889 Votes: 229 Registered: 09-Jul-2003	Haha, it's worth a shot! Expensive little buggers they can be... My calcium kit was like $25. Worth it though. I want to try to new pinpoint calcium monitor. Now THAT would be a nice present. -Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0] -Formerly known as the Ferretfish
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:40


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