Testing Water For Coral Reef

[KAPEL]

Hi all,
 
My tank is up and running, LR is in and got 2 snails and 1 Nemo in to check the water. However, I want to grow reefs/Coral in my tank. I know that this take months of preparation, and I am willing to do that. However, can anyone please tell me what sort of tests must be performed in order to make sure your water is ready or not.
 
I would love to know the test kits, methods and levels required if possible. Highly appreciated.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[ech0o]

I have the API master saltwater, and API master reef kits.  The saltwater kit takes care of PH/ammonia/nitrite/nitrate, and the reef kit takes care of calcium/alkalinity/nitrate/phosphate.   All of these values are going to be vital to your reef tank, as well as Salinity and Magnesium, which would be seperate purchases.  I currently get my magnesium tested at the fish store because the test is $20 to buy, but I did purchase a salinity pen, and can't imagine keeping a reef/saltwater tank without one.
 
Calcium - 400-500ppm
Alk - 8-12dkh
Salinity - 33-35ppt (1.025 - 1.026 gravity)
Temp - 76-83 degrees farenheit
Ph - 8.1-8.3
Magnesium - 1250-1350ppm
Phosphate -  < 0.03ppm
Ammonia/Nitrate/Nitrite - < 0.2 ppm
 
Those parameters will keep most coral growing healthy given the right lighting!

 

[Donya]

Just a couple things to add to the above:
- Make sure you get a high range pH kit if buying the kits separately. 
- Most tanks will be incredibly lucky to get <0.2ppm for nitrate. Getting <10ppm is a more common goal for young tanks, <5ppm is good for many mature systems, and lower than that is only really necessary if aiming for ultra-low-nutrient systems like are needed for some SPS reefs (a rather specialized case, since some other corals actually can't survive in systems with so few free nutrients).