In keeping a successful reef, your water needs to match as closely to the ocean. It’s been proven. You can go look at any successful reef tank and look at it. Then you can ask the owner about why it is so successful and he will most likely say that he has nice equipment which helps (although DIY equipment works fine), and then when he really thinks about it he will tell you that he has really stable water parameters. If you would like a list of these reef water parameters in detail, that article here will be of interest to you. Click the read link for the water parameters that you should strive to keep constant in your tank.
PH
7.9 to 8.3 – use a electronic probe if possible.
Temperature
78° F to 84° F -the average is about 81°F
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
Ammonia
0
Nitrite
0
Nitrate
10 ppm or less
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