Fish Only parameters

abraha · 07/17/2018, 04:40 PM

I am getting back into the hobby after a 6-year break. My original tank was a 120 gallon mixed reef with mostly sps and was very successful.
My new build will be 160 gallon fish only since I don't have as much time to devote to the tank as I used to.
My question is:
What are the fish only parameters that I should be concerned about and test for?
Temp
Salinity
PH
Alkalinity
Calcium
Nitrate
Phosphate
and so on.

Thank you!

johno4 · 07/18/2018, 06:38 AM

For Fish only I only focus on: Temp, Salinity, pH, and Nitrate. Nitrates are typically fine unless they get really high.

abraha · 07/18/2018, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johno4

For Fish only I only focus on: Temp, Salinity, pH, and Nitrate. Nitrates are typically fine unless they get really high.

What numbers would you recommend for Temp, Salinity, pH and Nitrates?

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zachfishman · 07/22/2018, 10:16 AM

I maintain several FO and FOWLR systems. I strive for:

pH ≥7.8
salinity 20ppt (easy on the wallet, fine on the fish)
NO3 <50ppm
PO4 as low as I can get it (I strip as much as I can with oversized GFO reactors to reduce algae, and regenerate my GFO)
temp 76-80F
ALK 7dKH

abraha · 07/22/2018, 10:41 AM

Thank you. That is an interesting idea on the salinity. I will also run a carbon/gfo reactor. Planning on keeping temp at 78.
My previous tank used a MH/T5 hybrid for lighting which generated a lot of heat and I had to run a chiller.
This tank will be led/T5. Do you think I will need a chiller?

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zachfishman · 07/22/2018, 11:13 AM

Probably won’t need a chiller unless you run pumps that dump a lot of heat into the water. You can always point a fan over the sump or tank to cool things in summer.

abraha · 07/22/2018, 03:24 PM

I will be running Marinepure ceramic biomedia in the sump. No live rock but the Marinepure will act as the biological filtration. I will have an artificial reef in the main display. Technically not a FOWLR but will act like one I guess...

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07/17/2018, 04:40 PM	#1
abraha Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 663	Fish Only parameters I am getting back into the hobby after a 6-year break. My original tank was a 120 gallon mixed reef with mostly sps and was very successful. My new build will be 160 gallon fish only since I don't have as much time to devote to the tank as I used to. My question is: What are the fish only parameters that I should be concerned about and test for? Temp Salinity PH Alkalinity Calcium Nitrate Phosphate and so on. Thank you! __________________ If you can't fix it with duct tape it can't be fixed! Current Tank Info: 160gallon 3/4 glass cylinder - mostly SPS. 4x XR15w G4 pro + 3x 39w T5 + 2x 24w T5. Apex controller. 2x MP60s. Various 8 return, Regal 200sss, carbon reactor, 50watt UV. CA, ALK, MG dosed via Apex DOS.

07/22/2018, 10:16 AM	#4
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	I maintain several FO and FOWLR systems. I strive for: pH ≥7.8 salinity 20ppt (easy on the wallet, fine on the fish) NO3 <50ppm PO4 as low as I can get it (I strip as much as I can with oversized GFO reactors to reduce algae, and regenerate my GFO) temp 76-80F ALK 7dKH __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

07/22/2018, 10:41 AM	#5
abraha Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 663	Thank you. That is an interesting idea on the salinity. I will also run a carbon/gfo reactor. Planning on keeping temp at 78. My previous tank used a MH/T5 hybrid for lighting which generated a lot of heat and I had to run a chiller. This tank will be led/T5. Do you think I will need a chiller? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ If you can't fix it with duct tape it can't be fixed! Current Tank Info: 160gallon 3/4 glass cylinder - mostly SPS. 4x XR15w G4 pro + 3x 39w T5 + 2x 24w T5. Apex controller. 2x MP60s. Various 8 return, Regal 200sss, carbon reactor, 50watt UV. CA, ALK, MG dosed via Apex DOS.

07/22/2018, 11:13 AM	#6
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	Probably won’t need a chiller unless you run pumps that dump a lot of heat into the water. You can always point a fan over the sump or tank to cool things in summer. __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

07/22/2018, 03:24 PM	#7
abraha Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 663	I will be running Marinepure ceramic biomedia in the sump. No live rock but the Marinepure will act as the biological filtration. I will have an artificial reef in the main display. Technically not a FOWLR but will act like one I guess... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ If you can't fix it with duct tape it can't be fixed! Current Tank Info: 160gallon 3/4 glass cylinder - mostly SPS. 4x XR15w G4 pro + 3x 39w T5 + 2x 24w T5. Apex controller. 2x MP60s. Various 8 return, Regal 200sss, carbon reactor, 50watt UV. CA, ALK, MG dosed via Apex DOS.

07/18/2018, 06:38 AM	#2
johno4 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 2,526	For Fish only I only focus on: Temp, Salinity, pH, and Nitrate. Nitrates are typically fine unless they get really high.