new 4ft setup!!!

[seareef]

need advise,I setup 4ft with canister pump n undergravel!!!!

added salt n water running for abt a month than L/R added in

for abt one week, now tested

1. ph btw 8 to 8.3

2. NO2 reading ( 1.0 pink )

3. NO3 reading ( 25 mg/I )

1>what must i do to keep a healthy reef tank?

2>at what reading range should i maintain for the 3 test kit.

pls help, thousand thanks!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!

[roidan]

8 to 8.3 is fine..but best keep it at a fixed ph level as much as possible although the reading changes throughout the day..try to minimise that swing..

NO2...definitely u need it to be ZERO

NO3...as low as possible....25 may be too high for some corals...but fishes will be fine with that reading

and what must you do, keep reading more online information...not all may be correct, so just moderate all the information yourself

[shiraz]

undergravel would give rise to high nitrate in the future... better to take out everything including your sand and use grade 0 sand to form a DSB

[planetg]

hi seareef.

TEST KITS: first and foremost, get a reliable test kit. forget abt those cheapo stuff unless you can verify it's accuracy

PH: readings between 8-8.5 shd be ok. however as roidan pointed out, try to minimise swings. during lights on, PH shd be ard 8.3-8.5. during lights off, PH shd ard 8.1-8.2. some reefers employ reverse photo-period refugium or kalkwasser at night to keep PH up and consistent. not sure if you can accomodate these options

NO2: Zero! Why? This is considered toxic for the animals

NO3: As low as possible. < 10mg if possible. Try to take it easy with livestock addition and watch the bioload. (Note of Honesty: It's pretty tough to be a model reefer) That's why get a good skimmer and/or employ a good nutrient removal technique like refugium with algae.

SRC contains lots of useful threads for you. Cheers