Looking for Help on Parameters / Testing

[Skispice]

Hey crew, I’m newish to the reef world. Have been freshwater for 5 years and decided to make the jump.

I bought a 33 gallon AIO 6 months ago and established it with live rock.

I need some help or advice on water parameters. My Torches and Hammers are doing fantastic, but I can’t seem to get my Goni’s to thrive.

I keep the Red Sea light at an 8 hour photo period on max intensity

I dose all for one and Red Sea AB+.

I test my salinity with a glass hydrometer and it comes in around 1.026, I’ve seen it drift higher, but keep an eye on it.

I test my Alkalinity with a Hanna Checkers and it comes in at 8 or right below.


What would you recommend testing weekly next?

what else could I try and solve for?

 

[SamT125]

Your tank looks beautiful. And the way things are thriving it looks like you’re doing a good job.
Gonis can be difficult, so I wouldn’t overly rely on this as a metric for the overall success of your tank.
With regard to dosing, look at your overall tank. If what you’re doing is working, and it looks like it is, stick with it.
Prior to getting my trident, I would check parameters at at least once or twice a week manually, with Salifert test kits and hanna checker for alk.

I’ve had the best luck dosing with BRS 2-part, soda ash and calcium because it’s very easy. Using the app you adjust your parameters based on exactly how much you add. All for reef uses calcium formate which is not as linear when it comes to dosing.
Again, though, if everything is doing well, I wouldn’t change things around too much.

Gonis prefer low nutrients, so would check phosphate and nitrate first. I keep my gonis front and center with the higher end of medium light and flow.

 

[project1004]

It’s probably good to tell us how much of all for reef you are dosing and ab+…. Ab+ would matter based on your nitrate and phosphate and your all for reef would be based on your alkilinity/calcium/magnesium level.

You have a mix reef so filtration is important. If not using activated carbon, I suggest using that at little amount.

 

[Skispice]

This is all great info thank you both.

I bought I Nitrate checker today so will start checking those regularly.

I am also taking note of the activated carbon. I can’t remember the last time I replaced that….

All learning experiences!

 

[jkz429]

Just be aware that if you have tangs. Activated carbon can cause HHLE.