What to check for?

[ReefFanatic]

As part of Maintnance to a reef tank, exactly what do I need to check for and what are acceptable levels? In my tank I have corals, inverts, fish... I have pretty much been flying by the seat of my pants. I don't check my own water. Usually get it checked at LFS. If I pick up the water on the way home from work I usually forget to take a sample in the morning or don't want to leave the sample in the car/office all day !! I'd like to check my own water from now on.

Nirate = 0 ppm ?
Nitrite = 0 ppm ?
SG = 1.022 - 1.026 ?
Ph = 8.1 - 8.4 ?
ALK = have no clue
Calcium = have no clue
Phosphates = have no clue
Amonia = is it necessary to check even in a mature tank or only during cycling?

Thanks...

 

[fishfarmer]

Once your tank has established itself(let's say a year) and you have figured out how much to feed and how your corals respond to your care, I don't bother testing ammonia and nitrite, and only occasionally do nitrate and phosphate, maybe once a month or before I plan on adding new corals/fish. I would test those parameters weekly or biweekely when you're first starting out to get a handle on the maintainance schedual for your tank. Ammonia and Nitrite should be zero. Nitrate should be low, 10 ppm preferably zero. Phosphates less than .05 ppm.

I do pH weekly or every few days especially if I'm figuring out a kalk dosing schedual. I have a digital pH probe so it is easy for me. Acceptable range 8.1 to 8.4.

I check calcium and alk about once a week, more often if I'm figuring out my dosing schedual. Calcium 380 to 450 ppm. I try to shoot for 400 ppm. Natural seawater is just below this level. Alkalinity 2.9 to 4 milliequivalents or 8 to 11 dKH

S.G. I test when I do water changes every two weeks, should be 1.024 to 1.026.