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Reef Aquarium Chemistry
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
Every healthy ecosystem requires a balanced environment. Weekly water tests are invaluable to making sure your aquarium’s levels are in check. Understanding water chemistry and maintaining optimum levels of key nutrients, minerals and other indicators will protect marine life and allow the organisms in your care to thrive and radiate. Below are the key parameters to monitor in saltwater reef aquaria.
Periodic Table of Reef Elements | Aqua Lab Aquaria
NUTRIENTS
MINERALS
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
SHOP TEST KITS
Use the following information to help you decipher your test results.
Please keep in mind this is a general guide for reef aquariums and specific requirements can vary by species. Requirements will also differ for saltwater tanks without coral. Please do additional research before attempting any of the methods outlined here.
Click bold words for more info.
AMMONIA
Target Value: 0
Ammonia is a toxic nitrogenous compound released when anything organic breaks down. A large amount of decomposition (e.g. from a carcass or uneaten food) can cause ammonia to spike. Specialized bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite.
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
Ammonia levels above 0.25 ppm can suffocate fish, coral and invertebrates in a matter of hours. It is typically present in new tanks and should be cycled out completely before animals are slowly introduced. Ways to decrease:
TOO LITTLE
No issues arise from too little ammonia, except when cycling a new tank. Ammonia is necessary at first to fuel the development of bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite. Ways to increase:
  • Add a carbon source (e.g. food, animal waste, or other organic matter) and allow to decompose
NITRITE
Target Value: 0
Nitrite is a toxic nitrogenous compound produced by bacteria as part of the nitrogen cycle. Specialized bacteria convert nitrite to nitrate.
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
Nitrite will reduce the amount of oxygen in fish's blood, and levels above 1 ppm can be lethal in a matter of hours. It is typically present in new tanks and should be cycled out completely before animals are introduced incrementally. Ways to decrease:
TOO LITTLE
No issues arise from too little nitrite.
NITRATE
Target Value: 1 - 5 ppm (to promote coral color and keep algae at bay), 25 ppm maximum
The last and least toxic of the nitrogenous compounds, this nutrient is beneficial in small amounts, encouraging plant and algae growth. It is converted from nitrite by specialized bacteria.
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
Nitrate levels above 30 ppm can be lethal to aquatic animals in a matter of hours. More nitrate will also lead to more algae growth. Ways to decrease:
TOO LITTLE
A lack of nutrients will reduce algae growth. While this might enhance color, it will also result in coral fragility because coral derive glucose and essential amino acids from algae. Ways to increase:
PHOSPHATE
Target Value: 0 - 0.05 ppm
Phosphate is a nutrient that supports photosynthesis, a vital process to the algae living inside coral.
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
Too much phosphate can increase the potential for nuisance algae growth, discolor coral due to increased zooxanthellae, and inhibit coral calcification (growth). Ways to decrease:
TOO LITTLE
A lack of phosphate is usually of little concern unless it corresponds to a lack of nutrients in general. While dosing potassium phosphate would increase only phosphate, it's typically better to increase other nutrients as well by:
CARBONATE & BICARBONATE (KH)
Target Value: 8 - 10 dKH
Carbonate hardness (KH) is the concentration of carbonates and bicarbonates, which bind to acids and neutralize them. This reaction prevents water from becoming more acidic. The presence of these excellent acid buffers serve as the primary indicator of alkalinity. KH and alkalinity are often used interchangeably.
TOO MUCH
High KH can cause tip burning or rapid tissue necrosis in coral, plus excessive abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate from solution, leading to clogged heaters and pump impellers. Ways to decrease:
  • Dilution via water change (assuming new water has less or no KH)
  • Wait it out (minerals are constantly being depleted from aquariums)
TOO LITTLE
Acids are constantly being released into aquarium water in the form of nutrients, so a minimum level of KH is needed to neutralize them. Low KH leads to low alkalinity, which means sudden changes in pH are much more likely when acids are introduced. This can be stressful or even deadly for aquatic animals. Ways to increase:
  • Dose sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate
  • Dose kalkwasser
CALCIUM
Target Value: 420 - 450 ppm
Another fundamental mineral of marine aquaria, calcium is important for neurological functioning and necessary for calcification of coral skeletons.
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
Too much calcium can cause excessive abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate from solution, leading to clogged heaters and pump impellers. Ways to decrease:
  • Dilution via water change (assuming new water has less or no calcium)
  • Wait it out (minerals are constantly being depleted from aquariums)
TOO LITTLE
Too little calcium will negatively affect the health and growth of marine animals, especially coral. Ways to increase:
  • Dose calcium chloride
  • Dose kalkwasser
MAGNESIUM
Target Value: 1200 - 1400 ppm
Magnesium, an important co-enzyme for cells, is necessary for biological functions. It's also a minor mineral involved in calcification.
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
High magnesium levels are generally well tolerated in marine aquaria, although further research is required to quantify an upper limit and identify associated consequences. Ways to decrease:
  • Dilution via water change (assuming new water has less or no magnesium)
  • Wait it out (minerals are constantly being depleted from aquariums)
TOO LITTLE
A lack of magnesium will have negative affects on the health and growth of marine animals and will inhibit coral calcification. Ways to increase:
  • Dose magnesium chloride
pH
Target Value: 7.8 - 8.6 pH
pH is a general environmental indicator that is the cumulative result of many different chemicals and compounds (especially alkalinity /KH). It is a measure of the acidity or basicity of water. Because water enters fish down to their very cells through osmosis, a change in pH of the water causes a change in pH of their blood. Regulating their internal pH takes time and energy, which is why fluctuations are dangerous to fish, even if the pH remains in the recommended range. pH should be maintained constant to a 1/10 precision (e.g. constantly 8.2, not swinging between 8.1 and 8.3).
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
It is usually a battle to keep pH levels high enough in a reef aquarium. However, pH levels can be toxic if too high. Ways to decrease:
TOO LITTLE
Low pH levels can disrupt biochemical reactions and inhibit calcification. The best way to increase pH is to drive out CO2 because it acidifies water.
  • Use an algae scrubber as part of your filtration system (algae absorbs CO2)
  • Use a CO2 scrubber hooked up to a skimmer
ALKALINITY
Target Value: 8 - 10 dKH
Alkalinity is a measurement of bicarbonate which corals use to form their skeletons, which are composed primarily of calcium carbonate. It is generally believed that corals take up bicarbonate, convert it into carbonate, and then use that carbonate to form calcium carbonate skeletons. Alkalinity also measures water's ability to neutralize acids and maintain steady pH levels. pH is greatly influenced by alkalinity. Carbonate hardness (KH) is the main contributor to alkalinity, so the terms are often used interchangeably.
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
High alkalinity is usually caused by too many carbonates and bicarbonates (KH), which can lead to tip burning or rapid tissue necrosis in coral, plus excessive abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate from solution, leading to clogged heaters and pump impellers. Ways to decrease:
  • Dilution via water change (assuming new water has less or no alkalinity)
  • Wait it out (minerals are constantly being depleted from aquariums)
TOO LITTLE
Low alkalinity can lead to sudden changes in pH which can be stressful or even deadly to aquatic animals. Keep in mind that low alkalinity is usually due to a lack of carbonates and bicarbonates (KH). Ways to increase:
  • Dose sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate
  • Dose kalkwasser
SALINITY
Target Value: 34 - 36 ppt (corresponds to 0.0034 - 0.0036 ppm) or 1.024 - 1.026 SG
Salinity is a general environmental indicator measuring all dissolved compounds, including minerals and nutrients. NaCl is the primary salt that contributes to salinity.
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
As with anything, excess salinity can be toxic. Further research is required to quantify an upper limit and identify associated consequences. Ways to decrease:
  • Dilution via water change (assuming new water has less or no salinity)
TOO LITTLE
Low salinity may lead to kidney failure among fish. However, it can be effective in treating parasitic infections. Ways to increase:
  • Incremental water changes with properly salinated water
TEMPERATURE
Target Value: 76 - 80 F (24 - 27 C)
Temperature measures the heat in aquarium water.
Ammonia | Aqua Lab Aquaria
TOO MUCH
Heat stress occurs when high temperatures decrease the concentration of dissolved oxygen in water, leading to coral bleaching and inhibiting fish respiration. Heat stress can be fatal. Ways to decrease:
  • Blow fan across top of aquarium to facilitate evaporative cooling
  • Drop frozen water bottles or ice cubes (made with dechlorinated water) into aquarium
  • Use a chilling device
TOO LITTLE
All metabolic processes slow down at lower temperatures. Ways to increase:
SHOP TEST KITS

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