Netgrimoire/Periphery/PNC-Fish/Equipment/Reef-Tank.md

title	description	published	date	tags	editor	dateCreated
Reef Tank Maintenance	Saltwater reef tank maintenance, water parameters, and cyanobacteria protocol	true	2026-04-12T00:00:00.000Z	pncfish, reef, equipment	markdown	2026-04-12T00:00:00.000Z

Reef Tank Maintenance

Cyanobacteria Treatment Protocol

Use this protocol in order. Do not skip to later steps without completing earlier ones.

Step	Action	Notes
1	Manual siphon removal	During water change — remove as much as possible physically
2	Verify RO/DI TDS = 0	Replace resin if TDS is above 0 — contaminated source water is a primary cause
3	Check phosphate	If undetectable (<0.03 ppm), dose KH2PO4 to raise slightly — paradoxically low phosphate favors cyano over corals
4	3-day blackout + large water change	Starves cyano of light. Combine both for best effect.
5	Add chaeto to refugium	Outcompetes cyano for nutrients long-term
6	Vibrant liquid bacteria	If cyano persists after steps 1–5

Note: Chemi-Clean was used previously and did not fully resolve the issue. Underlying cause (RO/DI quality, phosphate imbalance, flow dead spots) was suspected. Provide current water parameters — nitrate, phosphate, TDS, salinity — to continue diagnosis.

Water Parameters to Track

Parameter	Target Range	Notes
Salinity	1.025–1.026 SG	Use refractometer
Temperature	76–78°F	Inkbird ITC-306A controls this
pH	8.1–8.3	Check morning and evening
Ammonia	0	Should always be undetectable
Nitrite	0	Should always be undetectable
Nitrate	<10 ppm	Lower for SPS; <20 for LPS/fish-only
Phosphate	0.03–0.10 ppm	Too low favors cyano; too high causes algae
TDS (RO/DI output)	0	Replace resin if above 0

Lighting: ReefBreeder

Document ReefBreeder light model, schedule, and intensity settings here.

Water Change Schedule

Document water change frequency, volume, and salt mix used.

Equipment List

Document all tank equipment: skimmer, return pump, powerheads, refugium light, dosing equipment, etc.