40 gallon main, 25 gallon sump/refugium Reef water parameters

[ahmer1781]

Can someone help me with my parameters?

Ph -- 8.4 is this okay?
Ammonia -- 0 Good
Nitrites -- 0 Good
Nitrates -- 20 water changes should help lower this right?
Alkalinity -- 300 not sure what this means
Calcium -- 340 should I add some Ca?
Phosphate -- 2.5

I took it to a fish store and this is what he told me, unfortunately I don't really trust him just like his test equipment(PetSmart).

My next step is to do a 5 gallon water change and add some Ca, anything else I should look into?

 

[fanaglethebagle]

Try to get phosphates to zero, 340 isnt bad for ca, 8.4 is perfect ph.

Are you using RODI water for water changes?

 

[fanaglethebagle]

Also, 300 alk in meq/L is about right.

 

[ahmer1781]

I'm using some kind of tap water filter that I plug into my sink, got it from Petco. I then add a water conditioner/healer. How do I get the phosphates down?

 

[fanaglethebagle]

If the tap water filter costed 100-300$ it was an RODI filter, it probably isnt though.
To get phosphates down use RODI water for topoff and waterchanges and add a phosphate removing medium in your filter. You could also take the long route and have a macro algae or mangrove shoot in your fuge to absorb the nutrients.