Coral Maintenance Guide: Water Changes & Dosing

Maintaining a coral tank over the long term requires consistent daily maintenance routines. By making proper care a habit, you can keep water quality stable and corals healthy.

Daily Management Checklist

Items to check every day:

• Water temperature: Maintain around 26C (use cooling in summer, heating in winter)
• Specific gravity/salinity: Target around 1.025
• Skimmer operation: Check foam production and waste cup for buildup
• Coral expansion: If polyps are retracted, review water quality and lighting
• Remove dead organisms/uneaten food: Remove immediately to prevent water quality degradation

Water Change Frequency and Method

Water changes serve the dual purpose of resetting water quality and replenishing minerals.

• Frequency guideline: Weekly, 10-20% of total water volume
• Use dedicated artificial saltwater (high-quality brands recommended)
• Match the temperature and specific gravity of new saltwater to the display tank before adding
• Avoid sudden large water changes: Add slowly to minimize coral stress

Supplementation with Additives

Coral skeleton formation consumes Ca, KH, and Mg. When water changes alone cannot maintain levels, use additives.

• Ca (Calcium): Target 400-450 mg/L
• KH (Carbonate Hardness): Target 8-12 dKH
• Mg (Magnesium): Target 1250-1350 mg/L

Methods include "two-part dosing," "three-part dosing," and "calcium reactors." Add in small increments and avoid making large changes at once.

Protein Skimmer Maintenance

• Clean the waste cup 1-2 times per week
• Clean the main body once a month to maintain performance
• Foam quality (coarse vs. fine) can indicate changes in plankton levels

Glass and Live Rock Cleaning

• Glass surfaces: Remove algae 1-2 times per week with a scraper
• Live rock: Once a month, brush off excess cyanobacteria (red slime) with a toothbrush
• Sand bed: Slowly siphon the substrate to remove detritus

Find Corals on Bri-Choku

In the Coral category, you'll find healthy corals listed by breeders who maintain excellent daily care routines. Learning from their maintenance practices can also help improve your own tank management.