SaltwaterAquariumWaterParameters Guidelines General guideline of acceptablewaterparameter ranges forsaltwateraquariums.
Oct 29, 2025 ·Need to knowreeftankwaterquality specs? Save thisreeftankwaterparameterschartas a handy reference.
The followingchartis a general guideline of acceptablewaterparameter ranges for different types of tropical marineaquariums. Some types of displays such as FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock)aquariumshave a broader range of parameters than areefaquarium.
Properhardnesslevelscontribute to better fish coloration, breeding success, and disease resistance For most aquarists, the goal should be to maintain stablewaterparameters that match their fish species’ needs rather than chasing exact numbers.
Ideally, freshwateraquariumshave a GH between 4-8 dGH (or 70-140 ppm). All animals need some minerals, but certain fish like livebearers, goldfish, and African cichlids prefer higher GHlevels. If you’re trying to breed discus or other softwaterfish, you may need to reduce the GH to 3 dGH (or 50 ppm) or below. GHhardnesschartforaquariums
