2 part + trace/minor for mature sps reef

[Lazylivin]

My reef has grown well over the years and 2 part consumption has increased with it. Dosage rate is 400ml a day or 38 gallons each of CA/Alk. I haven't been dosing any trace or minor elements with any regulatory and I don't think feeding and water changes are keeping up with the demands any longer. (Corals getting pale) My assumption is that these elements get consumed at a rate proportional to a gallon of Alk and Calcium. Therefore I can safely dose x trace/minor to y amount of CA/ALK. I never have seen any information on this and the retail bottles of the stuff is at a tank per gallon rate which we advance reefer's know that is more geared for the average reef with a few corals and not based on consumption.

In similar subject the strength of the retail package of each element greatly varies from one brand to another. There is also a cost factor. Assuming for a minute that 1 gallon of bulk reef supply Alk and Cal is equal to 1 Bottle of said retail product it would cost a fortunate to dose it. I would like to buy the powders of potassium, strontium etc.... And mix myself to dose with my dosing system.

Anyone else out there with a lot of sps corals using similar demands of Alk and Calcium with BRS 2 part? If yes do you require supplementing of other elements? Any other information on the subject please chime in.

I currently use 2.75 cups calcium chloride to 2 cups soda ash

 

[trueblackpercula]

sounds like its time for a calcium reactor

 

[mbingha]

You're going through 400 ml each a day with a 55 gallon?

 

[Lazylivin]

I already have the investment in 2 part and it is dialed it. Would like to stay the course and add missing elements.

I have a 125g Display tank which is connected to a 150g Frag/Sump Tank in basement.

 

[dunk373]

That's sounds like a lot. I use the same and have tested some trace elements and have only noticed low iron. I used to do monthly water changes but after noticing a spike in alk I am now doing biweekly and it has stabilized much better I use 180 ml each per day and I have tons of sps and really fast growth. I recently tried Red Sea coral colors and tested for each and the only low was iron (not sure how accurate the test is but at least I tried). But I add the elements anyway and numbers have stayed the same so it's not hurting bit may now be helping. They're directions are add this much per ?? Uptake of calcium, but it is they're brand of calcium so who knows

 

[Lazylivin]

Have you had issues with pale colors as well using BRS only? Now that you are using red sea colors has it helped or to early to tell?

 

[Dapg8gt]

Fauna Marin makes 3 parts to add into your cal and alk supplement. It's relatively affordable I have some ran it thru 2 gals but didn't notice much of anything so I took it out of the loop for now. I actually took it off due to paling sps lol.. It's pretty concentrated and a little goes a long way.. I got mine from brs..

 

[theaquareef]

If I remember correctly the brs tv video said 51ml of brs 2 part solution to every 1ml trace elements solution. Though I don't remember which brand

 

[Lazylivin]

Thank you both I will look into see if I can find the BRS video about trace and also look into Fauna Marine

 

[theaquareef]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3In1nGU9ZQ4. 1 ml of each trace element solution to every 51 ml of brs 2 part or every 10ml of red sea calcium

 

[Lazylivin]

That is exactly what I was hoping for thank you very much theaquareef.

The issue I was afraid of is cost. Based on the math 2800ml per week divided by 51= a bottle of each abc&d product every two weeks. That is 80$ per month. I only spend about 250$ per year in calcium, alkalinity and magnesium.

 

[theaquareef]

Your welcome! Holy cow, yeah that would get quite expensive really quickly. Maybe a calc reactor is in order but they can be kind of a pain. Maybe Dapg8gt is right.