Alk Cal Mag levels when using biopellets

[Chrisjbarry]

I wanted to see what poeples levels are when running Biopellets. Currently my levels are

Alk is at 10.30 with Hanna and 10.40 with redsea

Cal is at 530 with redsea (a little on the high side for my liking)

Mag is at 1450 with redsea

Phosphates are at .04 with hanna (this with me feeding like crazy. Im talking like 3 cubes of frozen food, 10 types of pellets and flake foods, with 2 types of algae hanging in tank at all times)

Salanity is 1.028 right now (bringing it down to 1.027, I dont do water changes but maybe once every 3 months and only 10 gallons in my 108 gallon tank)

Biopellets are at a slow steady tumble with 1000 ML of BRS pellets.

My tank is sandless with very little rock work and running DIY LEDs on a shallow rimless (48x26x20).



My setup is only about 1 month old as I just switched to the rimless tank. I used all rock and most water in the switch so only a 1 day cycle period happened. I sold most of my colonies and kept a small frag of each and already seeing new growth form most corals. Previous tank did not have biopellets so just want to make sure I am on the right track with what Im doing.

 

[plyle02]

I personally strive for NSW values for my reef when using any type of C-source based system. My latest tests are the following, and right now color, PE, and growth are very good, not an absolute, I am sure many are running higher parameters with no issues, I just keep the zeovit guidelines in mind with any C-source type system

Alk-7.5
CA-400 to 420
Mag-1300
PO4-0.00-0.02
NO3-2.5-5
S.G.-1.026

 

[Bpb]

Measured this morning:

Biopellet system along with gfo and carbon reactors

SG: 1.026
Ca: 410 ppm (Red Sea pro)
Alk: 8.0dKH
Mg: 1350 ppm
Ph: 8.30 at peak of light (apex)
Temp: 80 (apex)
Don't test nitrate or phosphate

 

[sahin]

I personally strive for NSW values for my reef when using any type of C-source based system. My latest tests are the following, and right now color, PE, and growth are very good, not an absolute, I am sure many are running higher parameters with no issues, I just keep the zeovit guidelines in mind with any C-source type system

Alk-7.5
CA-400 to 420
Mag-1300
PO4-0.00-0.02
NO3-2.5-5
S.G.-1.026

+1

I've encountered STN/RTN issues in the past when running Alk higher than 8 when running any carbon dosed system.

Salifert Alk test is quick and easy. I would get your Alk around 7.5 and test weekly (more often when setting up doser etc). Its only 4 times a month of a 5 minute test.

 

[LEOx]

I use Ecoback pellets with 5tbs of gfo and carbon

alk - 8.1 hanna
ca - 400 - salifert
Mag - 1350 - salifert
Po4 - o.oo hanna
no3 - 2ppm salifert

 

[BILLYO382]

I use pellets as well. My experience is that tips will burn on your sps past 8.1 ish alk so I keep mine way below.

alk 7.5
cal 430
mag 1300
nitrate 0
phos .02-.06

 

[glaukos]

I use vertex biopellets and run
Ca->450-460
Alk->8,3-8,6

Have never gone up from 8,6 or 9(kh).
I'll totally agree with what the other guys stated about the burned tips.
Happened to me with vodka almost every sinlge time i went up from the 8+ mark.
With pellets though something like that,never happened.
Offcourse 8,6 was the highest that the test showed the time my tank works with pellets(not for long,almost 3 months)

 

[Chrisjbarry]

Update on my levels.
7.6 alk redsea
500 redsea
Mag 1500 redsea
Phosphates .03 with hanna (slowed down feeding a little)
Salinity is down to 1.024 (need to bring it up some)

At this time I'm not sure why my mag has gone up also my cal just will not drop. I did start seeing burnt tips like some mentioned. I'm hoping that has stopped and will start seeing some growth. Wanting to add more sps and acans but kinda need to wait till this is dialed in first. Any ideas how to get cal to drop without shutting dosers off. They only run 25 seconds on drews dosers 4 times a day. My alk is running at 3:30 4 times a day on drews doser. Mag dont dose at all right now.
At one point in dropping my alk it did drop down to 7 and have been bringing it back up.
Sal not to worried about I can just add some salt to top off water.