BB Demons

[NoSchwag]

Why not try dose a little sr. Maybe they just need a little jumpstart, at the very least you'll get some coraline..

 

[Wiskey]

Did these corals grow fast before? I have heard of some montis that are very slow growers.

Just a thought,
Whiskey

 

[jsweir]

Nope, never took off. I do have a german blue digitata that grows, it is just the caps that don't seem to grow. I may try some sr again.

 

[dymaxiun]

I am tagging along with this thread. I have simlar growth speed as mentioned "earlier" in this thread with my coraline, but everything else is growing as fast as ever.

I have had a bottole of stontium that I haven't used. i will beging supplementing my tank starting next waterchange.

I don't have my levels yet since I don' thave that test kit. I will be adding this supplement in low dosages until i get a test kit.

Has anyone tested the levels of Strontium in the different salt mixes, or the NSW?

 

[Weatherman]

NSW from off the S.E. Florida coast comes in between 10 and 16 ppm. But, the Sr test is quite complex because you have to remove the Ca++ ion signal first to measure Sr++. Thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s not easy when the normal concentration of Ca++ ions is about 35 times the concentration of Sr++ ions.

 

[dymaxiun]

I think it would be a good test. i know CA, and Alk levels are different among all salt mixes. With that being said I wonder if the Sr levels are different between all the different salt mixes people use.

For instance the Pro type salt mixes compared to thier same non-pro counterparts.

 

[jsweir]

O.K. - just ordered a Salifert Sr test kit. If my Sr reads low, I will start dosing and probably start a thread to document any changes. I'm interested to see what my levels are.

 

[galleon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6962165#post6962165 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Weatherman
NSW from off the S.E. Florida coast comes in between 10 and 16 ppm. But, the Sr test is quite complex because you have to remove the Ca++ ion signal first to measure Sr++. Thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s not easy when the normal concentration of Ca++ ions is about 35 times the concentration of Sr++ ions.

10-16 mg/L Sr? What kind of Calcium concentrations? If it's around 400-420 mg/L, I suspect a problem with the test kits, because that would mean you're finding Sr/Ca of 11-18 mmol/mol, and I assure you that SE Florida seawater does not have an Sr/Ca ratio of that magnitude.

 

[Weatherman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6986885#post6986885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by galleon
10-16 mg/L Sr? What kind of Calcium concentrations? If it's around 400-420 mg/L, I suspect a problem with the test kits, because that would mean you're finding Sr/Ca of 11-18 mmol/mol, and I assure you that SE Florida seawater does not have an Sr/Ca ratio of that magnitude.

It wouldn't surprise me if my readings are off.

Like I said, the test is very complex, and, at least in the case of the Salifert test, a couple of drops of reagent can mean the difference between reading 4 mg/l and 16 mg/l.


BTW... welcome back.

 

[galleon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6986928#post6986928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Weatherman
BTW... welcome back.

I don't suppose you guys ever saw any "explanation" that was promised by RC staff, huh?

 

[rutz81]

My monti cap seems to do fine, although, I have had one acro as of late(past 3 weeks) that hasnt been doing all that well. No PE, just starting to STN, no reason at all, every other acro and SPS are fine.

Dave

 

[Weatherman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6987216#post6987216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by galleon
I don't suppose you guys ever saw any "explanation" that was promised by RC staff, huh?

Let's just say we have been strongly encouraged not to talk about it.

 

[NoSchwag]

I'd like to know whats going on if you feel like telling a story..

 

[Weatherman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6962165#post6962165 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Weatherman
NSW from off the S.E. Florida coast comes in between 10 and 16 ppm. But, the Sr test is quite complex because you have to remove the Ca++ ion signal first to measure Sr++. Thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s not easy when the normal concentration of Ca++ ions is about 35 times the concentration of Sr++ ions.

I ran the test again, and was very, very careful.

NSW came in between 4 and 10. Maybe a little closer to 10 than 4, so, let's say 8 ppm.

Sr level in my 120 came in close to 4 ppm, so I feel ok to start dosing without risk of sending levels too high. Start slow and see what happens.

I'm starting to run carbon (Black Diamond). A continuous run, with a new bag a week, for the next month. I'll then cut back to a new bag every couple of weeks and only run it for a couple of days at a time.

I adjusted my metal halide photoperiod up from 5 to 6 hours, and adjusted the temperature up by one degree to vary between 79 and 80F. (This is a normal adjustment I make every spring.) However, I noticed one of my Ushio bulbs starting to fade, so I'll replace the bulb this evening.

And, finally, although I thought I'd never do it again, I'm going to fire up a calcium reactor. I bought a little GEO 612.

Hopefully, all these adjustments will exorcise at least a few of my demons.

 

[Wiskey]

Let us know how it goes.

Why did you decide you to up your photoperiod? Do you feel there is a benifit to running a longer photoperiod? I can't, my tank bleaches

Thanks,
Whiskey

 

[jsweir]

I actually did start upping my Photoperiod. I originally started at 8 hours, worked down to 3 to stop the bleaching. and have slowly increased 1/2 hour at a time (each month or two) back to 4.5 hours now. I think I may keep increasing, but slow the increments down to 15 minutes each month. I'm shooting for 5 to 6 hours of MH a day. Anyone else have similar experiences after reducing photoperiod?

 

[Wiskey]

I am at 4.5 hours, I may be able to go up a bit, but now that I have my tank working well, I don't want to screw it up.

Whiskey

 

[Weatherman]

I dropped my photoperiod from 8 down to 5 hours when I removed the sand from my 180. My 120 started out at 5, then was adjusted up to 6 last spring, then adjusted back down to 5 last fall.

I've adjusted both tanks up to 6 now.

Since I've only been oscillating between 5 and 6, I don't see much of an impact. I do the back and forth oscillation to simulate seasons.

 

[jay24k]

I don't know about BB but I have seen several people who had coloring and growth issues at 3 to 4 hrs a day. Most upped their to 7 to 8 and had much better coloration and growth. I have mine at 7 hrs and my growth is very good.

 

[Wiskey]

I might bump mine to 4:45, to see what happens, I have always wondered if I could get a little better growth with a longer lighting period.

BUT!!!

Then again the ocean only gets a few hours of really good light each day, and having my atinics on all day probably replecate that better than having the MH on all day.

Thoughts?
Whiskey