Frank's LPS Grow Out Contest Update #1
- Thread starter itz frank
- Start date
Water read
Alk 7.7-8.0
Cal410
Mag 1310
Dosed 1ml of two part alk and cal last night. Ato seems to be fine.
Did a 6gal water change this morning. Trimmed my cheato, which was quite full(I need to go back to trimming this weekly.) ato reservoir was filled with 5gal as well.
Alk 7.7-8.0
Cal410
Mag 1310
Dosed 1ml of two part alk and cal last night. Ato seems to be fine.
Did a 6gal water change this morning. Trimmed my cheato, which was quite full(I need to go back to trimming this weekly.) ato reservoir was filled with 5gal as well.
mpfeiffer1
New member
Alk is the most critical component for SPS. Any movement more than .5 Dkh will create a downward trend in SPS for sure. Kalk will certainly stabalize your Alk and in my opinion should ALWAYS be used in SPS tanks. Again this is just my opinion. Remember that Coraline Algea (Purple stuff on your rocks) can suck-up a lot of Alk and Calc. Also magnesium is the key component to keeping Alk and Calc up. Keep it over 1300 and you will be fine. I keep my Calcium at 460 and things seem to like it and grow. There are some great articles about the "trinity" as we call it. Sudden temp changes can affect ALk as well. To go back to the temperature issues, I keep fans on when my lights are on and the tank stays around 78-79 degrees. I have seen people run tanks at 76 degrees and others at 82 degrees without any issues. Also some have 5-6 degrees swings without issues throughout the day. I will be more frank, loose the heater as this can only cause issues. If the temp outside gets to 40-50 degrees, turn it on for a few days. Lastly, if you just started to run a fan, you will get more evaporation and will need more RO water which does affect Alk. My advise would be to shoot for 8 or 9 Dkh and try to find whatever it takes to keep it from moving .5 in 24 hours (Kalk, dosing, etc). If you are carbon dosing, this will also affect ALK (not sure if you are). Lastly, if cheato is too thick this can also affect Alk. Thin it out as it grows fast anyway. HOpe some of this helps. Good luck. Get the Alk under control and you will be golden!
Thank you for the advice. With rovster at the helm of it all I've knocked out quite a few issues.
I'm pretty sure my top off was my biggest issue for fluctuation.
Second was heat.
I've noticed that my tank is using measurable amounts of alk and calcium now that water levels are stable.
I believe I had a phosphate issue as well which was probably partially being caused by too much chaeto(perhaps nutrients being returned to the water column). I did a 10% water change and also set up my gfo reactor. I am not currently running carbon and I also do not plan on it for now.
Alk was 7.3 tonight
Cal - 390
Mag - 1260
2ml dosed of a and b two part.
I'm pretty sure my top off was my biggest issue for fluctuation.
Second was heat.
I've noticed that my tank is using measurable amounts of alk and calcium now that water levels are stable.
I believe I had a phosphate issue as well which was probably partially being caused by too much chaeto(perhaps nutrients being returned to the water column). I did a 10% water change and also set up my gfo reactor. I am not currently running carbon and I also do not plan on it for now.
Alk was 7.3 tonight
Cal - 390
Mag - 1260
2ml dosed of a and b two part.
Oh heck no! I am NOT at the helm. If I was you wouldn't be dosing kalk. I think its a bad idea in your situation......You're getting too many opinions and following too many suggestions, LOL!
In the words of El Viejo......keep it simple stooped
Nope. I dosed kalk once. Lol. Sticking with my two part for now and will dose mag separate on occasion.
Now that my water levels are stable(SG), my alk cal and mag consumption can actually be seen on testing and can be managed. My corals are doing better even if it is for a day and im expecting to come home to similar results tonight.
I will say that of all the advise that I have gotten, yours has been the most helpful. Even if it has been a repetitive "stop changing things". Because now that I have fixed my core issues, I can just do the same daily routine and monitor adjustments.
FYI CONTESTANTS: You dont need to post every day or at all except once a month for you growth updates.
No problem if you choose to do so for help or for fun. JUST LETTING YOU KNOW ITS NOT NECESSARY OR EVEN PART OF THE RULES.
NEXT UPDATE IS WEEK OF MAY 16TH.
Yea, I know. Doing this as a log for my own good. Thank you though.
Miamiangler
New member
Same here . Hope everything is working out in your tank
rovster
New member
Your mag numbers are all over the place. They usually don't change that fast. Look into another kit or have someone local verify your results for you. Don't fall back into that pattern
FWIW, I don't dose mag, well hardly ever. Every now and then I'll dump some in. I test it maybe twice a year. I do believe you should test it more often, but not daily. First verify your test kit is accurate. If your Mag is low, get it up. If its 1300+ leave it alone. Test your Mag and Cal weekly. Keep in mind your test results will vary a little so no need to freak out if you get 1310 one week and 1350 another. Test Alk daily and have that your guide to drive Cal and Alk dosing. Keep up the good fight!
FWIW, I don't dose mag, well hardly ever. Every now and then I'll dump some in. I test it maybe twice a year. I do believe you should test it more often, but not daily. First verify your test kit is accurate. If your Mag is low, get it up. If its 1300+ leave it alone. Test your Mag and Cal weekly. Keep in mind your test results will vary a little so no need to freak out if you get 1310 one week and 1350 another. Test Alk daily and have that your guide to drive Cal and Alk dosing. Keep up the good fight!
Your mag numbers are all over the place. They usually don't change that fast. Look into another kit or have someone local verify your results for you. Don't fall back into that pattern
FWIW, I don't dose mag, well hardly ever. Every now and then I'll dump some in. I test it maybe twice a year. I do believe you should test it more often, but not daily. First verify your test kit is accurate. If your Mag is low, get it up. If its 1300+ leave it alone. Test your Mag and Cal weekly. Keep in mind your test results will vary a little so no need to freak out if you get 1310 one week and 1350 another. Test Alk daily and have that your guide to drive Cal and Alk dosing. Keep up the good fight!
My sailfert test kit is brand new but I will double check it. The amount of mag that I dosed is very low. My calculator says that I should have dosed 5oz to raise from 1200-1250.
Should I just be dosing equal parts calc to alk based on alk usage?
AquamanE
Active member
1+
Consider Mg the foundation. Until that is at an acceptable level it will be hard to "build" stability for alk/ca (you goal). And yes. If using a reputable two part, you dose based on Alk. The below articles splain why.
Yes Rovster mearuring Mg twice a year is a bit risky. One a month is fine though, once stable.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.htm
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/chemistry
