How many lps?

[gareth.hubbarde]

I was just wondering how many lps would use more calcium than a 20% water change would provide? Currently have 5, 2 hammers 1 large 1 small frag, 5 head Duncan, favites frag, bubble coral frag. Should I start checking calcium lvks, how often and what should they be?

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[outssider]

you should be checking alk/cal/mag on a regular basis. alk will decrease much faster than cal/mag

 

[mcgyvr]

20% daily? Weekly? Biweekly? Monthly?
Size of lps matters more than a quantity...
And many other variables..

As you have corals you should be testing on occasion to determine if dosing is required..

 

[gareth.hubbarde]

20% daily? Weekly? Biweekly? Monthly?
Size of lps matters more than a quantity...
And many other variables..

As you have corals you should be testing on occasion to determine if dosing is required..

Normally do 50 litres a month which is 20%.
How often to test, everyday, once a week, once a fortnight?

It's surprising how these things evolve, I was setting up this tank as fowlr but now it's full reef! I found fowlr just lacked something I liked.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[billdogg]

At this point you may very well keep on top of things with just the water changes, but testing is important. Without a baseline you really won't know!

I keep my Calcium at 400, Alkalinity at 8.0 and my Magnesium at 1350. Of course Ammonia and Nitrite should always be 0, Nitrate less than 1.0 and Phosphate about .03. Remember that the goal for the nitrate and phosphate is not 0 - all creatures need a little for basic metabolic functions.

Use quality test kits. I prefer Salifert for all due to the ease of use and repeatability. Starting out, I would test at least weekly to see how your tank is trending. Then, if needed, you can begin to dose. At first, manual dosing will work well enough, but as things progress, it is one of the things I would recommend automating. I use BRS 1.1ml/min dosing pumps plugged into digital lamp timers due to their good value and ease of use.

 

[Uncle99]

When tank was new, Alk daily with a Hanna, other seven weekly.
Kept a worksheet on all 8.

After about 8 months, I could see the pattern and had a record of what amounts to dose.

Then bought a doser.

At about a year, water chemistry became very predictable and stable, so now, all 8 once per month, unless something looks stressed.

IMO, stability is absolutely everything in this hobby.

I noted that when I provided consistent stable waters, coral growth and colour exploded.

 

[gareth.hubbarde]

Thanks for the great replies. Tested today alk 8.0 calcium 410. Do I need to test for magnesium too? I have salifert for alk and calcium, I have a full test kit by jbl for everything else.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

Its not a bad idea to get a mag test kit too..

So you have your first test results..
When did you last do a water change?

You basically keep checking every few days to a week and see how levels go..
Then test again after a water change and see if the levels return to where they first were after your last water change.. If they are returning then you don't need dosing..
If not then you certainly do..