Quick calcium/alkalinity question.

[SeanT]

Does low calcium/alkalinity brown out SPS?

Thanks
Sean

 

[gcarroll]

I'm not sure on calcium, but my colors are definitely more vibrant when my alk is up. Don't know if others see the same.

 

[sahin]

Can we have more input on this matter please?

SeanT what is your current alk reading?

 

[borcu]

both has no effect on colorisation but may possible cause stress.

 

[29reef]

Um calcium not so much, but alkalinity most definatly will.

 

[SeanT]

I have stayed away from SPS for the last several years.
After fighting the red bug/AEFW wars for many, many months I felt the best course of action was to remove all SPS and let all the nasties die off.

Just keeping zo's, ricordias and fish...my ca/alk supplementation has been nothing more than 175 gallon NSW water changes for a few years.

I have just started getting back into SPS, examining every piece carefully.
Anything sketchy, sadly, I euthanize.

I have the dosers and balling salts and will begin to implement them next week.

Thank you for the replies,
Sean

 

[cwegescheide]

Not neccesarily browing IMO... In my tank if alk gets low my corals start to pale. Colors just look "off". A little higher than natural sea water and colors are more rich maybe.. Too high then I see STN..

 

[sedor]

I have just started getting back into SPS, examining every piece carefully.
Anything sketchy, sadly, I euthanize.

By this I hope you mean you euthanize the parasite as opposed to the entire coral. There are tried and true, relatively simple methods for getting rid of both Red Bugs, or AEFWs.

 

[SeanT]

They entire frag (as I don't buy colonies) is euthanized.

 

[fishypets]

Sean,

Hey man you're going to love the "Balling lite" method. I've been using it for months now and my corals have never looked better. Just make sure to mix up the ALK solutions in big batches and pour off the top. It tends to percipate and clump up at the bottom of the container which could cause tip burns. Did you go with the Profilux doser?

 

[29reef]

If you have the room why not set up a small system to use as a qt area for new corals. Keep them in there for a month to be on the safe side and then add them to the display. Just a thought.