requested test results, and questions!

C

cncguy

New member
So following all of your advice, I received my order of salifert test kits. Results yesterday were:

Copper-0
dkh-7.0
calcium-460
phosphate-0
nitrate-10
mag-1300

Also as suggested, I got some Kent tech-m, Turbo calcium, and super dkh buffer.

I put in some tech-M, and some dkh buffer.

Today results are:

dkh-8.6
calcium-380
mag-1170

So, the questions are, and sorry, I can't understand this chemistry stuff!!, should the mag have dropped, or did it do so because of the dkh buffer? Just keep dosing the tech M right? And as far as the turbo calcium, it says to mix up a gallon and drip. Can I just mix up a gallon and put in my ato, or maybe mix up, and add 1/4 gal a day? How long should I need to test frequently til it stabilizes? Thanks in advance!!!!!!
 
how do I provide a link to the other thread?

Also after reading the directions again on the tech-m, I should add 25 tsp for 100gal? I only added 4 tsp as a routine supplement because my mag was at 1320. So I guess I need to add A LOT more?

Directions read- Add 1/4tsp per gallon of aquarium capacity each day to bring the level between 1250-1350. As a routine supplement, add 2tsp per 50gal a week.
 
go to the other thread, then highlight everything in the address bar then hit Ctrl+C that is the hotkey for "copy"

then start a post in this thread, when you go to type the message hit Ctrl+V , that is the hotkey for "paste"

so just copy and paste, im interested too so i wanna see the first thread so i can catch up lol
 
cncguy said:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2510181&page=2

like so?

Also in reponse to Dk's post, I did order a LED strip from 21led in hopes maybe I don't have enough light with just the 6 t5s to penetrate far enough

Just to clarify, I thought you said about light penetration, actually you said about actinic light
Click to expand...

cncguy said:
any advice?
Click to expand...

I never said anything about ordering any LED's. Here is what I said and your questions:


Originally Posted by cncguy View Post
Any suggestion on a LED strip that would help with color and growth. Right now my T5s are 3-Blue +, 2-coral +, and 1 purple+. Was gonna try a 21LED reefpro, but what color? Full spectrum, Actinic 445, 50/50 actinic blue/12k, or actinic blue/red/UV? I was thinking full spectrum? May be getting the cart ahead of the horse, but looking for opinions

Dkuhlmann
There is part of your coral growth problem. You need to have two full Actinic bulbs in a 4 bulb system or half in multiple systems. Actinic is what provides your growth to corals.

I was referring to your T5's needing half actinic bulbs not LED's. I do have LED's but only two little blue ones that are on only for moonlight and then the light bar over my sump. I run a 4 bulb T5. What I said is above.

I see where the problem is you were asking about LED's and I was talking about your problem being you needed three actinic bulbs. I said half of your bulbs in a T5 system need to be actinic.
 
My question is what does your parameters have to do with lighting?

I want to add here and I've said it in many posts about T5 is that if the bulbs are 7-9 months old they need replaced.
 
I clearly never finished the conversation but I did say that you needed half of the bulbs in your system to be actinic for growth.

Many people have incorrect bulbs in their light setup over time and they also get put in the wrong slots. This needs to be looked at all of the T5's that need bulb replacement that have automatic or programmed systems.
 
I think you need to slow down and deal with one thing at a time.

It's very hard to discuss these things in print correctly sometimes as they can get mixed up in translation.

I'm sorry that I'm not in the frame of mind tonight to talk about this and am fully willing to do so tomorrow. I had spine surgery a week ago today and am in a good deal of pain and have been up and down with sleeping not very much. I just woke up and I'll be going back to sleep shortly. LOL I'll probably be up at midnight and ready to talk till dawn. :D

But lets settle down and talk this whole thing over one by one according to your previous thread. I'll start with yes your 6 bulb T5 is perfectly fine for lighting. You don't have to add the LED' for MOST not all coral situations, unless you're going all SPS and some of them do require special lighting.

If anyone wants to try and clarify this tonight I'm all for you going right ahead and doing so.

Thanks!
 
Yes, again I apologize, I think someone else stated about light penetration, and was thinking it was you, but you were talking about actinic, so I was just stating I have also ordered lights. That's all. Sorry for the confusion. Back to the original questions concerning mag, kh, and calcium?............
 
Wow, get some rest! I would love to talk to someone that could help, that is why I come here! Smart people on RC!
 
Dkuhlmann said:
I had spine surgery a week ago today and am in a good deal of pain and have been up and down with sleeping not very much
Click to expand...

Feel better soon!
spines are rather important from what I understand, take care :)

@OP, might be easier to post in the old thread. Nobody knows what you're tryin to do and it's annoying to like go back and read that thread and this one to put the pieces together.
 
cncguy said:
Yes, again I apologize, I think someone else stated about light penetration, and was thinking it was you, but you were talking about actinic, so I was just stating I have also ordered lights. That's all. Sorry for the confusion. Back to the original questions concerning mag, kh, and calcium?............
Click to expand...

Okay so I will try to sum this up in regards to how I understand the balance of the three... seeing your numbers, and how they changed post dosing, it makes sense.

Let's start with the dosing of Tech M. First off, I'm not sure why you were dosing in the first place seeing as 1300ppm is a perfectly respectable level. Second, you have to dose a LOT of magnesium to see that number change substantially, given the high concentration of Mg ions in saltwater, at least when compared to other highly regarded elements.

The more important question here is why did calcium and magnesium drop after dosing both alkalinity and magnesium?

Here's why: you dosed alk too fast.

Alk buffers are super highly concentrated, which is why the normal means of dosing alk is though dosing pumps... ie. one drop at a time, over a sustained period of time. When you add alk too quickly it precipitates calcium carbonate, and during said event magnesium is essentially absorbed through the process. Viola lower magnesium and calcium :crazy1: ... and some degree of raised alkalinity (whatever didn't precipitate.)

I'm no chemist, but from I've come to understand this is how it works... in layman's terms I suppose.

If you want a much more in depth analysis check here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/#21

Dose alk slowly!
 
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