Supplements

[Mikeb76]

Hello Everyone,
I wanted to see about getting some recommendations on getting my Alk |Cal |Mag parameters up in my tank. My tank finished the cycle about 4wks ago. My cleanup crew and Yellow tang eat what was left over of the diatoms. I recently added 1 frag of zoanthids and 1 frag of the Hollywood stunner. Unfortunate looks like the stunner didn't make it. So I bought a Red Sea Foundation test kit, I took measurements and all three ALK | Mag |Cal all have really low readings almost zero. I have to use all the solution down to 1 ml for the test kit to change colors. I started using the Seachem Reef complete (twice a week 6 cap fulls) and BRS Kalkwasser (2tps for 2L of water with a slow drip) to try and raise the parameters but I'm still at the same readings. All my other parameters are on point. I've used RODI water from my LFS since day one and tested the water (0-TDS) before mixing the salt. What am I doing wrong :debi: and what supplement if any should I be using to get the Alk | Cal | Mag up to par?

Thanks in advance Mike

90 gallon Tank
40 gallon sump
Cora life protein skimmer 125
TLF reactor 150- Carbon
TLF reactor 150 -Seachem Phosguard
Pair of Jebao RW8 wireless wave maker
Jebao DCT-400 return pump
Aquatic life T5 HO lights 10K |12K |460 actinic |420 Actinic
Eheim Jager 300w heater.
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphate 0
pH 7.9-8
Water Temp: 79F in sump 80F in display
,

 

[mcgyvr]

You are measuring wrong..
Read the directions again or watch videos online.
What saltmix are you using? What is your salinity reading?


You have no need to dose at this point either..
And shouldn't be adding corals either until you learn how to take care of the tank properly...
And you don't need to run phosguard either.. Its for people that have a phosphate issue.. you don't and will just do more harm with it running.. take it offline..

Your water changes alone should be sufficient to keep parameters stable as you have basically nothing consuming it at this point..

 

[top shelf]

Also check the params on a new batch of mixed saltwater. With some salts you may need to adjust alk, calc, and mag before adding to the tank. If your all, calc, or mag is low on a new batch it will only continue to drop with a water change. As mcgyvr said check to make sure your testing right first then go through the other variables.

 

[mcgyvr]

I would highly suggest maintaining your parameters to match newly mixed saltwater..
If you don't like those parameters pick a different salt that has the parameters you want..
But you need to learn to test properly first

 

[Mikeb76]

mcgyvr
You are measuring wrong..
Read the directions again or watch videos online.
I did watch the Red sea videos online and it was outdated. I then read the directions and followed the cards.

What saltmix are you using?
Instant Ocean salt mix, next water change I will be moving to Instant Ocean reef crystals or something more towards corals

What is your salinity reading?
Salinity 1.025 test daily from display and sump.

You have no need to dose at this point either..
Ok I will stop.

And shouldn't be adding corals either until you learn how to take care of the tank properly...

And you don't need to run phosguard either.. Its for people that have a phosphate issue.. you don't and will just do more harm with it running.. take it offline..
OK I will take offline I was just trying to keep any spikes of phosphate from happing.

Your water changes alone should be sufficient to keep parameters stable as you have basically nothing consuming it at this point..
My water change I'm doing 20% (20gallons) for about 120gals (display and sump) every 2 weeks. should I do less and less often?

 

[mcgyvr]

This video is correct I believe (for alk anyways.. start there and see if you can measure that properly.. its the easiest of the 3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb4NnYOFneA

I believe IO at 1.025 should be
CAL 400ppm
ALK 11dKH
MAG 1350


20% every 2 weeks is a good starting point and should be just fine for a long time for you..
And you absolutely do not need to dose with 120 gallons of water and 1 coral..

 

[Mikeb76]

top_shelf

What supplements would you recommend me adding to the new batches of water if my parameters are low?

 

[Mikeb76]

10-4 Thank you both for the info. I will test again once I get home.

 

[mcgyvr]

Personally I use sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate from bulkreefsupply and make my own 2 part then I have some magnesium crystals that I dose manually as needed (pretty rare for me)
Good read here for a long time down the road if/when you need it
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/

 

[top shelf]

top_shelf

What supplements would you recommend me adding to the new batches of water if my parameters are low?

You can do what mcgyvr suggested and make your own, probably cheaper too or I went the simple route and picked up Kent Marine tech CB and tech M. There are many calculators out there to figure out how much to add per gallon based on what current readings are and what you want them to be. Be mindful also read directions on the bottle and some state to only raise it by so much per day. Hope that helps.

 

[Ron Reefman]

And there is no reason to switch to any other salt. Yes, IORC has higher Ca, alk and Mg levels. But you don't need them (yet)! And may not for another year or two. And unless you do a lot of lps and sps corals, you may never need to change. Or if you do and you start dosing Ca, alk and Mg, then you can still use IO because you dose the parameters up to where you want them anyway.

As a general rule, don't do or add anything to your tank unless you need it AND understand what it is doing.

Listen to mcgyver, he is very smart when it comes to this hobby.