- Location
- Elizabeth, NJ
Nice... Now I know who to talk to if I ever need to set one up.
Thanks for sharing your experience with calcium reactors with us buddy.
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SPS Coral In Our Reef Aquariums
- Thread starter pauliwalnuts
- Start date
Thanks for sharing your experience with calcium reactors with us buddy.
- Location
- Laurelton, NY
- Location
- Elizabeth, NJ
Since no one else wants to share there input on Alk+Cal, we'll move on to the next parameter.
Magnesium.
Can some of you tells us where you like to maintain your levels at and how you go about achieving it.
Magnesium.
Can some of you tells us where you like to maintain your levels at and how you go about achieving it.
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- Location
- lindenhurst,ny
I keep my mag aT 1350 I dose esv mag when needed and test with egos mag test kit .
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
I target roughly 1400 give or take---as with all other things I don't drive myself crazy with precise numbers. I also use ESV mag. when needed, checked occasionally via a Salifert kit.
- Location
- lindenhurst,ny
I was going to use the mag chips in the cal reactor but the guy from mtc told me not to .that mag chips take forever to melt down in the cal reactor
- Location
- Laurelton, NY
Best attempt bi-weekly water changes, mag from the CR , and 100ml of dosing of ESV Mag via doser on a weekly basis keep me in the 1400 range...
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- Location
- Elizabeth, NJ
15% weekly water changes keeps me @ around 1400 with ESV Salt. When I find it going below that, then I'll dose BRS two part Magnesium Chloride and Sulfate (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...lon-bulk-magnesium-sulfate-for-aquariums.html).
Remember that Magnesium is just as essential to your reef, as Cal+Alk. So maintaining proper levels is also as important.
From my experience, I've noticed better over-all results, keeping it around the +1400 zone.
Remember that Magnesium is just as essential to your reef, as Cal+Alk. So maintaining proper levels is also as important.
From my experience, I've noticed better over-all results, keeping it around the +1400 zone.
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- Location
- Elizabeth, NJ
Ok guys & girls, lets move on to the next parameter.
PO4/phosphate. Where do you like to keep it at, and how do you maintain it there ?
PO4/phosphate. Where do you like to keep it at, and how do you maintain it there ?
- Location
- Bay ridge, Brooklyn
I try to keep mine between .02-.05, but I don't panic until it gets to 0.1, then I take some action (less food and/or larger water change). The best method to keep PO4 low is to do regular water changes and don't overstock/overfeed IMO. I maintain WC routine but I just love fish and feeding them
I think the only accurate method of checking PO4 levels is testing with colorimeter like hanna phosphate checker.
I think the only accurate method of checking PO4 levels is testing with colorimeter like hanna phosphate checker.
- Location
- Elizabeth, NJ
I second that. Normal test kits just don't cut it when it comes to PO4.
- Location
- Bay ridge, Brooklyn
From my observations PO4 levels not exceeding 0.06 are OK for a SPS dominated tank. What do you think?
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
Obviously, the lower the better but .03-.06 seems to be fine. I would like to point out that while the Hanna meter is better than most test kits ( the Deltec and Elos kits are widely regarded as yielding similar results as the Hanna meter) the +/_ error margin on the meter is .03 and I believe .04 on the cheaper reader. So, even if you are getting an accurate reading the actual number can be quite different.
Hey guys very informative thread especially for someone who is just starting to keep sps in my tank. Sorry to push this thread in a different direction but if my kalk alk and mag are in order does that mean my ph will be in order and if not how do you deal with low ph if everything else is in order.
Thanks
Thanks
- Location
- Elizabeth, NJ
I've had my PO4 levels got up to 0.08 and didn't notice anything drastic happening to the SPS. From my experience + 0.03 levels will stun SPS coral growth and give it a different tone (brownish) in color.
I've also found that keeping the levels lower than 0.02 will make the coral appear more pale in color. Bringing me to the conclusion that coral actually color-up nicer with some nutrients in the water column.
I've also found that keeping the levels lower than 0.02 will make the coral appear more pale in color. Bringing me to the conclusion that coral actually color-up nicer with some nutrients in the water column.
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- Location
- Elizabeth, NJ
One thing you can do is use kalkwasser in your ATO water. If your are going to do kalk thru the ATO, you should do it with a doser and not a float device in your sump. Not only will kalk help your PH levels CAL+ALK, but it will aslo bind phosphates so it can be easily removed by your skimmer. Kalkwasser is very cheap and ease to use. 1-2 tsp of kalk to 1 gallon of RO water is what most people do, But one teaspoon per gallon is the starting recommendation. Make sure to keep your ALK in check, try not exceeding 9dkh. Burning tips of Seriatopora Hystrix sp. are usually a sign that there's an overdose of kalk in the system.
Another is, running a hose from your skimmers intake-air to and outside source for fresh oxygen. Aside from that, try the CO2 scrubber on that same line of the skimmer's intake air. I bought my unit from BRS(http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...ir-filter.html). I also get the media thru them (http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...-low-dust.html). When adding fresh media, you should add about 10ML of RO water to the inside of the holding tank. This water will activate the media. I only recommend this to advanced reefers. The reason for that is, your coral will consume less/more ALK+CAL depending on your oxygen levels. So keep a close eye on your ALK+CAL (since they go hand-in-hand, I only test for the ALK) when you first replace the media (as you may need to raise your dosing method). And also again, when it's about 2 1/2 weeks old (as you may need to lower your dosing method). By monitoring your PH, and some getting use to, you will begin to know when its time to replace the media again.
Oh yeah. And the cheapest and easiest way is, by opening a window or proper ventilation of the complete system.
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- Location
- Bay ridge, Brooklyn
I agree completely. I ran biopellets for over a year in my tank and my PO4 was always 0-.02 but corals weren't any happier than now when I stopped using it and I'm in .03-.04 range. Corals definitely need some nutrients in the tank and starving corals using methods like zeovit is balancing on a thin line IMO.
- Location
- Laurelton, NY
Pauli, the last time my PO4 was checked.. You did it. LOL! I guess that means you have to come for another visit!
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