Let's talk about Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium in an SPS Tank

[110galreef]

Originally Posted by schoolisbad1

Hello, I have about 60g total volume, pretty heavily stocked, all sps. Growth is good, but my alk drops 2-3 dkh a day, so I'm thinking about getting a dosing setup. I am using 2 part alk from BRS and calcium have been using reef fusion. The reef fusion has mag in it so I have not been dosing separately for it or testing... I was wondering if I should get the 2 or the 3 dosing pumps. Alk, Calc and Mag? How often do you guys dose Mag? could I just do 2 part and rely on water changes for Mag?

I only dose cal & alk daily, i only seem to need to dose mag like every 4 weeks and at that it only is around 1300 when I dose it manually. WC for me pretty much keep it in check.

I do have a 3 pump doser, but the Mg amount is so little I just manually do it w/ a WC when needed. Seems on my setup 7-8 oz speard out over day bring it up from 1300-1370's

[mazenbira]

Hi guys .. this is a great topic i was looking for such a thing .... i used to lose lotsssssss of my corals SPS and i used to add the Calc+mag from the trace elements by JBL and i start changing to Acua care type 1 calcium reactor + additional tube for mag and i have added the acuamedic kalk reactor everything is working fine and i have start adding recently new sps corals tell now it is fine ... but my main issue is the mag what ever i do it stays low never exceeds 1000 or 950 sometimes which impacting the color of the corals , calc is fine i have it 400 steady and alk ~10 to ~12
http://glassbox-design.com/2008/aqua...eactor-review/
and recently i have added acuamedic nitrate redactor NR 1000 http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/aqua...00ltr-435.html
since i could not reduce the nitrate lower than 1 so what ever i have done.
it is became a dream to see full algae live rocks it is converting very slowly now i am running my tank for more than a year
my tank dimension
H80cm X W50cm X L100cm = its almost 100g i am using MH 150w - 20000k
pls your idea how to end this dripping death

Mazen

[leporinus]

great info in this thread thx guys!

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by Fieroguy19

So I am curious about how/when everyone adjusts their alk when dosing 2 part. I am plagued with slow growth in my tank even though the levels are steady and in the right range. My corals have great color but really slow growth. I was wondering if it had something to do with how I adjust my levels. I keep my alk at 8.5 and Ca at 420 using limewater in my topoff and just a few ml of 2-part daily.

I am wondering if things would grow faster if I added more alk/cal even though my levels are stable, testing to make sure the corals are using the additional alk/cal that I am adding so it doesn't spike. I just figure that maybe their growth is being limited by the lower amount of dosing that I currently use even though things are stable with the current dosing levels.

are you feeding your corals.
Np pellets or carbon dosing increases the bacteria level in the tank. Some sps corals will feed on this bacteria
One of the reasons for carbon dosing is to bring down and keep down your nitrates and phosphates.
this in turn allows you to feed alot more so feed the heck out of your sps corals to get them to grow.
Once they start growing you will be able to determine the alk and calcium needs

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by mazenbira

and recently i have added acuamedic nitrate redactor NR 1000 http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/aqua...00ltr-435.html
since i could not reduce the nitrate lower than 1 so what ever i have done.
it is became a dream to see full algae live rocks it is converting very slowly

Mazen

consider carbon dosing and running a phosban reactor at the same time

[Achilles18]

I just used a bag of carbon & for the phospate, i run reactor which is the 2 little fishes works for me, as well mineral mud in my refugium sump all my sps corals seems doing everything showing fully extend polyps.

p.s i'm only using bio-calcium, dkh buffer kent, tech mag kent & coral accel kent contains amino acid in it. I dose bio-cal 1scoop of bio tea spoon every other day & dkh buffer every 2nd day to maintain my akhalinity, magnisium 3x a week around 1ml half. basically in my sump i've got coralife skimmer & sand bed of caribsea mineral mud, cheatos maybe 10lbs of LR's.

[Achilles18]

by the way my tank its 75g & i'm using tek light t5 8 bulbs, mix of sps frag some full colony & lps, recordia.

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by Achilles18

by the way my tank its 75g & i'm using tek light t5 8 bulbs, mix of sps frag some full colony & lps, recordia.

what are your levels of alk, mag and calcium?

[Achilles18]

cal around 420, alk 8.3 & mag somewher in between 1350 to 1400. to be honest im too lazy to check my water level all i care is my salinity keep it into this level 0.24-0.025 & every other day for 1 1/2 scoop of bio-cal tropic , plus dkh buffer as well 1 scoop & 2x 3ml coral-vite alon with coral accel kent 2ml 3x a week and nothing is advance method to run this tank basically everything is on standard 2 powerheads mj 1200 mod & koralia no.3 very simple tank set up hopefully this week i can post it up my tank, get my new camera nex-5 sony eww this is sweet !

[zoney]

Taken from a guide by red sea for recommendations on coral growth or high colour seems to be quiet a big difference in levels of cal mag and alk . But all in all its about keeping thoses levels stable to see the best results

Recommended water parameters for accelerated coral growth
• Algae nutrient levels of 1 – 2 ppm nitrate and 0.1 ppm phosphate; to maintain a relatively high
population of Zooxanthellae that will provide enough energy to the corals for growth.
• Boosted and balanced levels of the Foundation Elements [Alkalinity 12.6dKH / 4.5meq/L, Ca
465ppm, Mg 1390ppm] to properly utilize all of the extra energy
• Availability of the minor and trace elements taken up by the corals during growth [I2
0.06ppm, K 410ppm, Fe 0.15ppm]

Recommended water parameters for enhanced colouration
• Algae nutrient levels of 0.25 ppm nitrate and 0.02 ppm phosphate; to maintain a reduced level
of Zooxanthellae, reducing the brownish tint of the corals and inducing the protection response of
enhanced coloration.
• Reduced levels of the Foundation Elements [Alkalinity 8.2dKH / 2.9meq/L, Ca 430ppm, Mg
1310ppm]to lower the energy demand from coral growth
• Availability of the minor and trace elements used in the soft tissue for increased
colouration [I2 0.06ppm, K 380ppm, Fe 0.15ppm]

It seems that if your Foundation Elements are out of sync you can be plagued with problems But also seems that iodine potassium and iron have a huge part to play in all of this

your thoughts

Just to add my tank stats to this 875ltrs
Cal 410 , Alk 8.3 , Mag 1320 po4 0.08, no3 0.75-1 ppm Colour wise my sps are starting to really pick up and a lot of new growth on some cal/Mag are kept stable by a calcium reactor Alk never really drops to badly normally by .2 per week and is dealt with by a 15 %water change weekly

[theturk]

OH MY! Just checked my Mg -- is it possible that it measured WAY above 1500? I have a new Salifert Test kit (exp date 12/2013). I followed the directions and used all the first syringe (which with 0 in hte syringe = 1500). I refilled the syringe and it took about .4 ml to turn the solution blue. Estimating, I would say it is around 2000 or 2100.

I use a dosing pump with a diluted solution of Mg to add to the tank. Didnt think it was that much but maybe it was too much.

My other parameters are

Alk 9.46 (using Hanna meter)
CA 500 (using Hanna meter)
Nit 0
pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
Phos 0

I have a couple sps bleaching and some red slime/green algae that has showed up.

Guess I need a quick water change. How much should I change?

Thanks in advance

[pompeyjohn]

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

are you feeding your corals.
Np pellets or carbon dosing increases the bacteria level in the tank. Some sps corals will feed on this bacteria
One of the reasons for carbon dosing is to bring down and keep down your nitrates and phosphates.
this in turn allows you to feed alot more so feed the heck out of your sps corals to get them to grow.
Once they start growing you will be able to determine the alk and calcium needs

What would you suggest feeding? I expect targeted would be better, but for me broadcast via dosing pump is more practical. Thanks in advance.

[Nammy]

I just finished reading the entire thread!
Can reading too much about cal, alk, mag, etc… give you a headache?

[Bugger]

What are the levels for water quility in the wild. WHY do those corals grow so fast?

[Bugger]

• Availability of the minor and trace elements used in the soft tissue for increased
colouration [I2 0.06ppm, K 380ppm, Fe 0.15ppm]

What does the 12 0.06ppm stand for?

[CaptBlenny]

Originally Posted by Bugger

What does the 12 0.06ppm stand for?

Iodine of 0.06 parts per million
then for Potassium and Iron

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by Nammy

I just finished reading the entire thread!
Can reading too much about cal, alk, mag, etc… give you a headache?

most definetly
The basic information is to keep your levels of calcium, magnesium and alkalinity with in accepted ranges
calcium 390 to 420 anything over that is a waste
alk 7.6 to 11 dkH
magnesium over 1300 ppm

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by Bugger

What are the levels for water quility in the wild. WHY do those corals grow so fast?

seawater:
390 ppm calcium
7.6 alkalinity
1300 magnesiium

Corals grow so fast in the wild because they live in a nutrient specific environment. It is very difficult to achieve the level of nutrients they are accustomed in the wild because we just don't have the filtration and flow rates to duplicate those in the ocean without causing other problems in our glass cages.

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by CaptBlenny

Iodine of 0.06 parts per million
then for Potassium and Iron

To Reef Central

[emeraude1484]

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

most definetly
The basic information is to keep your levels of calcium, magnesium and alkalinity with in accepted ranges
calcium 390 to 420 anything over that is a waste
alk 7.6 to 11 dkH
magnesium over 1300 ppm

Thanks for that! Short and sweet!

What tests are suggested (brand) and what is suggested for basic dosing for a beginner?

[klondike4001]

Originally Posted by emeraude1484

Thanks for that! Short and sweet!

What tests are suggested (brand) and what is suggested for basic dosing for a beginner?

Salifert (More specific)/Elos for Mg
Hanna for Alk (I prefer Ca as well)
Salifert for Ca

It really depends what brand of additives you're planning on using, I could give basic instructions but without knowing what brand you're using, what your tank is stocked with or the maturity of your tank I could unknowingly be setting you up for a disaster.

[emeraude1484]

Originally Posted by klondike4001

Salifert (More specific)/Elos for Mg
Hanna for Alk (I prefer Ca as well)
Salifert for Ca

It really depends what brand of additives you're planning on using, I could give basic instructions but without knowing what brand you're using, what your tank is stocked with or the maturity of your tank I could unknowingly be setting you up for a disaster.

This is a blank slate for additives/ dosing/ reactors etc.

Here's the tank about 2 weeks ago, having issues...
[IMG][/IMG]

90 gal dt 20gal sump/refugium
running gfo, carbon in reactors, tunze 9005,
acros, birdnests, duncans, torch, squamosa (needs to find a new home outgrowing tank) and crocea. Fish 2 clowns, 1 yellow watchman, 1 mandy, and 1 firefish.

Basic instructions would be great if possible.

Thanks!

[BigEaterDan]

Right stupid question time is having your calcium at 500 magnesium at 1400 enough to cause problems in a montipora torch or a toadstool leather coral I know the other 2 aren't sps but for the life of me I can't find any other problem but still got to do an iodine test

[looneyreefer]

Great info! I just am getting into sps and got myself cal/alk/mag supplements along with test kits. Waiting for all to come in mail and will then test and adjust.

What do you guys recommend for a way to does them into tank? Just put amount needed and dump into display all at once? Any specific time of day (lights on or off).

[faisal629]

just read this thread...i have a couple frags of sps, I do not dose cause i never see any drop in any of my levels, i think the bi-weekly 20% WC are doing the job for me atm, im planing on getting a KALC reactor to be on the safe side.
my concern is does any of this sound believable or am i being fooled by my tank?