AF Comp +1, +2 +3 Dosing but high CA/Mg and K

marcustan · Dec 23, 2016

Hello,

I'll be grateful for some ideas on my Ca/Mg problem. I've been using AF Comp +1, +2, +3 for a few months now. And recently I have encountered skewed Ca/Mg and K readings.

Basic info:
Net Vol: ~340 L
Nutrient control: Zeolites (500ml), Phos minus (500ml), carbon (170ml) - stable amounts for 4 months, also Siporax (3L) and Seachem Matrix (4L), Marine Pure block (1), Santa Monica HOG 3x UAS, Zeobak, Pro Bio S, NP Pro, Bio-mate
PO4 - 0 and NO3 - 3 ppm
Additives: KZ Amino and Coral vitaliser - sparingly
Skimmer: Deltec 1455
Heavily Bioload (intentional - to push Nutrient control to its limits): 15 Anthias, 3 chromis, Harem of 3 Bellus angles, Yellow eye Kole. Feeding frequently with Pellets and flake (5-6/d) and 2.5 cubes frozen nightly).
Coral: Majority SPS (moderate stocking, good growth and encrusting) only 4 LPS.
Lighting: MH 250W 20K Radium, T5s and LEDs (for sunrise and sunset)

Chronological problems:
1. Started AF Balling a few months back and all parameters stable until 2 months ago. No particular event identified.
2. Ca - 500/Mg 1500/K 430 skewed upward, which I attributed to my trail push of salinity to 35-36 ppt.
3. Alk has always been steady 6.85 -7.15
4. I performed 4 water changes in 10 days to which was successful in correcting Ca 430/Mg 1440/ K 420. I have recalibrated the GHL Dosing pump twice.
5. After 2 weeks, parameters is up again (tested today) Ca 500/Mg 1590/K 430 but Alk 7.15 SG 1.025.
6. I have lost 2 small colonies to RTN from base up presumably due to the unstable parameters.

I am aware that AF Balling should be dosed at the same volume. However, I can't find a solution to this. Is my tank consuming Ca/Mg slower that my Alk?

Should I reduce Comp +1 and +3 dosing but supplement trace dosing separately?

Many thanks and cheers!
M

ChrisQ0904 · Dec 23, 2016

I was experiencing almost the same thing, but I was having higher alk (9-10dkh) and my Mg and Ca were both fine (1350-1400 and 430ish). I ended up lowering my dosing of component 2 and kept component 3 the same. I was dosing 15ml of each but dropped my component 2 to 10ml and I still see it creeping up slowly so may even drop the dose again.

andrew james · Dec 23, 2016

Could there be another source of alk, like a salt mix with high alk?

ChrisQ0904 · Dec 23, 2016

andrew james said:
Could there be another source of alk, like a salt mix with high alk?

If this was aimed to me then no not that I can think of. I'm using their reef salt and do not add anything else into my tank besides AF products. (ABEV and phosminus and the coral food)

jsker · Dec 23, 2016

Welcome to R2R

and posting

I dose what my system uses, on that note I dose 1+3+ the same amounts, and 2+ different. You do not have to dose the same amounts

For example I have 82g or 310 liters of water volume. this include sump and tank minus rock.
when I started 1+2+3+ I was dosing 100 ml a day of each, after a year I am dosing 36 ml daily 1+3+ and 32 ml of 2+. I dose 4 times a day to spread out the dose so that the parameters say more consistent instead of being high when dosed and then depleting the rest of the day.

I check my number once a week just to make sure

marcustan · Dec 23, 2016

andrew james said:
Could there be another source of alk, like a salt mix with high alk?

Like @ChrisQ0904, I am using the AF reef salt, without any additives. I have tested my mixed ASW batch and the parameters are within the stated range.

ChrisQ0904 said:
I was experiencing almost the same thing, but I was having higher alk (9-10dkh) and my Mg and Ca were both fine (1350-1400 and 430ish). I ended up lowering my dosing of component 2 and kept component 3 the same. I was dosing 15ml of each but dropped my component 2 to 10ml and I still see it creeping up slowly so may even drop the dose again.

This is the route I ended up taking last night. I was dosing 36ml of Comp +1, +2, +3 and now I have reduced Comp +1, +3 to 24ml to allow the elements to drift down with the weekly water change.

marcustan · Dec 23, 2016

jsker said:
Welcome to R2R and posting

I dose what my system uses, on that note I dose 1+3+ the same amounts, and 2+ different. You do not have to dose the same amounts

For example I have 82g or 310 liters of water volume. this include sump and tank minus rock.
when I started 1+2+3+ I was dosing 100 ml a day of each, after a year I am dosing 36 ml daily 1+3+ and 32 ml of 2+. I dose 4 times a day to spread out the dose so that the parameters say more consistent instead of being high when dosed and then depleting the rest of the day.

I check my number once a week just to make sure

thanks @jsker for the welcome, I'm a long time lurker, first time poster.
It's reassuring to know that you can separate the dosing amounts of the Balling salts. My Acros have lost a lot of the colour and darkened presumable due to the jump in Ca/Mg and presumably the trace elements too.
I too started with the same amounts with 12 dosings a day.
I check my Alk daily in the morning and Ca/Mg/K/PO4/NO3 2-3x per week.

jsker · Dec 23, 2016

I would say once you get your Ca down to 450 along with 3+ if you do not know is your mental salts and potassium, things should start perking up.

marcustan · Dec 24, 2016

Thanks @jsker ...
I'll use Ca/Mg as a guide, which is useful. Its hard to reliably test for trace elements , but I'll use the Acro colour as a guide. I can always dose trace elements separately.

Merry X'mas

jsker · Dec 24, 2016

marcustan said:
Thanks @jsker ...
I'll use Ca/Mg as a guide, which is useful. Its hard to reliably test for trace elements , but I'll use the Acro colour as a guide. I can always dose trace elements separately.

Merry X'mas

I say once the Ca and Mg are in line. 420 to 450 Ca and Mg 1300 1380 what ever mls that you are running the Ca/Mg run 3+. Do you mix your own 1+2+3+?. This is in each 1+2+3+ link 1+ has component A & B 2+ has component C and 3+ has component D in it. One other hint, do not dose 1+2+3+ together. I separate dosing 1+2+3+ by 15 minutes for each one, or they will just cancel each other out. There is a scientific term, but it not coming to mind right now.

Merry Christmas to you also

ChrisQ0904 · Dec 24, 2016

jsker said:
I say once the Ca and Mg are in line. 420 to 450 Ca and Mg 1300 1380 what ever mls that you are running the Ca/Mg run 3+. Do you mix your own 1+2+3+?. This is in each 1+2+3+ link 1+ has component A & B 2+ has component C and 3+ has component D in it. One other hint, do not dose 1+2+3+ together. I separate dosing 1+2+3+ by 15 minutes for each one, or they will just cancel each other out. There is a scientific term, but it not coming to mind right now.

Merry Christmas to you also

Precipitation?

jsker · Dec 24, 2016

ChrisQ0904 said:
Precipitation?

Ahhh yes, thank you.

I knew someone would know

marcustan · Dec 24, 2016

jsker said:
I say once the Ca and Mg are in line. 420 to 450 Ca and Mg 1300 1380 what ever mls that you are running the Ca/Mg run 3+. Do you mix your own 1+2+3+?. This is in each 1+2+3+ link 1+ has component A & B 2+ has component C and 3+ has component D in it. One other hint, do not dose 1+2+3+ together. I separate dosing 1+2+3+ by 15 minutes for each one, or they will just cancel each other out. There is a scientific term, but it not coming to mind right now.

Merry Christmas to you also

Thank @jsker for the explanation. I now understand.
I use the 5L Comp +1, +2, +3 as the tank is only 340L. I dose each component 15 mins apart at the intake of the return.
For my next project, which is my ELOS 160Xl reboot, I have a DaStaCo Extrema 2 and I plan to use the Comp A B, but I haven't thought through that part yet, a job for 2017!