Does Chemi Pure Blue take out macro elements?

Zfishman · May 6, 2018

I have a 100 gal mixed reef tank, 2 and 1/2 yrs old with mostly softies and a green montipora. About 6 months ago the monti started getting really faded and dull brown color. I started doing weekly water changes 15 gal (Coralife Salt)and the monti did not improve one bit. I sent a water sample to Triton and everything was good except boron was 1.13mg/l setpoint was 4.50mg/l, Potassium was 349.00 setpoint 400.00mg/l, and Sulphur was 742.00mg/l setpoint 900.00mg/l. I purchased the Triton elements and have been dosing them 1 at a time to see which one makes the big difference. Example: when I finished dosing Potassium for x number of days , I started Boron and that is what is making a huge difference with the Monti. Question: Why didn't my Coralife weekly water changes raise the Macro elements that I was low on? I use Chemi Pure Blue for really clear water, could that remove the Boron? I'm not sure where to go from here once I finish getting my macro elements in line so this doesn't happen again? Maybe different salt mix? Thanks for any possible solutions!

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 6, 2018

It depends on what you mean by macroalgae elements, but it is certainly not appreciably altering potassium, sulfate, and probably not borate.

FWIW, I wonder if the effect you are seeing is the potassium correction, not the boron. I'm not convinced corals care much about borate levels, but I'm certainly open to seeing more info on the topic of boron, which is poorly understood.

Zfishman · May 6, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It depends on what you mean by macroalgae elements, but it is certainly not appreciably altering potassium, sulfate, and probably not borate.

FWIW, I wonder if the effect you are seeing is the potassium correction, not the boron. I'm not convinced corals care much about borate levels, but I'm certainly open to seeing more info on the topic of boron, which is poorly understood.

Thank you for the advice. Do salt mixes have meaningful different levels of Potassium in them? I never see that info on the side of the bucket. What would be the best way to proceed? Get a potassium test kit or change salt mixes? What salt mix do you personally use?

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 6, 2018

I think nearly all salt mixes have normal levels of potassium.

Can you link the whole report?

Zfishman · May 6, 2018

Possibly. I might have to have one of my kids show me how to do that.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 6, 2018

I'm mostly looking to see if salinity is just low (hence the major ions are low) or if there is some imbalance present between the major ions, with some high and some low.

Zfishman · May 7, 2018

Here is my water test from Triton. Thanks, Randy

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 7, 2018

Salinity looks a bit low and I’d raise it. You need more potassium than that and I’d dose it. After raising salinity, I wouldn’t worry about sulfate. I am not convinced the boron will help, but it is easy to dose up to NSW levels.