help needed decoding my tanks consummation info

ddc0715 · Dec 31, 2018

Help can someone decode this for me. I am only 5 month old when it comes to auto dosing. Some recommend ca of 450, mg 1350, alk 11+ for a mixed reef tank.

here we go

12-13-18 new tank results (I upgraded AKA MOVED from a 90g to a 150g mixed reef)
CA = 360
ALK= 9.2
MG= 1000

12-13-18 thru 12-15-18(slowly manually dosed) to set water parms

Tested on 12-15-18
CA = 480
ALK= 12.3
MG= 1400

Tested on 12-19-18
CA = 470 (drop of 10)
ALK= 10 (drop of 2.3)
MG= 1360 (drop of 40)

12-20-18 ----reinstalled my auto dose pumps, (dose equal parts right?) set pumps up as follows:
Ca=20 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 1 am hour
ALK=20 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 2 am hour
MG = 20 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 3 am hour

Tested on 12-22-18 after 2 days of dosing, water parms were
CA = 450 (drop of 20)
ALK= 9.2 (drop of .8)
MG= 1360 no change

Adjusted pumps to the following (dose equal parts right?)
Ca=40 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 1 am hour
ALK=40 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 2 am hour
MG = 40 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 3 am hour

Tested on 12-24-18 after 2 days of dosing @ 40 ml a day, water parms were
CA = 430 (drop of 20)
ALK= 8.7 (drop of.5)
MG= 1360 no change

(Manually dosed) to set water parms again.
CA = 490
ALK= 9.8
MG= 1360 did not adjust this

And

Adjusted pumps to the following (dose equal parts right?)
Ca=60 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 1 am hour
ALK=60 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 2 am hour
MG = 60 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 3 am hour

Tested on 12-27-18 after 3 days of dosing @ 60 ml a day, water parms were
CA = 470 (drop of 20)
ALK= 9 (drop of .8)
MG= 1400 (increase of 10)

Adjusted pumps to the following
Ca=90 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 1 am hour
ALK=90 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 2 am hour
MG = 60 ml, 6x a day, every day no adjustments made

Tested on 12-30-18
CA = 500 (increase of 30)
ALK= 9.8 (increase of .8)
MG= 1400 no change.

So am I monitoring these correctly? What should I change? whats is my tank telling me? i kinda know but im not sure.And whats next, now that I have FINALLY seen an increase in my numbers?

RobZilla04 · Dec 31, 2018

Big question is are you also doing water changes over that period of time? If so, which salt?

Dunno if you've been advised yet so I'll cover the basic here; match your salt choice for the desired parameter levels you want to keep. Based on the numbers on the top of your post, Red Sea Coral Pro would be the best option (Alk 12, Cal 450, Mg 1340).

You're going about the process correctly, but testing at different intervals (two days, three days, four days). Also keep in mind the accuracy of the hobby grade test kits. Especially the color changing ones. For me, Alk in a range of +/- .3 dkh, Cal +/- 40 ppm, and Mag +/- 50-60 are all safe ranges and I make no adjustments. Finally pH, salinity, temperature all play a role in consumption of these nutrients. If you're trying to hit a Calcium, or worse a Mag, level that is spot on the number every time, you're gonna drive yourself crazy (not to mention be swinging high and low constantly).

I suggest a range. Alk 10.5-11.5 dKH // Cal 430-460 // Mag 1250+

Just know that your Alk range is near the top of the scale of "safe". Perfect for mixed reefs yes, but still near the top.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 31, 2018

david campbell said:
Help can someone decode this for me. I am only 5 month old when it comes to auto dosing. Some recommend ca of 450, mg 1350, alk 11+ for a mixed reef tank.

here we go

12-13-18 new tank results (I upgraded AKA MOVED from a 90g to a 150g mixed reef)
CA = 360
ALK= 9.2
MG= 1000

12-13-18 thru 12-15-18(slowly manually dosed) to set water parms

Tested on 12-15-18
CA = 480
ALK= 12.3
MG= 1400

Tested on 12-19-18
CA = 470 (drop of 10)
ALK= 10 (drop of 2.3)
MG= 1360 (drop of 40)

12-20-18 ----reinstalled my auto dose pumps, (dose equal parts right?) set pumps up as follows:
Ca=20 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 1 am hour
ALK=20 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 2 am hour
MG = 20 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 3 am hour

Tested on 12-22-18 after 2 days of dosing, water parms were
CA = 450 (drop of 20)
ALK= 9.2 (drop of .8)
MG= 1360 no change

Adjusted pumps to the following (dose equal parts right?)
Ca=40 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 1 am hour
ALK=40 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 2 am hour
MG = 40 ml, 4x a day, every day thru out the 3 am hour

Tested on 12-24-18 after 2 days of dosing @ 40 ml a day, water parms were
CA = 430 (drop of 20)
ALK= 8.7 (drop of.5)
MG= 1360 no change

(Manually dosed) to set water parms again.
CA = 490
ALK= 9.8
MG= 1360 did not adjust this

And

Adjusted pumps to the following (dose equal parts right?)
Ca=60 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 1 am hour
ALK=60 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 2 am hour
MG = 60 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 3 am hour

Tested on 12-27-18 after 3 days of dosing @ 60 ml a day, water parms were
CA = 470 (drop of 20)
ALK= 9 (drop of .8)
MG= 1400 (increase of 10)

Adjusted pumps to the following
Ca=90 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 1 am hour
ALK=90 ml, 6x a day, every day thru out the 2 am hour
MG = 60 ml, 6x a day, every day no adjustments made

Tested on 12-30-18
CA = 500 (increase of 30)
ALK= 9.8 (increase of .8)
MG= 1400 no change.

So am I monitoring these correctly? What should I change? whats is my tank telling me? i kinda know but im not sure.And whats next, now that I have FINALLY seen an increase in my numbers?

What solutions are you dosing?

ddc0715 · Dec 31, 2018

no water change has been done yet on my new tank. its just two weeks old. i have added water (for evap) been using distilled water and whats left of my instant ocean reef crystals, i plan on upgrading my salt choice when that runs out. thanks for the advice on coral pro.

im using red sea mag chloride
BRS cal chloride mix it myself
sodium carb (i baked baking soda)

so i need to pic an interval (2 or 3 or four day) and stick with that choice when testing? got it

my pH, hangs around 8.1-8.2 salinity 1.024-1.025 and temperature 78-78.5.

not looking for spot on but would like a stable up or down of say .5 for alk for example.

i dont understand --you recommend shooting for Alk 10.5-11.5 dKH but also state that "my Alk range is near the top of the scale of "safe". Perfect for mixed reefs yes"(GREAT), but still near the top." Iis being at the top of safe a bad thing.?

ddc0715 · Dec 31, 2018

i read the article Do-It-Yourself Magnesium Supplements for the Reef Aquarium last night good stuff got lost a few times but got the mesg about it

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 31, 2018

david campbell said:
i dont understand --you recommend shooting for Alk 10.5-11.5 dKH but also state that "my Alk range is near the top of the scale of "safe". Perfect for mixed reefs yes"(GREAT), but still near the top." Iis being at the top of safe a bad thing.?

My recommendation is 7-11 dKH. There are advantages and disadvantages with each end of that range. Corals may grow faster at higher alkalinity, but you need to be more vigilent about nutrients not getting too low and colors may be weaker/browner in some cases.

RobZilla04 · Dec 31, 2018

david campbell said:
no water change has been done yet on my new tank. its just two weeks old. i have added water (for evap) been using distilled water and whats left of my instant ocean reef crystals, i plan on upgrading my salt choice when that runs out. thanks for the advice on coral pro.

im using red sea mag chloride
BRS cal chloride mix it myself
sodium carb (i baked baking soda)

so i need to pic an interval (2 or 3 or four day) and stick with that choice when testing? got it

my pH, hangs around 8.1-8.2 salinity 1.024-1.025 and temperature 78-78.5.

not looking for spot on but would like a stable up or down of say .5 for alk for example.

i dont understand --you recommend shooting for Alk 10.5-11.5 dKH but also state that "my Alk range is near the top of the scale of "safe". Perfect for mixed reefs yes"(GREAT), but still near the top." Iis being at the top of safe a bad thing.?

Being at the top of the scale isn't a bad thing. Just less room for error on the high side, that's all. Nutrients must be kept slightly higher too. If Nitrates & Phosphates drop too low, SPS can show significant signs of tissue loss / bleaching / browning etc.

Randy can speak better to the current dosing product choices. I believe that going with a standard two part or consistent DIY solution will be best down the road. I mention that because adjustments will be needed when switching between products/solutions.

How much coral is in the tank currently? Or better yet how stocked (with coral) would you say the 90 was before you upgraded?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 31, 2018

david campbell said:
no water change has been done yet on my new tank. its just two weeks old.

If the tank is 2 weeks old, I don't think any routine dosing is likely needed.

What is in the tank?

ddc0715 · Dec 31, 2018

ok livestock is
1 fuji foxface 4"
1 juvey emperor 3"
1 coral beauty 3"
1 blue jaw trigger 4" (NEW ADD OR NOT IN THE OLD 90)
11 blue green chromis 1.5" (NEW ADD OR NOT IN THE OLD 90)
1 diamond goby
1 blenny
1 peppermint shrimp.
1 emeral crab
8 turbos i think
8 Nassarius Snail
5 turbos 2 are almost the size of a tennis ball
1 star snail
1 Echinaster starfish
1 black spinny urchin

Corals
2- 6 headed duncans
1 octo spawn
1 two headed branching hammer (NEW ADD OR NOT IN THE OLD 90)
1 acan 3" dia about 8 small polyps
1 encrusting montapora
1 gsp on its own island
2 brown gorgonians about 8" tall
1 blasto about the size of a quarter
1 paly colony pretty large.
1 nuclear paly colony not to big about 6 scatter polyps (NEW ADD OR NOT IN THE OLD 90)
1 eagle eye zoa colony about the size of a ping pong ball
2 feater dusters
1 maroon color kenyi tree about 4" tall (NEW ADD OR NOT IN THE OLD 90)
1 red mushroom just showed up, about the size of a quarter.
1 pink birds nest 6" dia (NEW ADD OR NOT IN THE OLD 90)
1 toad stool about 3" across
1 -3 ployp neon green candy cane
1 -3 ployp reg candy cane

ddc0715 · Dec 31, 2018

PICS are in line from left to right

RobZilla04 · Dec 31, 2018

Based on the info and pix I would suppose there is some consumption. As for the two week period you were attempting to dial in dosing, I'd venture to say most adjustments were swings in either direction coupled with margin of error in the test kits.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 31, 2018

Assuming this is a properly balanced 2 part, I would dose 60-100 mL of each of alk and calcium each day for a week, without adjusting, and see where you are in terms of alk.

If this is my diy (e.g, BRS), it does not require equal parts dosing of the mag part. It is much less.

ddc0715 · Dec 31, 2018

i believe that is what i am do, i will set at 80 ml for CA (BRS brand cal chloride) and ALK (diy'ed baked baking soda) and retest in a week. what about the MG? what would you all recommend on that? based on the past 7 days, right now i am stable at 1400,and that includes a 60 ml daily dose each day. but im not the expert here.

secondly if mg is not need as often, aka depletes slower etc... why do i have a stable 1400? over the past 7 days. you would think at 60 mls a day;and a slower depletion rate my MG would be climbing.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 31, 2018

david campbell said:
i believe that is what i am do, i will set at 80 ml for CA (BRS brand cal chloride) and ALK (diy'ed baked baking soda) and retest in a week. what about the MG? what would you all recommend on that? based on the past 7 days, right now i am stable at 1400 ,and that includes a 60 ml daily dose each day. but im not the expert here.

I designed this recipe to need 610 mL of the magnesium part for each 1 full gallon of the other parts. It need not be dosed daily or even weekly, since magnesium depletion is very slow, but overall you dose 16% as much of it as the alk or calcium parts (so if you dose 100 mL of each part in a day, the need for the magnesium part is 16 mL per day).

ddc0715 · Dec 31, 2018

ok i have set my dose pumps at 80 ml for CA (BRS brand cal chloride) and ALK (diy'ed baked baking soda) and 13 ml of MG (red sea brand mg chloride) daily.

current water parms are
sal 1.025
ph 8.1
temp 78.5
CA = 500
ALK= 9.8
MG= 1400

going to ordered BRS brand MG mix, see yall in a week. am i forgetting anything here?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 31, 2018

The magnesium supplement was something you bought dry and mixed to my recipe? If not, I do not know its potency and so do not know how much is needed. It is also not as desirable in this application to not use a mix of mag sulfate and mag chloride, which prevents chloride from rising and sulfate from falling.

ddc0715 · Dec 31, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The magnesium supplement was something you bought dry and mixed to my recipe?

the answer is no. i am using and almost out of the red sea brand MG. the only ingredient listed on their bottle is magnesium chloride, as for the MG sulfate; unless i got it from the salt water i have added over the past year, i am going out on a limb and saying i have never intentionally dosed mag sulfate..... ever.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 1, 2019

I'm not certain exactly what form that magnesium takes (hydrated or not, for example). So until it runs out, I'd just add it when you apparently need it by testing.