Man, I wanna grow some ...

specialk · Oct 10, 2013

What's up my fellow reefers ... ( I always feel like I'm writing good subject copy in the classified section to intrigue more on lookers to my question .. lol):smile: Anyways, new 125 tank been running for about 2 weeks now, decent amount of live rock (not overstocked at all with live rock in fact on the lighter side) and mixed bag of corals and running 3 Ocean Revive LED S026's . Wanting to add more to my SPS and about to pick up some nice SPS frags at my local frag swap in about 2 weeks. I want to make sure that these babies will grow as best and fast as they can and make sure the environment is right for them. I have read and looked at the sticky water parameters on here and mine are ok... however many stuff I have read says my parameters will have to be higher for "optimal growth" ... Will I be ok with my following readings or will I have to get this up a bit more with dosing? Calcium -- 420 Alk --- 1320 Mag --- 9.8 / 3.5

redfishbluefish · Oct 10, 2013

A two week old tank and it has already cycled? Did you use one of the nitrification additives to speed up the cycle?

Anyway, I believe you have flipped your Mag and Alk numbers in the OP. I think you wanted to post:

Ca - 420ppm
Alk - 9.8dKH/3.5 meq
Mag - 1320ppm

These numbers are in the ballpark. HERE is a nice read from Dr. Randy Holmes Farley (with additional references at the bottom of the article.)

I personally like my Alk a little lower (I run a low nutrient tank) and my Mag a little higher (1400 range,) But again, these numbers you posted are acceptable.

What will you be doing to maintain them?

Dan1789 · Oct 10, 2013

Sps in a 4 week old tank will be difficult unless you are really experienced. I've always been told stability is more important than hitting specific numbers. So, if you can keep the numbers you have now from fluctuating, I wouldn't worry about hitting that "ideal" number.

specialk · Oct 10, 2013

redfishbluefish said:
A two week old tank and it has already cycled? Did you use one of the nitrification additives to speed up the cycle?

Anyway, I believe you have flipped your Mag and Alk numbers in the OP. I think you wanted to post:

Ca - 420ppm
Alk - 9.8dKH/3.5 meq
Mag - 1320ppm

What will you be doing to maintain them?

In terms of cycling -- I used all live established rock. (and it has been up for about 3 weeks now, that's my bad -- time flies!) You also are correct I flipped the numbers, what you have posted is what I meant to post. For maintaining, that was going to be my next question in terms of suggestions on maintaining. My original thought was check the parameters every week and dose if necessary based on where I want my numbers.

redfishbluefish · Oct 10, 2013

specialk said:
....... For maintaining, that was going to be my next question in terms of suggestions on maintaining. My original thought was check the parameters every week and dose if necessary based on where I want my numbers.

For dosing Alk, Calc and Mag, I use DIY "two part," again from Randy Holmes Farley....HERE.

Maybe with a few small frags you can get away with dosing/testing weekly....but as mentioned earlier, stability is your friend.

I dose every day...actually three times a day for each of Alk and Calc. Mag is added as needed, typically weekly or every other week. The alk and calc are added using dosing pumps connected to a reef controller. I only test about once a week and adjust the pumps accordingly.

specialk · Oct 10, 2013

redfishbluefish said:
For dosing Alk, Calc and Mag, I use DIY "two part," again from Randy Holmes Farley....HERE.

Maybe with a few small frags you can get away with dosing/testing weekly....but as mentioned earlier, stability is your friend.

I dose every day...actually three times a day for each of Alk and Calc. Mag is added as needed, typically weekly or every other week. The alk and calc are added using dosing pumps connected to a reef controller. I only test about once a week and adjust the pumps accordingly.

Thanks .. great read! I know many who get their materials from places like BRS, but looking at that 2 part DIY system, that's about as easy and cheap as it gets. I am going to go that route for sure! And I have no problem with dosing everyday for Alk and Calcium ... and then as you said magnesium as needed. This route seems pretty easy and pretty inexpensive as well! And stability being important I will def file that away and keep that in mind at all times! With a 125, and adding about 5-6 SPS frags, so you think I will indeed need to dose daily? I know you said you do it daily, but I was not sure if the size of your tank and load has anything to do with that, making my situation different.

specialk · Oct 10, 2013

I will also be doing 10% water changes every week, does this play into things at all?

robbrouse · Oct 10, 2013

Everything I've been told and have read. You have to keep your levels steady. If you don't want to dose daily then you need to test and see what happens the day after you dose. This is why with mu buys work schedule I have not been getting into LPS.

redfishbluefish · Oct 10, 2013

The amount and size of hard corals (and clams), type of salt your are using, and frequency/volume of water changes will all impact amount of alk and calc you will use.

I have a 90 gallon established mixed reef (no clams), and I am dosing approximately 45 mls each per day or alk and cal. I use a mix of Reef Crystals and Instant Ocean, and do a 15 gallon water change every week. My target Alk, Calc and Mag numbers are 7 – 7.5 dKH, 400 ppm and 1400 ppm, respectively.