Parameters

[bryan oestreich]

So I guess I'm here because I have a question or two. Mainly on dosing and stability. But let's start off with my own parameters:
Temp:79
Salinity: 1.026 (refractometer)
Alkalinity: 9.9dkh (salifert)
Nitrate: 15ppm (API)
Calcium: 370 (red sea)
Magnesium: 1260 (red sea)
PH: 7.8
Phosphate: .25 or less (API - expires 8/16)

I'll start off with calcium. I can never seem to get it higher than 400. I believe the LFS which where I get my water must be lower because I do 15% water changes weekly. Maybe 20% once a month. So I think I should just start dosing calcium so I can get it in the 440-450 range. Opinions?

Next PH is it too low.i hear I jus male sure it doesn't go lower. True?

My phosphates are kinda showing on my API chart color is hard to tell but looks no higher than .25 and again it is about to expire so I don't know if I should trust it. Thoughts?

Your more than welcome to comment on anything. Any advice is better than none.

For filtration i use. Aqua clear 70 with micro sponge and activated carbon in it.
Don't remember the name of the skimmer but only rated for a 70 gallon. (This tank was transferred from a 30 gallon. Hence the smaller skimmer). Will this be a long term problem or will it make due?

Lighting is 2 16" LED fixtures full spectrum. 55x3watts each. 50% blue 25% white. blue on for 10hrs. Whites on for 8hrs.

This is a 65 gallon tank. 48x13x24. 60lb live rock. 55lb live sand.

Last question I have is troubles with diatoms. I had the 30gal running for 7months then transferred into this tank and it's been 2months.

 

[Sabellafella]

So I guess I'm here because I have a question or two. Mainly on dosing and stability. But let's start off with my own parameters:
Temp:79
Salinity: 1.026 (refractometer)
Alkalinity: 9.9dkh (salifert)
Nitrate: 15ppm (API)
Calcium: 370 (red sea)
Magnesium: 1260 (red sea)
PH: 7.8
Phosphate: .25 or less (API - expires 8/16)

I'll start off with calcium. I can never seem to get it higher than 400. I believe the LFS which where I get my water must be lower because I do 15% water changes weekly. Maybe 20% once a month. So I think I should just start dosing calcium so I can get it in the 440-450 range. Opinions?

Next PH is it too low.i hear I jus male sure it doesn't go lower. True?

My phosphates are kinda showing on my API chart color is hard to tell but looks no higher than .25 and again it is about to expire so I don't know if I should trust it. Thoughts?

Your more than welcome to comment on anything. Any advice is better than none.

For filtration i use. Aqua clear 70 with micro sponge and activated carbon in it.
Don't remember the name of the skimmer but only rated for a 70 gallon. (This tank was transferred from a 30 gallon. Hence the smaller skimmer). Will this be a long term problem or will it make due?

Lighting is 2 16" LED fixtures full spectrum. 55x3watts each. 50% blue 25% white. blue on for 10hrs. Whites on for 8hrs.

This is a 65 gallon tank. 48x13x24. 60lb live rock. 55lb live sand.

Last question I have is troubles with diatoms. I had the 30gal running for 7months then transferred into this tank and it's been 2months.

Looks good, i would invest in making your own saltwater, anything under 360 can hinder growth of calcification. Theres a high chance you can just do waterchanges to maintain elevated levels.

 

[bryan oestreich]

Looks good, i would invest in making your own saltwater, anything under 360 can hinder growth of calcification. Theres a high chance you can just do waterchanges to maintain elevated levels.

I won't be able to invest for about another year because I'm moving so I'm looking to be able to maintain by dosing calcium until I can run my own ro/di system. Would it do any harm? What brand would I use?

 

[Captaingills]

No harm, in my opinion. Many reefers I've spoken to maintain calcium and Alk balance with frequent water changes. It difficult with larger tanks, so dosing is a less expensive way to go. There are dosing pumps that are affordable that will make your life easier.

 

[Waterjockey]

So I guess I'm here because I have a question or two. Mainly on dosing and stability. But let's start off with my own parameters:
Temp:79
Salinity: 1.026 (refractometer)
Alkalinity: 9.9dkh (salifert)
Nitrate: 15ppm (API)
Calcium: 370 (red sea)
Magnesium: 1260 (red sea)
PH: 7.8
Phosphate: .25 or less (API - expires 8/16)

I'll start off with calcium. I can never seem to get it higher than 400. I believe the LFS which where I get my water must be lower because I do 15% water changes weekly. Maybe 20% once a month. So I think I should just start dosing calcium so I can get it in the 440-450 range. Opinions?

Next PH is it too low.i hear I jus male sure it doesn't go lower. True?

My phosphates are kinda showing on my API chart color is hard to tell but looks no higher than .25 and again it is about to expire so I don't know if I should trust it. Thoughts?

Your more than welcome to comment on anything. Any advice is better than none.

For filtration i use. Aqua clear 70 with micro sponge and activated carbon in it.
Don't remember the name of the skimmer but only rated for a 70 gallon. (This tank was transferred from a 30 gallon. Hence the smaller skimmer). Will this be a long term problem or will it make due?

Lighting is 2 16" LED fixtures full spectrum. 55x3watts each. 50% blue 25% white. blue on for 10hrs. Whites on for 8hrs.

This is a 65 gallon tank. 48x13x24. 60lb live rock. 55lb live sand.

Last question I have is troubles with diatoms. I had the 30gal running for 7months then transferred into this tank and it's been 2months.

My API phosphate test kit always showed .25 or less....got suspicious and tested my tap water, pond water, rodi water....all .25. Got a Hanna phophate checker and got 1.08 on the tank. Threw the API phosphate test in the garbage.
I dosed calcium before moving to kalk ato. All I had available at the lfs was Seachem. It worked fine.

Cheers!

 

[Captaingills]

Looking at your tank your purple coralline algae looks good. I'd say your calcium is doing well. Have you verified your test results?

 

[bryan oestreich]

My API phosphate test kit always showed .25 or less....got suspicious and tested my tap water, pond water, rodi water....all .25. Got a Hanna phophate checker and got 1.08 on the tank. Threw the API phosphate test in the garbage.
I dosed calcium before moving to kalk ato. All I had available at the lfs was Seachem. It worked fine.

Cheers!

You recommend any cheaper phosphate tests?

 

[Captaingills]

I think you hit it, Waterjockey. Maybe tests are off.

 

[bryan oestreich]

Looking at your tank your purple coralline algae looks good. I'd say your calcium is doing well. Have you verified your test results?

No I haven't that why I been concerned because of the good coralline. And no trouble with corals. I always hear red sea is good. I might try salifert

 

[Captaingills]

Waterjockey, how much ago do you go through a day? How big a batch do you make?

 

[Captaingills]

I like Salifert, but always take sample to las to backup your readings.

 

[Captaingills]

Sorry, to lfs.

 

[Waterjockey]

You recommend any cheaper phosphate tests?

Sorry...I only have experience with API and Hanna. Many reefers report good results with Salifert though

Cheers!

 

[Captaingills]

My API phosphate test kit always showed .25 or less....got suspicious and tested my tap water, pond water, rodi water....all .25. Got a Hanna phophate checker and got 1.08 on the tank. Threw the API phosphate test in the garbage.
I dosed calcium before moving to kalk ato. All I had available at the lfs was Seachem. It worked fine.

Cheers!

How much kalkw do you make up at a time for your ato? How much ato do you use a day?

 

[Captaingills]

I

No I haven't that why I been concerned because of the good coralline. And no trouble with corals. I always hear red sea is good. I might try salifert

use Salifert and Hanna as a backup. Salifert is quick and easy and seems accurate.

 

[Waterjockey]

Waterjockey, how much ago do you go through a day? How big a batch do you make?

Calcium? I was going through the equivilent of about a tablespoon and a half a week. My entire system is only about 40 gallons and mostly LPS though. I make up all my dosing stuff to last me about 30 days at a time (I travel a lot). I use 1.5 litre containers. So I would mix up about 6 tablespoons to 1.5 litres rodi and set the pump for 50ml/24 hour day, dosed throughout the day. I actually do it by weight, and have a label on each container with how many grams per liter to make when the container is low. I have a bunch of small bottles of dosing stuff as well and manually dose if the system is slightly out of whack (water change with different salt, etc)

Cheers!

 

[Sabellafella]

I won't be able to invest for about another year because I'm moving so I'm looking to be able to maintain by dosing calcium until I can run my own ro/di system. Would it do any harm? What brand would I use?

Do they sell rodi water? The brands up to you, all the salts are good. I currently use half instant ocean with half reef crystals. You could always buy just rodi and mix your own, because wether your lfs is trustworthy or a good store, you absolutly dont know whats in the saltwater. If you do water changes 1-4 times a month, i would invest in mixing your own salt.

 

[Waterjockey]

How much kalkw do you make up at a time for your ato? How much ato do you use a day?

I have a 20 gallon garbage can in the basement below my tank for the kalk, and use a brs 5ml/min dosing pump as my ato pump. I currently mix a little under 1/2 strength kalk (about 3/4 tablespoon per gallon), and it works for me. I probably go through about a half gallon a day or less in makeup water.

Cheers!

 

[Sabellafella]

Yea imo testing p04 with api is worthless, youll never no your real p04 value. You could go with something like nyos or salifert for now just to give you a general idea, but next time you grab fresh sw from the lfs test it and see if its low. That could be the reason why your calc is low

 

[bryan oestreich]

Do they sell rodi water? The brands up to you, all the salts are good. I currently use half instant ocean with half reef crystals. You could always buy just rodi and mix your own, because wether your lfs is trustworthy or a good store, you absolutly dont know whats in the saltwater. If you do water changes 1-4 times a month, i would invest in mixing your own salt.

I can mix my own that's not hard I'll jus start doing that. How much salt per gallon to get target range 1.024-1.026?