PURP'd UP

[Redstag]

Does it affect to the Alk in your tank when you dose Purple Up?

 

[Paul_N]

i havent really checked cause everything seems to be doing alrite. but i will stop dosing until it lowers, but if i do will that stop the coraline growth cause its not fully covering the back but i have alot of purple dots and i dont want to stop and it all go away.. but a few of my zoa colonies havent fully opened lately, probably the high calcium levels im guessing.

but yea i dont really have to much that need high levels of calcium mostly zoas, candy cane, cup coral, galaxia, rics... a few others just cant think right now.

You really should test your parameters (Nitrates,Phosphates,Ca, Alk....at least ) to see where you are at. Your Ca levels may be fine. High Ca really should not cause things to start not opening. If your levels are too high then you will get precipitation in the tank and on the equipment. I have ran my Ca levels at 580 before. Issues with zoas could be anyting; phosphates, nitrates, lightning, flow.

 

[Flats Man]

i dont have a good enough alk test and dont have a mag test kit at all.. but i will test wat i can later and post it.

 

[Flats Man]

alk= low-normal
ph=7.8
cal=580ppm
nitrate=0
temp=80-84
salinity=1.025

 

[Flats Man]

is there any kind of solution i can put in my tank that lowers the calcium level?

 

[Paul_N]

No most people just let it come down on it's own. I wouldn't worry about Ca of 580 it will gradually come down. That really isn't hurting anything. Did you get that PH measurement during the day. PH will drop at night so if that reading is in the daytime then your PH could be going down 7.7 or lower at night and that could be causing issues.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

Purple up is a joke. It is literally insoluble in water, making it impossible to actually raise Ca levels. Purple up is fine aragonite (and they claim dissolved calcium) that can create false Ca readings while still in the water column.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2002/chem.htm

I agree with the 2-part dosing as necessary. I wouldn't dose/add anything unless you're actively testing for it.

 

[Harry_Y]

Like everything in this hobby just give it time it will come on it's own

You will get to the point where you will wish you did not have so much purple in there

 

[Grambruno]

I have used different salts and found Oceanic brand to keep calcium levels very high. I had to stop using purple up when I started using Oceanic cause calcium levels were above 500!
To answer your question.. I used purple up daily in my top-off water and followed directions on label.

 

[reefer916]

I used Purple Up for the first year in the hobby. It actually worked pretty well getting my rocks nice and purple and my father inlaw still uses it. However, I decided to switch over to a 2-Part Bi-Ionic because of the balance needed to prevent Alk swings for sps. After awhile you'll notice the correlation between Ca, Mg, Alk, and other trace elements and how if ones off it could throw others off as well. However, for starting out I never had problems with Purple Up and got good growth in my LPS. Just switched after getting into SPS dominated tanks.

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

It actually worked pretty well getting my rocks nice and purple and my father inlaw still uses it.

Take no offense to this, but no it didn't work... your proper husbandry and patience worked

Again, it's insoluble in water (at pH we keep aquaria). It will do as much for you as aragonite sand or crushed coral as your substrate.

 

[Speg]

I used Purple Up for the first year in the hobby. It actually worked pretty well getting my rocks nice and purple and my father inlaw still uses it. However, I decided to switch over to a 2-Part Bi-Ionic because of the balance needed to prevent Alk swings for sps. After awhile you'll notice the correlation between Ca, Mg, Alk, and other trace elements and how if ones off it could throw others off as well. However, for starting out I never had problems with Purple Up and got good growth in my LPS. Just switched after getting into SPS dominated tanks.

I never used purple up and my rocks are purple.....weird huh?

 

[reefer916]

No offense taken guys.. Guess it was good husbandry rather than the magical Purple Up solution..lol There's nothing that beats regular water changes and dosing according to your tanks consumption. There are so many products on the market for us that it's often overwhelming. All I can say is that I no longer use it and have a few bottles collecting dust in my stand.