Question on water changes and salt.

Da Ghost · Apr 12, 2018

Greetings,

I use HW Reefer salt in my 150 and have been doing 15g-16g water changes weekly. Total water is a[prox 165g. I only dose esv two part, k and fe. Ca is high intentionally, ironisch high but recently dialed back, and k is spot on and holding for about 2 months with no movement up or down. I run a zero system but only at 50% ( don’t ask) I recently had my water tested by ATI and a question was asked of me what do I dose because all my major elements are high.

They are high, but not high enough that it is outside a green check mark. My question and I’m sure of the answer but wanted feed back is: is the weekly water changes to much that the elements are not getting used up in my tank and with each weekly water change I am essentially adding more supplements from the salt.

Which then begs the next question, if true, how long should I try to space out my water changes? I am at every 7 days now. Should I jump to 14 or take a more conservative 10 day change.

I am considering every 2 weeks (14 days) and then restest my water after two months and go from there. Thoughts?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2018

If what you say is literally true

"because all my major elements are high"

That is simply the result of salinity being too high and is not altered by water changes with the same salinity.

dragon99 · Apr 13, 2018

Unless as Randy stated, the salinity is too high on the new water, a water change can't contribute to high levels. The salt mix will have all of the elements at the correct ratios and should dilute any levels that are high in your tank.

Da Ghost · Apr 13, 2018

Yes- literally true. Boo, I thought this was going to save me some water changes LOL.

I keep my salinity on apex at 35.0 ~ 35.3 through ATI that equals 34.7 -35. My salinity remains stable. (See ATI results posted)

For Zeo I dose the required items zeo bak, zeo something and something else as a must do.

Hmmm- Once every two weeks I might, if i remember, add pohl's xtra, its a zeo product. (yes that is one time in two weeks, i would hardly consider that dosing, BUT maybe that is the culprit??) I can honestly say for the last month after a power outage I have not added it to my tank (My PO4 went crazy had some die off) so for this most recent ATI test it would not have been present in my system.

I feed algae barn phyto daily but again in my 165 I only add 1/4 of what they say I should. I add primarily for the sump pods and cheato and when I feed corals.

I feed daily hikari frozen brine with spirulena two cubes and
PE mysis two cubes and Rods Original half cube size

Weekends they get a double if not triple feeding but smaller portions.

I alternate weeks with coral feeding (yes, i know it is not necessary If i feed the tank) week 1 Reef Roids once a week and week 2 Reef Chili twice a week.

Sometimes i will drop pellet food at night for the scavengers, but outside f that that is it.

I was considering dosing I as that is the only thing that is way low, but I have not found an easy test ( lazy ).

So that is my routine that is all I do. I try NOT to complicate this already complicated hobby.

I did post my ATI results and maybe, hopefully I am just over-exaggerating the numbers. Like i said typically if i see a green check i really don't give it a second look.

Thanks for the help.

Da Ghost · Apr 13, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
If what you say is literally true

"because all my major elements are high"

That is simply the result of salinity being too high and is not altered by water changes with the same salinity.

Randy, I posted my results, should I consider maybe lowering my salinity?? I think that is what I am reading, if so based on my numbers from ATI can you suggest a range to maybe shoot for??

Thank you

dragon99 · Apr 13, 2018

When I use this site (posted by someone I forget who to credit) https://monrecifamoi.saulme.fr/salinite/elements_compute_salinity.php
It calculates your salinity as 35.5 ppt which then makes sense why all of your major ions are little on the high side.
I'm not sure how ATI got 34.8 PSU, that doesn't jive with the ICP results.

Da Ghost · Apr 13, 2018

THANK YOU!!!!! That 35.5 would make more since.

I looked at my log for when I submitted/collected that sample on Monday my Salinity was actually 35.3 on APEX and had a spike the day before of 35.6 (remember i kept it high on apex because i trusted ATI more then Apex so I adjusted my home system -3. So to me an APEX reading of 35.3 translated to a true ATI reading of 35. I have been using ATI on a quarterly basis.) it was just before a water change. I water change typically on Saturday, but that week it was Sunday and I noted the salinity was a tad high on introduction.

Problem solved. I will reduce my salinity and follow my apex salinity reading. drop it back to 34.5-34.8.

Thank you guys very much. Mystery managed, although I am a touch mad that I will need to do water changes every week still, i just knew this was a ticket to every other week LOL.

NEXT on list automatic water changes hmmmmmmmmmmmm??????

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2018

Da Ghost said:
Yes- literally true. Boo, I thought this was going to save me some water changes LOL.

I keep my salinity on apex at 35.0 ~ 35.3 through ATI that equals 34.7 -35. My salinity remains stable. (See ATI results posted)

For Zeo I dose the required items zeo bak, zeo something and something else as a must do.

Hmmm- Once every two weeks I might, if i remember, add pohl's xtra, its a zeo product. (yes that is one time in two weeks, i would hardly consider that dosing, BUT maybe that is the culprit??) I can honestly say for the last month after a power outage I have not added it to my tank (My PO4 went crazy had some die off) so for this most recent ATI test it would not have been present in my system.

I feed algae barn phyto daily but again in my 165 I only add 1/4 of what they say I should. I add primarily for the sump pods and cheato and when I feed corals.

I feed daily hikari frozen brine with spirulena two cubes and
PE mysis two cubes and Rods Original half cube size

Weekends they get a double if not triple feeding but smaller portions.

I alternate weeks with coral feeding (yes, i know it is not necessary If i feed the tank) week 1 Reef Roids once a week and week 2 Reef Chili twice a week.

Sometimes i will drop pellet food at night for the scavengers, but outside f that that is it.

I was considering dosing I as that is the only thing that is way low, but I have not found an easy test ( lazy ).

So that is my routine that is all I do. I try NOT to complicate this already complicated hobby.

I did post my ATI results and maybe, hopefully I am just over-exaggerating the numbers. Like i said typically if i see a green check i really don't give it a second look.

Thanks for the help.