Rate my parameters

[bozo]

Tank volume: 40 gallon total

LPS mainly. Euphyllia, zoas and acans

Age: 2 month old tank
Salt: Fritz RPM Blue Box
ALK: 7.7
CAL: 380
MAG: 1240
NO3: 1
PO4: 0.009
pH: 7.8-7.9
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 77F - 78F

Dosing:

1. ATI Essentials Pro - 3 mL per day of each bottle
2. Nanno phyto - 14 mL a day
3. Microbacter 7 - 5 mL a day

I do 20 gallon water changes a week

thanks

 

[saltyfins]

Tank volume: 40 gallon total

LPS mainly. Euphyllia, zoas and acans

Age: 2 month old tank
Salt: Fritz RPM Blue Box
ALK: 7.7
CAL: 380
MAG: 1240
NO3: 1
PO4: 0.009
pH: 7.8-7.9
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 77F - 78F

Dosing:

1. ATI Essentials Pro - 3 mL per day of each bottle
2. Nanno phyto - 14 mL a day
3. Microbacter 7 - 5 mL a day

I do 20 gallon water changes a week

thanks

you're changing 1/2 the water volume. I wouldnt personally do that. Your alk is a smidge low...calcium low, N03 low...

 

[bozo]

you're changing 1/2 the water volume. I wouldnt personally do that. Your alk is a smidge low...calcium low, N03 low...

Got it.

I’ll dial down the Water change volume on the awc.

For some reason ATI recommends keeping the ALK between 7.0-7.9. I have no idea why. They seem adamant about it. I’ll have to ask them about it.

Im having a hard time raising my CAL and MAG

It’ll take weeks if not months to raise both of these to the appropriate levels.

thanks again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree I'd boost calcium (to 420 ppm) and magnesium (to 1300 ppm).

I'd feed a bit more or export a bit less N and P. I recommend 2-10 ppm nitrate and 0.03 to 0.1 ppm phosphate, with higher than that range better than below that range.

 

[bozo]

I agree I'd boost calcium (to 420 ppm) and magnesium (to 1300 ppm).

I'd feed a bit more or export a bit less N and P. I recommend 2-10 ppm nitrate and 0.03 to 0.1 ppm phosphate, with higher than that range better than below that range.

Thanks Randy.

I just dosed Ca and Mg to the levels you stated.

Ill start feeding more as well. I’m starting to see some cyano build up in low flow areas, so I hope feeding more will get rid of the cyano.

Should I put my skimmer, nyos 120, on a timer?

I also grow dragons breath, a half cup of gfo in a reactor with low flow, and a 57 watt UV with high flow. All three and the skimmer run 24/7

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy.

I just dosed Ca and Mg to the levels you stated.

Ill start feeding more as well. I’m starting to see some cyano build up in low flow areas, so I hope feeding more will get rid of the cyano.

Should I put my skimmer, nyos 120, on a timer?

I also grow dragons breath, a half cup of gfo in a reactor with low flow, and a 57 watt UV with high flow. All three and the skimmer run 24/7

Thanks!

I would run the skimmer 24/7 since it does a lot more then nutrient export (such as aeration).

 

[woodyarmadillo]

I’m a newbie so take my words with a grain of salt, but would it be better to maybe change salt brands instead of dosing this early into the tanks life?

I’m using reef crystals - alk is right around 9, mag 1400, calcium 460, no dosing

I was using petco pre mixed water at first and my mag was around 1250 and calcium around 375. When I switched, my parameters improved over the next couple of weeks.

Edit. I’m going to leave this here but now that im re-reading, I see OP knows a lot more than I do and I probably sound like an idiot lol. There’s probably more to the equation than I understand. I already know Randy’s reputation is stellar as well.

 

[Troylee]

I’m a newbie so take my words with a grain of salt, but would it be better to maybe change salt brands instead of dosing this early into the tanks life?

I’m using reef crystals - alk is right around 9, mag 1400, calcium 460, no dosing

I was using petco pre mixed water at first and my mag was around 1250 and calcium around 375. When I switched, my parameters improved over the next couple of weeks.

Edit. I’m going to leave this here but now that im re-reading, I see OP knows a lot more than I do and I probably sound like an idiot lol. There’s probably more to the equation than I understand. I already know Randy’s reputation is stellar as well.

You are correct.. I don’t know the values of the salt he’s using but changing that much water he shouldn’t have to dose anything..