Red Sea Colors in ATO water?

[kurtp]

I have been dosing Red Sea Colors minor elements based on the two part calcium consumption discussed on the BRS TV video. So far I have seen a positive response in my tank and want to continue. I have been adding the 4 solutions into my sump every other night but I'll be leaving on a 2 week vacation next week and I am trying to think of ways to lighten the burden for my kids who will be taking care of the tank. I was wondering if I could add the 2 week's worth of the RSC solutions into the 5 gallons of ATO water. My current calcium consumption is pretty low so I only would be putting about 8 mls of each solution into the 5 gallons of RODI water. I don't think they would precipitate out at such a weak dilution and that it would provide a nice steady source of the elements. Is my logic sound? Does any one else do it this way?

 

[GoVols]

I love the Red Sea colors program.

But have always played it on the safe side to the cal's intake.

I'd just stop ;Stop dosing them until your get back from your two week vacation.

JMO...

 

[kurtp]

thanks for the advice. I had sent an ICP sample to Triton a few weeks ago to get an idea where I was at but it got lost in the mail to the USA hub and I had to resubmit a new specimen last week. Hopefully I'll get the result before I leave town. Unless a specific minor element is drastically low I'll probably just skip the dosing while I am gone but I may reconsider it when I get back. It seems that letting the ATO run a little of the RSC solutions in to the tank along with the RODI water would be a good way to spread the doses out. I can't foresee any major problem doing it this way other than perhaps a SLOW climb in SG, but it would be best if I tried this experiment while Im around in case things start going south.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Dikutuon of trace elements doesn’t always work out. Many are prone to oxidation and the more dilute it is, the greater percentage of, say, iron might be oxidized from a more soluble ferrous form to a less soluble ferric form. I’m not sure how they formulate it or if this a real concern, but it is more complicated than diluting a calcium or alk solution.

 

[kurtp]

Dikutuon of trace elements doesn’t always work out. Many are prone to oxidation and the more dilute it is, the greater percentage of, say, iron might be oxidized from a more soluble ferrous form to a less soluble ferric form. I’m not sure how they formulate it or if this a real concern, but it is more complicated than diluting a calcium or alk solution.

Thanks, Randy. I didn't realize that could be an issue. I'll just stick with my regular dosing schedule once I get back from vacation.

 

[jccaclimber]

Not to your question, but perhaps to you immediate need, I've pre-measured things for tank keepers in the past. With small volumes the weekly pill containers work well. When I used pellet food it was one day per day. With traces it could be one entire pill container per day. Really easy for the sitter, up to 7 isolated containers, pop them all open, dump it in, carry on. Since the main bottles are hidden they can't overdose.
At $1-2 per 7-day pill container buying a week or twos worth doesn't break the bank.

 

[kurtp]

Not to your question, but perhaps to you immediate need, I've pre-measured things for tank keepers in the past. With small volumes the weekly pill containers work well. When I used pellet food it was one day per day. With traces it could be one entire pill container per day. Really easy for the sitter, up to 7 isolated containers, pop them all open, dump it in, carry on. Since the main bottles are hidden they can't overdose.
At $1-2 per 7-day pill container buying a week or twos worth doesn't break the bank.

Well, durn. That's a great idea. Off to the dollar store I go.
Thanks