Strontium and the reef tank

[mitch91175]

I kept Sr at 15 ppm once and the result was also amazing. Sps really color up nicely

I am a believer. Tank tells me it likes it so I'll give it what it likes .

I have never seen coral grow so fast in my entire life.

 

[X-37B]

I have run the DSR method since day 1 on my 120.
11 fish feed 3-4 times a day.
I run a skimmer, 7" filter sock, carx with manmade media.
8 t5, 4b+ 4c+. 6 T5 for the first 7 months now 8.
Tank is 9 months old.
Bare bottom.
"No water change system".
Carx supplies alk and ca
Ph 7.9-8.2
Sg 1.026
Po4 .02-.06
No3 1-2ish
Alk 8.0
Ca 450
Mag 1350
Potassium 420
Strontium 8 7-9 range
Iodine .06 0-.06 range
Strontium is dosed weekly currently at 3ml of esv product.
I dose DSR ez trace at 3ml a day.
DSR trace is magnesium,
Potassium, sulphate, boron, iodine, and manganese.
The DSR ez trace keeps the mag, potassium, and iodide within range.
I can test for those.
4 powerheads for flow
Sump turnover only 300ish gph.
So far growth is good and no issues.
Setup 45 frag system the same way.

 

[X-37B]

Here is a few current pics.

 

[drawman]

I have run the DSR method since day 1 on my 120.
11 fish feed 3-4 times a day.
I run a skimmer, 7" filter sock, carx with manmade media.
8 t5, 4b+ 4c+. 6 T5 for the first 7 months now 8.
Tank is 9 months old.
Bare bottom.
"No water change system".
Carx supplies alk and ca
Ph 7.9-8.2
Sg 1.026
Po4 .02-.06
No3 1-2ish
Alk 8.0
Ca 450
Mag 1350
Potassium 420
Strontium 8 7-9 range
Iodine .06 0-.06 range
Strontium is dosed weekly currently at 3ml of esv product.
I dose DSR ez trace at 3ml a day.
DSR trace is magnesium,
Potassium, sulphate, boron, iodine, and manganese.
The DSR ez trace keeps the mag, potassium, and iodide within range.
I can test for those.
4 powerheads for flow
Sump turnover only 300ish gph.
So far growth is good and no issues.
Setup 45 frag system the same way.

I'm curious are you using ICP testing to help arrive at that Strontium dose?

 

[mitch91175]

I'm curious are you using ICP testing to help arrive at that Strontium dose?

No I am just using a Salifert test kit. I've never done an ICP test ever

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I kept Sr at 15 ppm once and the result was also amazing. Sps really color up nicely

what did you dose to get there and why did you stop?

 

[mitch91175]

Since dosing Strontium and starting the Red Sea program, this guys has grown more in a week than in 6 months

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Since dosing Strontium and starting the Red Sea program, this guys has grown more in a week than in 6 months

Could be any part of the Red Sea program that was responsible for more growth, right?

 

[mitch91175]

Could be any part of the Red Sea program that was responsible for more growth, right?

Yeah for sure could be. I'll still keep Strontium around NSW just because really and see how it goes. No harm in doing that. Not saying one or the other, but I'd imagine that each has some play in it. Really wanting to try to maintain my tank now similar to the parameters of NSW, but doesn't have to be identical. Do not want to chase the numbers that much but be more consistent with my overall approach to my water chemistry. The main 3 and salinity have always been stable, but the others likely not so much.

 

[mitch91175]

Test Strontium this morning and at 0ppm again so dosing it back up. Again, seeing good growth and not saying it simply because of the Strontium, but for it to be 0ppm again tells me that the corals are consuming it. I am as diligent as I can be using the Salifert test kit. Even purchase a new kit just to ensure I have good reagents.

So since the 20th essentially I have seen much much better growth with this concoction that I am dosing to my system. Doesn't mean that everyone will have the same experience that I am seeing, but will 100% keep this going for the foreseeable future.

Glad I stumbled on this debate (thread).

Next step is for me to determine the amount of consumption daily so I can put this as part of my morning routine. Once I am super comfortable with it, I'll add it to a doser and not worry about it anymore. Also making a much stronger mix of Strontium since my current is taking too much of the existing premix to dose the tank back to 8ppm.

Here is a current Alkatronic chart showing that my dKH has began to increase, which prompted me to test Strontium again this morning:

Will see how fast it drops now that I have added some back to the system.

 

[drawman]

Test Strontium this morning and at 0ppm again so dosing it back up. Again, seeing good growth and not saying it simply because of the Strontium, but for it to be 0ppm again tells me that the corals are consuming it. I am as diligent as I can be using the Salifert test kit. Even purchase a new kit just to ensure I have good reagents.

So since the 20th essentially I have seen much much better growth with this concoction that I am dosing to my system. Doesn't mean that everyone will have the same experience that I am seeing, but will 100% keep this going for the foreseeable future.

Glad I stumbled on this debate (thread).

Next step is for me to determine the amount of consumption daily so I can put this as part of my morning routine. Once I am super comfortable with it, I'll add it to a doser and not worry about it anymore. Also making a much stronger mix of Strontium since my current is taking too much of the existing premix to dose the tank back to 8ppm.

Here is a current Alkatronic chart showing that my dKH has began to increase, which prompted me to test Strontium again this morning:

Will see how fast it drops now that I have added some back to the system.

I'm curious have you cross referenced this value with an ICP test at any point?

 

[mitch91175]

I'm curious have you cross referenced this value with an ICP test at any point?

Nope I do not do any ICP on my system. I might consider doing one just because, but have always just relied on off-the-shelf test kits. I only use Salifert test kits and have been for years. They have really good line of test kits. In all my time I have not seen or realized them being inaccurate.

 

[drawman]

Nope I do not do any ICP on my system. I might consider doing one just because, but have always just relied on off-the-shelf test kits. I only use Salifert test kits and have been for years. They have really good line of test kits. In all my time I have not seen or realized them being inaccurate.

+1 on Salifert I've used a lot of test kits and they are top notch. I default to them on everything but my Hanna ULR Phosphorus checker. Just saw really mixed reviews on the Strontium test kit is the only reason I was curious.

 

[mitch91175]

Posting some pics here for later reference. Didn’t have many prior but I think the SPS folk can see some of the new growth in the pics

 

[mitch91175]

Maybe my eyes can be deceiving me but the FoxFlame looks like it’s grown a little since the picture I posted above.

And yes I have bubble algae, asterina stars, and vermetid worms. Just live with them. Will get some emerald crabs once I have enough bubble algae to keep them fed.

I’ve had them for as long as I remember. Started this system a while ago with real live rock, but added some of the reef saver when I changed up the aquascape not too long ago.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yeah for sure could be. I'll still keep Strontium around NSW just because really and see how it goes. No harm in doing that. Not saying one or the other, but I'd imagine that each has some play in it. Really wanting to try to maintain my tank now similar to the parameters of NSW, but doesn't have to be identical. Do not want to chase the numbers that much but be more consistent with my overall approach to my water chemistry. The main 3 and salinity have always been stable, but the others likely not so much.

Sounds good. Happy Reefing!

 

[mitch91175]

Just a quick video update of my reef since starting the Red Sea program a few weeks ago.

Every thing is grow well. Since the last update, I also started dosing NO3/PO4.

 

[drawman]

Just a quick video update of my reef since starting the Red Sea program a few weeks ago.

Every thing is grow well. Since the last update, I also started dosing NO3/PO4.

Your tank is gorgeous! I'm curious how big it is and do you have a build thread?

 

[mitch91175]

Your tank is gorgeous! I'm curious how big it is and do you have a build thread?

Thanks bro. It's a 240G. I have a thread somewhere i believe that I haven't updated in forever though.

 

[mitch91175]

Your tank is gorgeous! I'm curious how big it is and do you have a build thread?

I did manage to find a tread from 2 years ago when I first setup the tank for SPS: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/geo-818-smc415-calcium-reactor-setup-for-my-240-reef.463228/

It has a lot of the tank setup details there. Will make another build thread soon.