Time Tested

[AJreefs]

Being newer at keeping sps and having suffered a few losses from swings I find myself testing constantly! My wife probably thinks I am a little obsessed at this point but I cant seem to find a test kits for Calcium and Magnesium that are quick and accurate! For Alkalinity I really like the Hanna checker and for calcium I really enjoy the Elos kit but can anyone suggest a fast(er) and decently accurate kit for magnesium and maybe calcium too?

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

Hanna makes a checker for calcium too. As far as magnesium goes you shouldn't need to test for it but about every two weeks to a month. It is used up at a very slow rate. I use redsea pro for all three but the magnesium test reads a little high. As far as I know they don't make a fast magnesium test.

 

[AJreefs]

Thanks for the feed back jeremy! Trying to keep the wife happy with the amount of time spent on the hobby so I can still "play" for many years to come. Reefing is so far very challenging and comes with a lot of information to digest but its also so enjoyable.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

I used bulk reef supply two part and right now now I test once a week. But I'm trying to fine tune my parameters but once set I will test every two weeks to a month. If you use there dosing pumps it will make thing a lot easier. Trust me I know how you feel. My wife was I all over my case when I first got into the hobby. I started blocking her out but now I'm burnt out on the testing all the time. I would check into BRS two part if your not using it already. It is a lot cheaper and there system for dosing is accurate.

 

[AJreefs]

I have the two part on hand and for now I was planning on using kalk until I can save for a bubble magus doser. This hobby has to many things to buy and I feel a little overwhelmed as a beginner in the coral realm. Thankfully, I have R2R and some of you nice folks out there are taking the time to help me along, thanks again! Jeremy, do you have any advice as to using kalk in the meantime?! I read its really simple to use and hopefully thats true for the most part.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

Oh as far as info to digest I have almost 6 years in the hobby and my head still hurts from it. There are always new advances in the hobby. I learned to stick with the basic and go from there. My system is run by a cheap skimmer, two little fishies reactor running biopellets, BRS dual reactor with carbon and gfo, and two dosing pumps dosing two part. The only piece of equipment that cost more than $300 is my Profilux 3 controller. Simply works for me. I didn't know much other than basics until I joined R2R. So just take it slow and it will get easier. Trust me if you rush it will get hard quick. Lol

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

A lot of people use kalk with good results but I never had much luck. I would look through the forums, there are a lot of great write ups on kalk.

 

[AJreefs]

Great; do you have a tank thread I can look through. I would love to see your your setup and see what improvements I can make to my system!

Thanks

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

i need to do one but have yet. i have been try to get the stuff together for my 150g build but with no job it has been challenging to say the least. lol

 

[Dowtish]

Salifert calcium and magnesium is what I use. They are easy to use.The hanna calcium checker is terrible imo. Way too sensitive and not convenient at all.

Typed from my phone because I have nothing better to do.

 

[Ace25]

Oh as far as info to digest I have almost 6 years in the hobby and my head still hurts from it. There are always new advances in the hobby. I learned to stick with the basic and go from there. My system is run by a cheap skimmer, two little fishies reactor running biopellets, BRS dual reactor with carbon and gfo, and two dosing pumps dosing two part. The only piece of equipment that cost more than $300 is my Profilux 3 controller. Simply works for me. I didn't know much other than basics until I joined R2R. So just take it slow and it will get easier. Trust me if you rush it will get hard quick. Lol

My idea of basic is how I run my reef tanks, just a plastic screen for algae to grow on it. No reactors, no skimmer, no controller. 1 pump for my return, 2 powerheads, a heater, and a few $ worth of PVC and it works great for me. No water changes either, just simple 2 part dosing when I remember and manual top offs every few days. I wouldn't recommend my setup for newbies or people that want 'fragile' SPS corals, but for easy ones like Poccilipora and montipora it seems to work great ONCE you get a feel for reef tanks and feel comfortable with them. My entire 60G tank, including LED lights, all the live rock, corals, fish, and other equipment has cost me less than $300 total in a years time and 1/2 of that cost was for the DIY LED lights.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

My idea of basic is how I run my reef tanks, just a plastic screen for algae to grow on it. No reactors, no skimmer, no controller. 1 pump for my return, 2 powerheads, a heater, and a few $ worth of PVC and it works great for me. No water changes either, just simple 2 part dosing when I remember and manual top offs every few days. I wouldn't recommend my setup for newbies or people that want 'fragile' SPS corals, but for easy ones like Poccilipora and montipora it seems to work great ONCE you get a feel for reef tanks and feel comfortable with them. My entire 60G tank, including LED lights, all the live rock, corals, fish, and other equipment has cost me less than $300 total in a years time and 1/2 of that cost was for the DIY LED lights.

I agree with you. There are a thousand ways to run a reef tank what works for one doesnt for another. Thanks for your input. IME he needs as many opinions as possible so he can make his own choices after all that is how we learn right. Lol

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

Salifert calcium and magnesium is what I use. They are easy to use.The hanna calcium checker is terrible imo. Way too sensitive and not convenient at all.

Typed from my phone because I have nothing better to do.

I have seen his tank and if he says it works I wouldn't think twice about checking into it. As far as Hanna calcium checkers I have seen a lot of bad reviews. So I would just stick with what you have.

 

[Ace25]

IME he needs as many opinions as possible so he can make his own choices after all that is how we learn right. Lol

I have seen his tank and if he says it works I wouldn't think twice about checking into it.

You say give the OP as many opinions as possible, and 2 minute later you tell the OP that person's opinion is gold and not to research it any further. Seems like very conflicting advice to me.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

I said check into it not go with it. Research is very important in this hobby. Dowtish has had awesome results with what he uses and I have good result so far with BRS two part but someone else may be having great result with kalk. I said as many opinions as possible to give him ideas and stuff to look into. I don't want him to use BRS two part just because I said it works. That is something for him to deside. My opinion is just one of a million and just because you said to use something I would go right out and buy it. Even if you lived next door and I help you setup your tank. Even seen the results. My tank could crash tomorrow from using something that was recommend but I wouldn't know that if I didn't research first. I'm glad you said something because I may have confused him too.

 

[AJreefs]

I thinks he was just trying to illustrate that what that particular reefer is doing works for them and deserves some credence. Good advice all around though; never thought of a screen except for as a scrubber. How's it work?

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

i could be wrong but i think he was talking about a algae scrubber when he said screen. they do a great job. i already had a fuge when i found about them so didnt want to kill my algae by starvation. and yes everyones opinion is important when making chioces or you wouldnt know were to start or what you are looking for. he gave me good advice on sand earlier so see even i dont know everything. when i doubt ask. lol