What do you struggle with most?

[JM302]

I struggle with 'premium' reefing gear that has garbage software... *oops, wrong thread*. LOL.

 

[apb03]

I don't clean mine. I like it that way. My new tank hasn't been touched. I call it free food for the fox face and clean up crew.

Of all the annoying things I have to deal with by running a peninsula, I'm lucky that I don't have to deal with as much issues with the back wall. Finally something that's an advantage!

 

[kevgib67]

I struggle at keeping my calcium and magnesium at my target levels. I’m constantly testing and dosing.

 

[Miami Reef]

I struggle at keeping my calcium and magnesium at my target levels. I’m constantly testing and dosing.

Really? What do you dose your alkalinity? What 1-3 part are you using?

 

[apb03]

I struggle with 'premium' reefing gear that has garbage software... *oops, wrong thread*. LOL.

Oh Ecotech and Neptune... Another day, another RMA!

 

[kevgib67]

Really? What do you dose your alkalinity? What 1-3 part are you using?

I dose all for reef, kalk and magnesium. Magnesium is always lower than my target, 1400. My salt always mixes exactly what the box says, 1350, but I try to keep it at 1400 or a little higher.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Well thanks... I say I got lucky with the aquascape in the new tank and @LeeLoo Lola is my partner in crime.

I struggle most with flow as you can't really measure it. Lights - easy.. PAR meter. Water quality - easy... test or ICP if you need a more detailed view.

Flow - not so easy for me. Does it look good? Is the coral open and happy? Are you getting detritus buildup somewhere? Is there enough surface agitation? Are you getting good O2 exchange? I find myself constantly tinkering, not knowing when enough is enough or when not enough is not enough.

Most recently I learned that mixed tanks are truly difficult - and for me the biggest challenge is the flow. I've been running LPS dominated tanks for 20 years. This time I've added in a few Anacropora, an acro, a bunch of stylos and digis and I'm finding it impossible to keep them happy with flow w/o completely wrecking the lps.

They're all growing well and what I consider 'good'... but it seems nearly impossible to obtain 'great' with the mix in my tank.

I also run a mixed reef. My tank is fairly deep which helps a lot. I have gyres that I’ve placed toward the surface to Blast! the SPS up top with flow and then Neros that are in the back of the tank on random flow to help the LPS with random but mid flow. Seems to be working but who knows!

 

[JM302]

I also run a mixed reef. My tank is fairly deep which helps a lot. I have gyres that I’ve placed toward the surface to Blast! the SPS up top with flow and then Neros that are in the back of the tank on random flow to help the LPS with random but mid flow. Seems to be working but who knows!

I run 2 Tunze 6095's low and at the back of the tank - plus a Tunze Comline Wavebox that produces a structured wave.

I had 2 MP40's as well - took them off, switched to a Tunze 6105 Eco..... Ran that for a while with success. Recently got an Orbit 4, tried that with and without the 6105. Basically pointed the Orbit at the surface... Just couldn't get it right. 22" tall tank - 30" deep - 5 ft long.

Right now I am trying just the two 6095's and the wavebox. My return also pumps hard and am using that for surface agitation. LPS very very happy, SPS not so much.

 

[Miami Reef]

I dose all for reef, kalk and magnesium. Magnesium is always lower than my target, 1400. My salt always mixes exactly what the box says, 1350, but I try to keep it at 1400 or a little higher.

Interesting. All for Reef and kalkwasser are both balanced in regards to alkalinity and calcium. I don’t understand how calcium would drop below your range.

 

[kevgib67]

Interesting. All for Reef and kalkwasser are both balanced in regards to alkalinity and calcium. I don’t understand how calcium would drop below your range.

Do me a favor, figure it out for me and I’ll for ever be in your debt. The only thing I can think is I have a birdsnest that doubles in size every month. Is it eating it up?

 

[Miami Reef]

Do me a favor, figure it out for me and I’ll for ever be in your debt. The only thing I can think is I have a birdsnest that doubles in size every month. Is it eating it up?

What is your calcium and alkalinity? How much are the calcium and alk dropping by? What are you using to test?

 

[kevgib67]

Salifert, I dose to keep calcium at 440, with out dosing it would be below 400. Alk is 8.1 both were tested on 1/1/24. Magnesium is my biggest struggle.

 

[FrugalReefer]

Valonia

 

[Miami Reef]

Salifert, I dose to keep calcium at 440, with out dosing it would be below 400. Alk is 8.1 both were tested on 1/1/24. Magnesium is my biggest struggle.

If you stopped dosing calcium, and only dosed to maintain your alk with AFR and kalkwasser, would your calcium drop back down to 400ppm?

 

[kevgib67]

If you stopped dosing calcium, and only dosed to maintain your alk with AFR and kalkwasser, would your calcium drop back down to 400ppm?

I only dose AFR, kalkwasser and magnesium. I could try stopping kalkwasser but before I started dosing I was in the 300’s.

 

[Paul B]

My back. I struggle a lot with my back because my back is almost as old as I am.

My tank I don't have any struggles with because if something takes to much time or it to complicated, I eliminate it. Over the years I stopped putting in any SPS corals and now I don't have to test and rarely dose anything. I now keep all easy LPS because I learned that this is not a contest and I don't have anything to prove. I learned that I do this for fun and don't need to "battle" anything or argue with anyone. (I was in a war and didn't like it)

That is probably why I have been married for 50 years.

Stuff like this:

I run 2 Tunze 6095's low and at the back of the tank - plus a Tunze Comline Wavebox that produces a structured wave.

I had 2 MP40's as well - took them off, switched to a Tunze 6105 Eco..... Ran that for a while with success. Recently got an Orbit 4, tried that with and without the 6105.

I have no idea what any of that stuff is or why anyone would need or want it.

I'm sure it is cool but if I want cool, I put on my Speedo and walk in front of a mirror. (with the lights out and my wife sleeping)

 

[Miami Reef]

I only dose AFR, kalkwasser and magnesium. I could try stopping kalkwasser but before I started dosing I was in the 300’s.

Oh. I thought you meant you specifically dosed calcium chloride to raise your calcium.

No, you don’t need to stop kalkwasser or AFR. I don’t see how it’s possible for calcium to drop that low if you are maintaining proper alkalinity and started with proper calcium levels.

I’m going to assume it’s testing error for both calcium and magnesium. Magnesium kits especially suck, and we don’t even need them in the hobby: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/just-say-no-to-magnesium-testing-rmm-is-born.1017528/

 

[TheBirdsNest]

It’s definitely a similar story for me regarding scaping… Either that or I am my own worst critic!

 

[apb03]

My back. I struggle a lot with my back because my back is almost as old as I am.

My tank I don't have any struggles with because if something takes to much time or it to complicated, I eliminate it. Over the years I stopped putting in any SPS corals and now I don't have to test and rarely dose anything. I now keep all easy LPS because I learned that this is not a contest and I don't have anything to prove. I learned that I do this for fun and don't need to "battle" anything or argue with anyone. (I was in a war and didn't like it)

That is probably why I have been married for 50 years.

Stuff like this:


I have no idea what any of that stuff is or why anyone would need or want it.

I'm sure it is cool but if I want cool, I put on my Speedo and walk in front of a mirror. (with the lights out and my wife sleeping)

I absolutely love your style of reefing and always look forward to reading your insights on the hobby in general!

For me all the focus on cool gear and difficult corals are in truth because I am an extremely competitive person. It's my greatest strength and weakness at the same time. The competition is not really with others by showing off or being cool, but with myself.

I've kept aquariums off and on over my entire life and they always failed because I never competed and therefore I lost interest. For me it's how I stay engaged, focused and progressing.

 

[REEFRIED!]

I dose all for reef, kalk and magnesium. Magnesium is always lower than my target, 1400. My salt always mixes exactly what the box says, 1350, but I try to keep it at 1400 or a little higher.

You need to go with the @Randy Holmes-Farley new and improved magnesium method.

Spoiler- who cares about magnesium!!!! Throw your test kit away!!!!