Update: post #27
I'll preface this by saying that I really hate daily dosing...so I'd like to keep things as simple as possible without necessarily needing to get into more automation via an ATO or something similar.
Tank is a JBJ 28 gallon nanocube, mostly LPS and zoas/palys with a couple SPS frags. Running an aquamaxx HOB skimmer and purigen + chemi-pure in the rear chamber. Nitrates are at 0, phosphates were at 0.5 before adding chemi-pure...haven't tested since then.
Here are my levels. I tested yesterday, which is essentially right in the middle of my weekly WC schedule. Values in parenthesis represent the weekly min/max values just prior to and following a water change, where applicable.
SG: 1.026
pH: 8.2
Mg: ~1260 (1260 - 1290)
Ca: 400 (380-420)
Alk: 6.5 dkH (6.0 - 7.0)
I'm using the Salifert test kit for Mg, and the API kit for Alk. I didn't trust that API kit and brought a sample over to Elite...they indicated my Alk was at 6.7 with the Salifert kit, so I trust my reading of 6.5 with the same sample is correct. I don't own a Ca test kit (yet?) and just had them test my water a few times to see what my ranges are. The pH remains pretty stable, the lowest reading I've seen is in the morning before the lights come on, and it's somewhere between 7.8 - 8.0...hard to tell, the color chart on those kits...well I'm sure you already know.
Prior to stuffing corals into my tank, my Alk was right around 9.0. I didn't test often, my corals looked fine, but I got curious one day and found the Alk was at 6.0. After some research, I thought maybe my Alk dropped because for 3 consecutive water changes, I let my salt mix for a couple days (using Salinity, read that Alk drops are common after prolonged mixing) prior to use. So, I started just mixing overnight, and for the past 2 changes my mixed water has tested at 9.0 before adding it to the tank...I'm changing 5 gallons/week. Also decided to move the salinity up to 1.026 from 1.024 to see if that helped.
Obviously, none of this has really made much difference. I had hoped that my Alk would slowly creep back into a more acceptable range if I ensured my salt mix was at 9.0 and didn't mix too long...but at this point even if I hit 7.0 after the change, it's back down to 6.0 - 6.2 by the end of the week.
So...questions.
-Would it work if I just slowly buffer my water until the Alk reaches a level of about 8.0, and then maintain an acceptable range with weekly changes? I was recommended that Seachem Reef Builders Product...and reading the instructions/description it seems like it should do the trick. I figure I can slowly bump up the Alk, then at the most maintain it as needed by putting some in my top-off once or twice a week if it's really necessary. Really hoping I can just bump it up though and maintain it with weekly changes once it's where it needs to be. I picked up a bottle of that Reef Builders, but haven't cracked open the bottle in case there are better options.
-Do I REALLY need to dose Ca at this point? I don't have a test kit at home (I never dose what I can't test), and really would like to avoid over-complicating things. I've seen people get Ca readings much lower than that and understandably have issues...but all my corals are happy, and although 380 is on the low side, that's at the end of the week and I feel like it's close enough that I should be OK.
Don't wanna sound lazy...but I've gone through the daily dosing routine and trying to balance levels with a CO2 injected planted tank. It's completely unappealing to me at this point to chase ideal values if things are happy (referring to my Ca levels here), but I'd like to get my Alk in check.
Thoughts?
I'll preface this by saying that I really hate daily dosing...so I'd like to keep things as simple as possible without necessarily needing to get into more automation via an ATO or something similar.
Tank is a JBJ 28 gallon nanocube, mostly LPS and zoas/palys with a couple SPS frags. Running an aquamaxx HOB skimmer and purigen + chemi-pure in the rear chamber. Nitrates are at 0, phosphates were at 0.5 before adding chemi-pure...haven't tested since then.
Here are my levels. I tested yesterday, which is essentially right in the middle of my weekly WC schedule. Values in parenthesis represent the weekly min/max values just prior to and following a water change, where applicable.
SG: 1.026
pH: 8.2
Mg: ~1260 (1260 - 1290)
Ca: 400 (380-420)
Alk: 6.5 dkH (6.0 - 7.0)
I'm using the Salifert test kit for Mg, and the API kit for Alk. I didn't trust that API kit and brought a sample over to Elite...they indicated my Alk was at 6.7 with the Salifert kit, so I trust my reading of 6.5 with the same sample is correct. I don't own a Ca test kit (yet?) and just had them test my water a few times to see what my ranges are. The pH remains pretty stable, the lowest reading I've seen is in the morning before the lights come on, and it's somewhere between 7.8 - 8.0...hard to tell, the color chart on those kits...well I'm sure you already know.
Prior to stuffing corals into my tank, my Alk was right around 9.0. I didn't test often, my corals looked fine, but I got curious one day and found the Alk was at 6.0. After some research, I thought maybe my Alk dropped because for 3 consecutive water changes, I let my salt mix for a couple days (using Salinity, read that Alk drops are common after prolonged mixing) prior to use. So, I started just mixing overnight, and for the past 2 changes my mixed water has tested at 9.0 before adding it to the tank...I'm changing 5 gallons/week. Also decided to move the salinity up to 1.026 from 1.024 to see if that helped.
Obviously, none of this has really made much difference. I had hoped that my Alk would slowly creep back into a more acceptable range if I ensured my salt mix was at 9.0 and didn't mix too long...but at this point even if I hit 7.0 after the change, it's back down to 6.0 - 6.2 by the end of the week.
So...questions.
-Would it work if I just slowly buffer my water until the Alk reaches a level of about 8.0, and then maintain an acceptable range with weekly changes? I was recommended that Seachem Reef Builders Product...and reading the instructions/description it seems like it should do the trick. I figure I can slowly bump up the Alk, then at the most maintain it as needed by putting some in my top-off once or twice a week if it's really necessary. Really hoping I can just bump it up though and maintain it with weekly changes once it's where it needs to be. I picked up a bottle of that Reef Builders, but haven't cracked open the bottle in case there are better options.
-Do I REALLY need to dose Ca at this point? I don't have a test kit at home (I never dose what I can't test), and really would like to avoid over-complicating things. I've seen people get Ca readings much lower than that and understandably have issues...but all my corals are happy, and although 380 is on the low side, that's at the end of the week and I feel like it's close enough that I should be OK.
Don't wanna sound lazy...but I've gone through the daily dosing routine and trying to balance levels with a CO2 injected planted tank. It's completely unappealing to me at this point to chase ideal values if things are happy (referring to my Ca levels here), but I'd like to get my Alk in check.
Thoughts?
Last edited by a moderator: