Calcium consumption

[ripped tide]

Let's hear it! What size tank do you have? What types of coral do you have? What salt do you use? What calcium supplement do you use(if any)? And lastly, what is your daily or weekly calcium consumption rate?

My tank is a 50g with about a total of 35-40gallons after displacement and consumes between 15ppm and 30ppm daily! I have about 85 corals with over half being sps. Currently I am using the elos calcium and dose every about 20ml every other day.

 

[heyitsmirix3]

The 6 Gallon nano currently uses Instant Ocean salt. Mainly consist mushrooms and softies and a mini colony of a whiskers ( about 30 heads). The consumption is negligable due to the fact that it gets almost constant water changes ( 1.5 Gallons every few days)

It parameters tested using Red Sea and Elos:
Temp: 79-82 ( I cant sustained a constant temp or withing 1 degrees right now)
Calcium : 410
Magnesium: 1320
Alkalinity: 9.00
Nitrate: 2.00 ( tanks is new so sorry >.&lt
Phosphate : .022
Ammonia: 0.00

Our 250 G also uses Instant Ocean salt. Contains zoa,chalices, but is mainly an sps dominate tank. I'm told it consumes about 50-75 ppm of calcium per day.

 

[mikew]

Did that elos make a difference with ur coraline growth?
Did you switch to all the Elos?
How do you like them?
I am the man correct?

 

[heyitsmirix3]

I only use Elos test kits. I do no dosing. Rock was from big tank do its covered in coraline

 

[mikew]

Lol I was talking about ripped tide. I sold him all my Elos for about what you would pay for 2 bottles. Not bad for 7 bottles..

 

[ripped tide]

Lol yes mike, you are then man! I do like the supplements and love the accelerated coraline growth. I haven't used the idodine based supplement or the mag supplement(still burning through a gallon of tech M). The only thing I don't like is the lack of English in the directions. I kinda had to just figure out the dose amount and frequency, but as far as potency, it's good stuff! I dose the alk supplement a third of the frequency of the product i had been using.

Edit: I guess the true test will come when I run out! Will they have made such an impact that I will restock at retail price? Or do I try out some other line. I haven't used brightwells supplements, but I like the salt. And i haven't tried BRS, but am tempted. Brightwell would be easier for me to get, but I hear the BRS stuff goes a long way for the buck.

Edit: Miri(thanh) when did you ditch the red sea test kits?

 

[heyitsmirix3]

We gave itto Daniel

 

[ripped tide]

Once I use up the seachem mg/alk test, I am going to buy the Elos tests.

 

[kirru]

I have a 40g breeder that uses Salinity since its release (prior was on Reef Crystals).

I have mostly SPS at about 10 pieces, 2 LPS, and lots of Zoas/Palys.

I dose AquaVitro:
"eight.four once a week to every other week
"fuel" once a week
"ions" for mg mostly for Zoas
"vibrance" which is iodide which has helped a lot of my corals thrive

I really only dose when I have too (i.e. when I go extended periods w/out water changes)

Currently I am on a small bag of Reef Crystals due to my LFS of choice being out.. will be getting some later this week tho.

I rarely test (i know a sin) but based on my coral growth i don't see anything I am doing wrong.... yet.

 

[ripped tide]

Amici;690933 wrote: You need to just go ahead and get reactors in place. This will prevent you from having to dose pH as well....

I think your too worried about chasing numbers and it's going to come back to bite you if it has not already.

You're probably right! However, I can't really afford to make the plunge any time soon. The biggest bite I have taken so far was when I stopped the chase(calcium chase)! I quit chasing the ph a while back and have become content with it staying "lower" than ideal. The main thing I look for now is stability.

A few weeks ago the calcium dropped really low and the tips of my purple plasma started stn and a few other sps started. After I adjusted, they have recovered.

Any anyone has a used calcium reactor, or one that it too small for their tank, I would gladly accept any donations!

 

[heyitsmirix3]

I should do that with the big tank to buy stuff for the nano

 

[ripped tide]

That's a good idea. I'll probably let everything grow until Jan and then when I cut, everything will be healed in time for the feb frag swap.