Well, it looks like my cycle is moving along nicely. I added half cured live rock last week and my ammonia level is 0.25, nitrites 0.2, and nitrates 15. So, a cycle appears to be in the works. My starter kit from Red Sea came with some Calcium and PH supplements. One is called Calcium +3 and the other is called Buff. If I am using a reef salt such as Red Sea Coral Pro or Reef Crystals and doing regular water changes, are those supplements necessary?
Nitrogen Cycle and Supplements
- Thread starter tyleratl
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The wisdom that was handed down to me from more experienced people on this site was never dose anything that you can't test for. So I would look into test kits for both pH and Calcium.
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Some calcium tests seem daunting at first glance, but once you run them a few times you get the hang of it. Calcium +3 is calcium, if I remember correctly is, strontium (Sr), molybdenum, and iodine; none of the latter 3 you'll be able to test for. You'll find all sorts of opinions on 3 these elements. Mine is that they should be dosed to maximize growth, but at lower levels than what the manufacturer recommends. To give you an example, Sr exists at 8ppm NSW levels.
If you think a calcium test is bad, don't even think about buying a Sr test kit. It requires gloves and glasses because the acids that precipitate calcium and magnesium are quite strong and dangerous.
If you think a calcium test is bad, don't even think about buying a Sr test kit. It requires gloves and glasses because the acids that precipitate calcium and magnesium are quite strong and dangerous.
I think it depends on what you call regular water changes. I have a 20H and change 25% every 10-14 days. I use reef crystals and it seems to keep everything where I want it. My calcium demand is going up as my SPS grow and I have started to dose Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium a couple of times between water changes.
Use a Salifert Kit for Calcium IMO. They are very easy to use.
I suggest using proven products when dosing and certainly ones you know what it is in the bottle. Stick with Seachem IMO in the beginning. They make a solid product and you won't get burned if you follow their directions. You don't want to derail all your efforts on a $5 mystery bottle.
I suggest using proven products when dosing and certainly ones you know what it is in the bottle. Stick with Seachem IMO in the beginning. They make a solid product and you won't get burned if you follow their directions. You don't want to derail all your efforts on a $5 mystery bottle.
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I agree with Cameron and the others... Dose only what you can test at this stage and regular water changes will give you most if no all that you need. A few tests that should be in ever new reffers test kits:
PH (Better option is to have a PH pen or another digital way to test PH)
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Alkalinity (dKh) This is what your "Buff" is putting in the water so testing for PH is not enough.
Calcium
Phosphate (PO4)
That is the basic kit that you should have.
PH (Better option is to have a PH pen or another digital way to test PH)
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Alkalinity (dKh) This is what your "Buff" is putting in the water so testing for PH is not enough.
Calcium
Phosphate (PO4)
That is the basic kit that you should have.
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Any good suggestions on a pH pen?
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I just made a suggestion on two http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showpost.php?p=124407&postcount=12">here.</a>
Still I believe your BEST bet is to save up money for a controller
Still I believe your BEST bet is to save up money for a controller
