ATI Elements - Is it time to give up !!!!

[BrankoStoj]

Since losing my job over 4 years ago and moving into full time contract work, working either 5 or 6 days a week, sometimes away from home, travelling back only for the weekends. I'm starting to feel this hobby is too much for me and I'm failing in simple tank husbandry. I don't think that I've totally understood what was involved when I went into this hobby, I've lost a lot of corals and fish along the way.

History - I changed over to ATI Elements over two and a half years ago (No water changes) and I've been trying to maintain 2 tanks , it seemed to be the ideal thing for me at the time.

Main Tank:
Salinity 1.025
Temp 26.3 C
PH 7.3 (Hanna tester)
KH today: 2.2 = 12.1Dkh
Cal: Full syringe
Mag: 0.6 = 1410
I've been struggling with Phosphate for a long time, just about to start using NP BioPearls, the Chaeto has been added into the tank around a year ago - changed lighting with the UFO around the same time.

Lighting: IT5012 (Compiling light schedule)
Skimmer: Bubble C5
Power heads: 2 x MP40 quite drives
Dosing Unit: Kamoer 4 outlet Dosing Pump
Sump: Mainly Chaeto and

Just about to clean this out tomorrow...
Still light - UFO not on yet...

Can somebody please advise me on whether to stay with ATI Elements or try a something else (is there a simpler balling method).
If you need any other information, please don't hesitate to ask. Please feel free to criticize as well.

 

[ludnix]

I'm not familiar with the ATI elements dosing regiment, can you dose less since your levels are so high?

 

[Gareth elliott]

Welcome!
Well first off the new ATI is now only 2 chemicals and arrives premixed at 5x the potency. So if you were dosing 20 mils of 1,2 and 3, now you dose 4ml of 1 and 2.

Personally i automated my wc’s instead of eliminating them. Switched to a cheaper salt and continued the ati dosing and 12% weekly water changes.

 

[GoVols]

ATI Elements or try a something else (is there a simpler balling method).
If you need any other information, please don't hesitate to ask. Please feel free to criticize as well.

To me there is no substitute for making water changes.

FWIW:
There only two "full" balling products that I know of / Tropic Marin and Aquaforest.

Their 3rd part use, is NaCl free salt that helps to balance out your ions, more than the importance of adding trace elements.
Which is why TM also sells their K and A elements on the side.

Read the below.
https://aquaforest.eu/en/how-reef-mineral-salt-works/

Stay with he ATI E's and make your water changes.

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef and hope you feel at home... :)