I dose nothing but 2-part and the occasional magnesium if levels need a bump (about every quarter). With that said, I do fairly large water changes at roughly 27% weekly (20g for a 75g display).
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Since returning 10/2017, I think after 6mo got ICP test. Was off but nothing to lose sleep over.,ICP help correct deficiencies.How many here dose trace elements into your systems?
The reason I ask is , I've been having problems keeping the colors of the SPS corals vibrant and I'm wondering if there is a correlation between these trace elements and the coloration of the corals?
No wonder core 7 is back ordered this answers on my questions.I use the triton method, and automatically dose trace as part of the core7 program. My tank was established for years before switching, so several elements were required specific doses after my first ICP test. My tank Inhabitants and carbon also seem to strip out some of these elements faster, like zinc, manganese, and iodine so there’s a recommended weekly dose of each of those discrete ones that I perform on the weekend. At this point I’m doing ICP tests every 2 to 3 months and adjusting the element dosing based on the outcome and their recommendations.
My Hanna checker ULR p04 has expired reagents and I just ordered more. But before it expired, it was registering at 5ppb. If I did the conversion correctly, it should be around 0.05ppm however, this reading was about 3 months ago.Cool, if it was me I’d try to get my ALK really stable, get my Ca upto 420, my mg down to 1300 for a start. Then let it stabilise for a few mnths. What do you run PO4 level at?
working on it. lol. I', currently using a Neptune DOS to dose both DKH and CA into the system. ATM I'm dosing 10 ML of BRS soda ash a weekCool, if it was me I’d try to get my ALK really stable, get my Ca upto 420, my mg down to 1300 for a start. Then let it stabilise for a few mnths. What do you run PO4 level at?
that's kinda what I was hinting at with actually testing the trace elements. However, the only test kits I was able to find are made by redsea and they are kinda expensive and take an insane amount of time to preform.If you dose trace elements, do you also test for them? What tests do you use? I have a hard time figuring out how much to add as while the ingredients are listed, the quantities are not. Do you just go by the bottle instructions? How do you know you need them or arent overdosing?
If you dose trace elements, do you also test for them? What tests do you use? I have a hard time figuring out how much to add as while the ingredients are listed, the quantities are not. Do you just go by the bottle instructions? How do you know you need them or arent overdosing?
Do you do regular water changes? I’ve read, here on r2r, that with regular water changes you shouldn’t need to add trace elements. I don’t do a lot of water changes so I add Two Little Fishes (TLF) Sea Elements and TLF Strontium weekly per instructions along with Acropower, Alk and Calcium daily. Since starting with the supplements I’ve seen a huge difference in growth rate and coloring. You could try starting with small bottles of whichever brand you choose and you will know within a couple of weeks weather it’s worth it for you or not.
Hello,
Well lol I am definitely different than most on how I do it. If your running a low nutrient system you want alk between 7-8 cal 440, mag 1390 ball park. My nitrates are 2-5ppm etc but I have to dose nopox 20ml a day or they go up. Because my nutrients are low, I feed a little more and I use the redsea nopox daily of 20 ml. I also dose alk 2.5 tablespoons a day and cal is at 2.5 a day just to keep me at 7-8 and 440. Mag is like 10ml every 2 weeks if that. Now I dose the redsea trace elements, which is the four little bottles. Since this is based on calcium only, it means my tank gets 1.5 ml of each per day. I do everything by hand, and my sps grows like crazy and has great colors. I haven’t changed my water in over a year now: I run two uvc steralizers but switched to a level 1 steralizer with ozone (which it’s not even delievered to me yet). But water is crystal clear from the lower uv steralizers. I use filter socks on the drains and 300 micro filter socks over my twin returns. (Yes they have to be cleaned often).
I use the current marine pro (the good ones not the ic pros) and I am running plus 20,000 in flow. I have four current usa 2100 gph then I have two icecap 3k then current eflux 3200 gph dc returns (2x) then I have 2 current usa 1200 that run in the far lower corners of the tank.
My tank is almost 19 months old and started pretty much from small frags and now it’s over growing my 240.
My best advice is find what works for you and keep it. My way works for me so I keep it. No idea if it will work for anyone else. But I have noticed in my tank the sweet spots for alk and cal is 8 and 440. I do feed my corals twice a week with coral food. I’ll mix it up and turn the flow off and feed every single one with the eye dropper. It’s my way knowing they are getting food at least twice a week.
Here are recent pics with my iPhone with lights on normal. Looks better in real life but my phone hates my lights on my tank. I also make my own log book, I use just a regular note book and days I test my tank I write the values down and look over time to see how the tank changes. It’s also just in case some one needs to care for my tank they have months and months of info on where the tank sits parameter wise.
Hint for dosing trace elements it’s based on calcium levels. Example I use 2.5 mg of seachem calcium powder, that converts to 200grams which means using math that is 1.5 mg of each trace element based on the calcium in the tank. My tank has done amazing and I have never tested trace elements, I base it on calcium. Even says to base it on calcium in the redsea directions so trace elements tests are not actually needed.
WOW.. So much info and so many questions for you on your dosing regiment. G0ing to break down your post for esier clarificatuion.
First off, I know not all reefs are the same and not all methods work for everyone but it sounds like what your doing is working great and from the looks of it, your corals appear to be thriving.
A couple of questions tor you though,
when you say:
"a low nutrient system you want alk between 7-8 cal 440, mag 1390 ball park. My nitrates are 2-5ppm"
I've asked this question before and I don't remember if I ever got a straight answer..
What is classified as a LNS. Is there a range?
Dosing NOPOX:
"dose nopox 20ml a day or they go up."
What chemical/ parameter goes up when you dose it?
When I've seen ads for this product, and have been tempted many times to get it however, it just makes me think its just liquified GFO and I feel like liquid PO4 remover really isn't effective unless theres black magic invloved. LOL
"dose the redsea trace elements"
yes, I know what this product is, and In fact, I have it and however, I've only dosed it once. Reason for it, is because I'm a big fan of testing before you dose and i feel like if I dose it, i need to test for it.
"Since this is based on calcium only, it means my tank gets 1.5 ml of each per day"
I tried to go in and read the literature on the red sea trace elements and in all honesty, found it to be quite confusing.
so, what I hear you say, is that the trace elements are based off of Calcium and if your levels are at a certain point then you dose X amount of A,B and C?
"I do feed my corals twice a week"
What do you feed?
I find that i don't feed the corals however, I do broadcast feed the entire tank with LRS reef frenzy nano once a day.