mcoomer
08/12/2009, 08:40 AM
A few quick questions...
I have Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium, Reef Buffer, Reef Advantage Magnesium, and Reef Kalkwasser that I use in my tank. Water highlights are Calcium at 440ppm, Alkilinity 6dKH (normally higher but just started using BRS HC GFO), pH 8.2, and Magnesium at 1230. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphates only get tested once in a blue moon anymore and they're low to nonexistent.
First question: I monitor my parameters and dose to keep calcium, alkilinity, and magnesium up. Probably once a month I mix up a batch of about 5 gallons of kalk and drip that into the tank over a period of 48-72 hours. Am I duplicating my efforts by dosing kalk while using the other additives? Frankly, I feel like I don't do the kalk often enough to have a significant influence on the water parameters so I'm thinking that I will stip using it and see if everything remains constant. Should I continue to dose kalk or can I move away from doing that?
Second: If I were to move to a calcium reactor and kalk reactor would I be able to move completely away from dosing? I'm interested in this for two reasons. I want to try to automate the process to maintain consistent water parameters and avoid swings and I get lazy or forget to check and dose sometimes. I don't mind spending the money to buy the gear (I have a tank so I obviously don't mind throwing money in a bottomless pit) but if the cost outweighs the benefit I'll just keep dosing after tests.
Finally: I can't get rid of a band of coralline algae at the bottom of my tank. It varies from 2-3" top to bottom and if I scrape at it a bit everyday I can make slow headway in removing it. Last weekend I worked Saturday and Sunday and it's back as thick as ever. At this pace I'll never get it out. I've got the plastic Kent Marine scrapers and a Tiger Shark algae magnet. With rockwork and corals in place I have to be really careful that I don't knock something over so the pace is maddeningly slow. Is there anything else that I can use on an acrylic tank to speed this up?
I guess it could be worse. My tank and its occupants are healthy and happy. My elbows are about worn out though.
Thanks all,
Mike
I have Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium, Reef Buffer, Reef Advantage Magnesium, and Reef Kalkwasser that I use in my tank. Water highlights are Calcium at 440ppm, Alkilinity 6dKH (normally higher but just started using BRS HC GFO), pH 8.2, and Magnesium at 1230. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphates only get tested once in a blue moon anymore and they're low to nonexistent.
First question: I monitor my parameters and dose to keep calcium, alkilinity, and magnesium up. Probably once a month I mix up a batch of about 5 gallons of kalk and drip that into the tank over a period of 48-72 hours. Am I duplicating my efforts by dosing kalk while using the other additives? Frankly, I feel like I don't do the kalk often enough to have a significant influence on the water parameters so I'm thinking that I will stip using it and see if everything remains constant. Should I continue to dose kalk or can I move away from doing that?
Second: If I were to move to a calcium reactor and kalk reactor would I be able to move completely away from dosing? I'm interested in this for two reasons. I want to try to automate the process to maintain consistent water parameters and avoid swings and I get lazy or forget to check and dose sometimes. I don't mind spending the money to buy the gear (I have a tank so I obviously don't mind throwing money in a bottomless pit) but if the cost outweighs the benefit I'll just keep dosing after tests.
Finally: I can't get rid of a band of coralline algae at the bottom of my tank. It varies from 2-3" top to bottom and if I scrape at it a bit everyday I can make slow headway in removing it. Last weekend I worked Saturday and Sunday and it's back as thick as ever. At this pace I'll never get it out. I've got the plastic Kent Marine scrapers and a Tiger Shark algae magnet. With rockwork and corals in place I have to be really careful that I don't knock something over so the pace is maddeningly slow. Is there anything else that I can use on an acrylic tank to speed this up?
I guess it could be worse. My tank and its occupants are healthy and happy. My elbows are about worn out though.
Thanks all,
Mike