Is the basic Ultralith package sufficient?

[honkit]

Hello all,

I am about to utilize the "basic 4" Ultralith package to further enhance my SPS corals colour and growth rates.

Besides the basic package, what other FM supplements do I need to utilize for colour enhancement?

Thanks.

Regards,

Hon-Kit

[ReefRockerLive]

I've used UltraOrganic and set of PowerTrace supplements in the past with excellent results. UltraAmin will add the necessary amino acids to improve the color also.

[honkit]

Originally Posted by ReefRockerLive

I've used UltraOrganic and set of PowerTrace supplements in the past with excellent results. UltraAmin will add the necessary amino acids to improve the color also.

I just bought the basic starter kit with the zeolites, MinS, Bio and Bak. Gonna start the system today

Will post updates accordingly.

Is UltraAmin necessary since I already have Ultra MinS?

Also, when should I start adding UltraOrganic and the full set of Powertrace supplements after I have begun the basic set?

[ReefRockerLive]

UltraAmin can be used in addition to MinS. Both products share similarity, but the Amin is more geared towards SPS whereas MinS is a food for most coral.

Organic can be started at any time along with the PowerTrace set. Keep in mind that it's effectiveness is dependent on the nutrient concentration in the reef. I would let the UltraLith do some work on nutrient reduction before any more products are added, give it a couple months.

I'll be on the lookout for those updates!

[honkit]

Originally Posted by ReefRockerLive

UltraAmin can be used in addition to MinS. Both products share similarity, but the Amin is more geared towards SPS whereas MinS is a food for most coral.

Organic can be started at any time along with the PowerTrace set. Keep in mind that it's effectiveness is dependent on the nutrient concentration in the reef. I would let the UltraLith do some work on nutrient reduction before any more products are added, give it a couple months.

I'll be on the lookout for those updates!

Thanks - I'll get the Ultra Amin as well as Ultra Organic and the full set of PowerTrace elements.

Will post updates as time goes by.

Some of my SPS corals lack vibrancy and have a bit of brown in them as you can see from the photos below:







It's the Fijis that are giving me these problems. Hope Ultralith can help me to colour them vibrantly

[honkit]

Yikes, two of my SPS colonies are expelling stringy stuff from their bodies - is this zooxanthallae?

[ReefRockerLive]

It is tough to say what it may be without a picture. FWIW, on occasion, I will see some white strings hanging off of my A.Simplex and it remains healthy. Chances are those acros are giving a feeding response.

[honkit]

The stringy stuff has stopped coming out from my A.Sameonsis and it's back to its normal look.

I noticed that my Purple A.Sameonsis has improved somewhat in its colouration and polyp extension which I find to be encouraging considering that it's just 2 days since I started the Ultralith program.

No noticeable changes to the rest of the SPS corals yet.

By the way, am I over-dosing in anyway for my tank size? Mine is a 90 gallon tank and I am dosing 4 drops of UltraBio, 3 ml of UltraMinS and 3 ml of UltraBak per day.

[ReefRockerLive]

Is 90g your total net volume? If so, I would reduce both Bak and MinS to 2ml and closely observe how the corals react over the next couple weeks. This will allow your corals to have an easier time adjusting to the UltraLith's nutrient reduction phase.

Have you tested your levels before starting the UltraLith system?

[honkit]

No, the net volume of 90 gallons is only for the display tank. The sump is around 15 gallons. Upon reading more writings on Bak and MinS, I have reduced both to 1.5 ml.

Coral colouration (browns are fading from several of the corals) and polyp extension for SPS has been very encouraging so far

Tank water is very clear.

My NO3 levels were undetectable with a Salifert test kit and PO4 levels at 0.03 with a Hanna checker.

I wonder when I can use some of that Powertrace 1234 to jazz up the colours but meanwhile, I will continue to dose, shake and monitor.

[honkit]

I am currently in week 3 of my Ultralith dosing and I am pleased to say that positive results have been obtained. Some of my SPS corals have clearly shown increased growth rates and better colouration. Others (such as my two A.tenuis colonies) have some catching up to do.

I have tufts of hair algae on the sandbed - is that a result of possibly overdosing Ultra MinS? I have since reduced it to a dosage of 1 ml per day.

I bought Powertrace elements 1-4 and commenced dosing them last night. Will update this thread with any results that I observe over the next few weeks.

One question that I have for Claude and the other FM experts here - how do I reduce the brown colouration in some of my SPS corals? For instance, I have a tricolour valida (the white one with yellow polyps - you can see a pic of it in this thread) that has developed more blue on its tips yet parts of the body has shades of brown. What are the methods you use to reduce this brown colouration? Thanks for any help given!

[C. Schuhmacher]

HI

Can you give me your actual water parms ? the reduction of MinS was correct

[honkit]

Tests were done 2 days ago.

NO3 - undetectable with Salifert test kit
PO4 - 0.04 with Hanna test kit
dkh - 7.5 with Elos and D&D test kits
Calcium - 420 ppm
Magnesium - 1300
Potassium - 400 with Fauna Marin test kit

I used RO/DI water for initial tank set up and for all subsequent water changes.

I should point out that the water clarity is very good and it looks like there is no water in the tank.

[honkit]

One day after I have started dosing the Power trace elements, my red table millepora has shown a reaction i.e. its colour has deepened to a richer shade of red.

[honkit]

Updates in Week 10 of Ultralith + Powertrace Elements dosing

[honkit]

[Stenopus]

Wooow, what you have done? What are your dosing regime? Great tank Bravooo !

[honkit]

I believe the Ultralith system is working for my tank even though I am not using a zeolite reactor

Besides the basic Ultralith package, I am also dosing Powertrace elements 1-4 and occasionally Zeovit's Pohl's Extra and potassium iodide fluoride.

[jpa14]

are you using the ultrlith rocks if so how?

thanks

[honkit]

Originally Posted by jpa14

are you using the ultrlith rocks if so how?

thanks

Yes, it's part of the package. Run it in a mesh bag in the sump.

[C. Schuhmacher]

HI

Thanks for posting your pictures here. If you want send me your adress to [email protected]. We have some new products which can help to increase your grow and coloration.
I want to send some of them for your tank

rgds claude

[honkit]

Originally Posted by C. Schuhmacher

HI

Thanks for posting your pictures here. If you want send me your adress to [email protected]. We have some new products which can help to increase your grow and coloration.
I want to send some of them for your tank

rgds claude

Thanks Claude, I have dropped you a mail.

[honkit]

Hello Claude,

Have you already sent the new products to my address?

Thanks!

[C. Schuhmacher]

Hi
No not yet they will go out next week Tuesday
I wait for another product
rgds claude

[honkit]

Thanks Calude. I look forward to receiving your products.

Meanwhile, I will post some updated pictures soon.