Testing for Red Sea Coral Colors ABCD

steve1981 · 05/25/2018, 08:23 AM

I have a 100g mixed reef which dosing pumps already setup for the main three elements. All testing ok as parameters below but I want to use this pack of Colors ABC and D that I have.

But I don’t have the test kits for these compounds. I don’t really do water changes and lucky enough to have a relatively good system combating the bad stuff. With that being said, I cannot therefore accurately determine what the levels are for what the ABCD replenishes by simply mimicking the amount I dose for calcium. Any ideas around this other than spending £50 on the test kits for iodine, etc?

Nitrites, ammonia and phosphate 0ppm
Nitrates 2ppm
Calcium 500ppm (waiting to come down a tad)
Magnesium 1400ppm
Alkalinity 11.0dKh
Salinity 35pt
Temp 27c

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bertoni · 05/25/2018, 10:08 AM

There's no practical way to get data on what elements are being consumed or building up other than the basics, like calcium, iodine, etc. There are a number of companies using ICP analysis, but at the cost point, they are taking shortcuts in their procedures, and that does seem to affect the accuracy of the results, although that's not quantified very well yet.

There's no way to determine the consumption ratios, either, other than the usual ratio of 2.8 dKH per 20 ppm calcium.

steve1981 · 05/25/2018, 11:09 AM

I mean could I just test for Iodine which is CC A and then dose the BC and D by the same amount? From reading the instructions it appears that whatever you need you dose all 4 by the same amount anyway.

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Whiskylen · 05/25/2018, 12:06 PM

I feel dosing colors based on cal consumption or test results are both guesstimates. Neither is completely accurate as you have no idea of true consumption and even the item your testing is just one of many elements in each bottle. I use colors and I dose based on cal consumption it may be too much or too little bit at least it is easy

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steve1981 · 05/25/2018, 12:59 PM

That’s what I plan to do, but can only do that when I know those levels are at the optimal range. Over the last few months they probably would have dropped and although o have now topped up the Ca, Mg and the Alk, those metals are probably still at a low base level. Need to get them up to standard and then I can measure against the Ca and dose with that.

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bertoni · 05/26/2018, 02:19 PM

We can measure alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium with some accuracy, barring the occasional test kit failure. Accurate testing for trace elements and ions generally is impractical for most budgets, outside of a few kits such as phosphate, iodine, and silicate. You can look at enclabs.com for cost estimates of reliable testing.

thegrun · 05/26/2018, 09:36 PM

I tie my dosing to the calcium consumption and after a year using the Red Sea Colors my ICP analysis showed my trace element parameters were all in line except my Strontium which was a little low.

05/25/2018, 08:23 AM	#1
steve1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 355	Testing for Red Sea Coral Colors ABCD I have a 100g mixed reef which dosing pumps already setup for the main three elements. All testing ok as parameters below but I want to use this pack of Colors ABC and D that I have. But I don’t have the test kits for these compounds. I don’t really do water changes and lucky enough to have a relatively good system combating the bad stuff. With that being said, I cannot therefore accurately determine what the levels are for what the ABCD replenishes by simply mimicking the amount I dose for calcium. Any ideas around this other than spending £50 on the test kits for iodine, etc? Nitrites, ammonia and phosphate 0ppm Nitrates 2ppm Calcium 500ppm (waiting to come down a tad) Magnesium 1400ppm Alkalinity 11.0dKh Salinity 35pt Temp 27c Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/25/2018, 10:08 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	There's no practical way to get data on what elements are being consumed or building up other than the basics, like calcium, iodine, etc. There are a number of companies using ICP analysis, but at the cost point, they are taking shortcuts in their procedures, and that does seem to affect the accuracy of the results, although that's not quantified very well yet. There's no way to determine the consumption ratios, either, other than the usual ratio of 2.8 dKH per 20 ppm calcium. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/26/2018, 02:19 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	We can measure alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium with some accuracy, barring the occasional test kit failure. Accurate testing for trace elements and ions generally is impractical for most budgets, outside of a few kits such as phosphate, iodine, and silicate. You can look at enclabs.com for cost estimates of reliable testing. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/25/2018, 11:09 AM	#3
steve1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 355	I mean could I just test for Iodine which is CC A and then dose the BC and D by the same amount? From reading the instructions it appears that whatever you need you dose all 4 by the same amount anyway. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/25/2018, 12:06 PM	#4
Whiskylen Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 56	I feel dosing colors based on cal consumption or test results are both guesstimates. Neither is completely accurate as you have no idea of true consumption and even the item your testing is just one of many elements in each bottle. I use colors and I dose based on cal consumption it may be too much or too little bit at least it is easy Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/25/2018, 12:59 PM	#5
steve1981 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 355	That’s what I plan to do, but can only do that when I know those levels are at the optimal range. Over the last few months they probably would have dropped and although o have now topped up the Ca, Mg and the Alk, those metals are probably still at a low base level. Need to get them up to standard and then I can measure against the Ca and dose with that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/26/2018, 09:36 PM	#7
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I tie my dosing to the calcium consumption and after a year using the Red Sea Colors my ICP analysis showed my trace element parameters were all in line except my Strontium which was a little low.