high mag low ca

what volume of water are we dealing with PghSteeler?

I use many Seachem products, and in a largish set up
the dry powder which you mix with RODI (Reef Advantage Calcium) is as relatively economical way for me to maintain my calcium

there are other more cost effective options out there, such the the Bulk Reef Supply dry powder ingredients you mix with RODI

Steve

 

the tank is a 46gallon bowfront no sump, fuge, or skimmer so no other volumes of water to worry about besides the HOB filter. Have about 40lbs of sand and 45lbs of dryrock not sure if there is a calculator that would let me plug those numbers in to figure out actual water volume.
I love seachem products and have a lfs here that sells a large part of their line including all the reef chemicals, power and the aquavitro liquid, salts, substrates, filter media, etc.

I was thinking if need be I can always add calcification for CA and reef builder

 

sounds like a plan to me

Reef Builder, good product, but falls out of solution very quickly
as you will probably not need much, I think you will be fine with it

how is your PH in general?
if its OK - Reef Builder would be a good choice for Alk supplement
if your PH is a tad low, then Reef Buffer, by Seachem would be a better option and IME it stays in solution a lot better/ longer than Reef Builder

for those of us using dosing pumps, that makes a big difference as the lines stay clear for longer

Steve

 

Thanks steve, my pH seems to go up and down depending when I test, mornings it is usually 7.8 (never any lower) and by evening it is an 8.0-8.1. I do dose a couple times a reef with either the marine buffer or the aquavitro balance depending on my alk (with API it was usually between 7-9).

When first set up my alk was constantly high, like around 12 before dosing, and my pH was always 7.8 even in the evenings. I used the reef buffer then but to get my pH up to 8.2-8.4 I had to dose so much it raised my alk to 14-18 only to have the pH drop quicker than the alk. That is when I came across aquavitro balance which raised the pH without really adjusting the kH much but over time as the tank established the kH finally started to get used up and was dropping to 6-7 so I bought the marine buffer to help maintain a steady pH but also add a little alk to the system.

Still learning and at 4 months (a little over 3 post cycle) the tank is still so new I am sure it is still going through other normal cycling processes that dont involve nitrogen. Have just been testing and adjusting accordingly trying to provide a stable and healthy environment. Been ok so far seems healthy but would like it to be a little more stable, maybe over the next few months things will kind of level out?

 

pH swing daily isn't out of line, try to make sure you have good surface agitation to limit the drop at night a little.

It is very hard to get the balance right at first but you will dial it in soon.

 

Im sure it will come with a little more time, it seems that the 6month mark is when you can finally say a tank is "established" no matter how long or slow the original cycle was. This has been true with all my FW setups and from reading seems to hold true for SW as well.

Funny when I got the package the other night with the test kits my wife looked at me and said it is never going to end is it? I tried to convince myself and her that yea that's the last thing I need, we have all the equipment and saltmix we need for awhile! Yet I know I still need to purchase all those little chemicals, media, foods that I will use in the many months to come as well as eventually getting a refractometer so I can ditch the hydrometer, a phos test kit, and who knows what else. To think 6 months or so ago when I ventured into SW I thought I could get everything I need and stay at my goal of $300 I now stand well over a grand I am sure