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Opinions on best way to raise calcium and magnesium without raising alkalinity (much).
Additional thoughts on maintaining trace elements without frequent water changes.
*done a bunch of reading but now just curious what more experienced people think
Considering:
Parameters:
1.0261 SG (Tropic Marin precision hydrometer) … was running 1.0255-ish but decided to up to 1.026-ish a month ago
77-77.5 degrees F (InkBird)
7.5 dKH (Hanna) — only falls about 0.2-0.3 dKH over two weeks between water changes
2.8 ppm NO3 (Hanna) — starting to get low slowly over the last month (from 6-8 forever)
0.03 ppm PO4 (Hanna) — finally up from 0.00 dosing NeoPhos
*LFS Milwaukee confirmed 0.00 and normally about 0.01 higher than my Hanna when detectable
Ca = 330 (LFS Red Sea)
Mg = 1200 (LFS Red Sea)
*usually 8.3 pH but I rarely ever test
…no idea if I’m actually deficient on any minor elements
Additional info if of any value:
If there was an “Almost” All for Reef with everything except alk, I’d love to try something like that (if that’s even possible).
Yes, I’m trying to minimize effort on my part but realize I should just get over it and be more diligent.
I’m assuming (chemically) you can’t just mix together Ca/Mg/trace in whatever ratios you want and store/use as a single solution,,, but that’d be nice (I think).
Additional thoughts on maintaining trace elements without frequent water changes.
*done a bunch of reading but now just curious what more experienced people think
Considering:
- Traditional 2 part (or 3 part, I guess) without the alk,,, but I guess maybe add in some trace element supplement
- All for Reef — wouldn’t mind raising alk to 8-9 dKH “IF” this alone would bring Ca/Mg up to normal levels (but I doubt that’s likely)
- More water changes would be an option but my nutrients are already lower than I’d like,,, already dosing phos so I could just prepare to also dose nitrates if it becomes necessary
Parameters:
1.0261 SG (Tropic Marin precision hydrometer) … was running 1.0255-ish but decided to up to 1.026-ish a month ago
77-77.5 degrees F (InkBird)
7.5 dKH (Hanna) — only falls about 0.2-0.3 dKH over two weeks between water changes
2.8 ppm NO3 (Hanna) — starting to get low slowly over the last month (from 6-8 forever)
0.03 ppm PO4 (Hanna) — finally up from 0.00 dosing NeoPhos
*LFS Milwaukee confirmed 0.00 and normally about 0.01 higher than my Hanna when detectable
Ca = 330 (LFS Red Sea)
Mg = 1200 (LFS Red Sea)
*usually 8.3 pH but I rarely ever test
…no idea if I’m actually deficient on any minor elements
Additional info if of any value:
- 40 gallon breeder with no sump,,, just 2 HOBs, 1 Nero 5, 2x AI Prime 16
- At about 1 year since tank transfer from 37 gallon tall that was running 6-7 months
- Used half live rock (from old tank) and half dry rock, plus new/dry sand …guessing dry rock/sand is where phosphate is going
- 6 zoas and 2 ricordea florida, no LPS or SPS
- Fritz RPM (regular) salt and normal water change schedule is roughly 20-25% every other week or so
If there was an “Almost” All for Reef with everything except alk, I’d love to try something like that (if that’s even possible).
Yes, I’m trying to minimize effort on my part but realize I should just get over it and be more diligent.
I’m assuming (chemically) you can’t just mix together Ca/Mg/trace in whatever ratios you want and store/use as a single solution,,, but that’d be nice (I think).