TheWB’s IM Lagoon 50

[happyhourhero]

I am actually running into something similar as you. My calcium levels don't appear to be dropping linearly in my tank yet my alkalinity levels follow an even slope.

I barely worry about cal. I test maybe monthly to make sure it’s somewhere near 400. I test alk every couple of days though. I have never had a tank that drops Calcium in the same fashion as alk.

 

[TheWB]

I barely worry about cal. I test maybe monthly to make sure it’s somewhere near 400. I test alk every couple of days though. I have never had a tank that drops Calcium in the same fashion as alk.

Interesting. I would expect there to be some correlation between the two. I don’t have enough grasp on the chemistry to completely understand it so I’m just going with the flow. I don’t have super great growth but I have some. One thing I don’t yet have is a Magnesium test so while I have data for Cal and Alk I have no idea what my Mag level is or how it might be affecting growth. I need to fix that soon so I’ll have a more complete picture. I’ve been contemplating getting a Trident but that’s just not in the budget right now.

 

[happyhourhero]

Interesting. I would expect there to be some correlation between the two. I don’t have enough grasp on the chemistry to completely understand it so I’m just going with the flow. I don’t have super great growth but I have some. One thing I don’t yet have is a Magnesium test so while I have data for Cal and Alk I have no idea what my Mag level is or how it might be affecting growth. I need to fix that soon so I’ll have a more complete picture. I’ve been contemplating getting a Trident but that’s just not in the budget right now.

I should have made the distinction that I am using all for reef which covers alk, cal and mg in one solution. Mg if in range helps to keep all and cal stable.

 

[Pauliex77x]

Interesting. I would expect there to be some correlation between the two. I don’t have enough grasp on the chemistry to completely understand it so I’m just going with the flow. I don’t have super great growth but I have some. One thing I don’t yet have is a Magnesium test so while I have data for Cal and Alk I have no idea what my Mag level is or how it might be affecting growth. I need to fix that soon so I’ll have a more complete picture. I’ve been contemplating getting a Trident but that’s just not in the budget right now.

If you're dosing all for reef it's not that big a deal but if you're dosing them all separately like me you need to make sure your mag is within range. It's what keeps the other two in balance if I'm not mistaken. I pay more attention to it now and growth took off after I did.

 

[TheWB]

What mag test kits are you guys using and are you happy with it?
@jcolliii @happyhourhero @Pauliex77x @Calm Blue Ocean

 

[Pauliex77x]

I wish hanna made one. The only one I use is salifert and it's pretty simple and cheap.

 

[happyhourhero]

I use salifert.

 

[jcolliii]

For Mg, I had been using Salifert. The Mastertronic uses Red Sea Pro refills. I have tested the Salifert against a standard and it was less 10ppm off - not bad at all! The RSP in the MT is around 10 to 15 off from where the Salifert was, so seems probably either RSP or Salifert would be pretty evenly matched. I think the RSP kits are a lot pricier though.

 

[TheWB]

I wish hanna made one. The only one I use is salifert and it's pretty simple and cheap.

I use salifert.

For Mg, I had been using Salifert. The Mastertronic uses Red Sea Pro refills. I have tested the Salifert against a standard and it was less 10ppm off - not bad at all! The RSP in the MT is around 10 to 15 off from where the Salifert was, so seems probably either RSP or Salifert would be pretty evenly matched. I think the RSP kits are a lot pricier though.

We’ll then it looks like I’ll be ordering the Salifert kit tonight. I was looking at it earlier and I think Prime can have it here tomorrow. Thanks guys.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

What mag test kits are you guys using and are you happy with it?
@jcolliii @happyhourhero @Pauliex77x @Calm Blue Ocean

I've been using Red Sea for magnesium. Cross checking with ICP it seems reasonably accurate. I heard a rumor that Hanna is going to produce one, with the announcement possibly coming in April. Word is that it will be as easy as their alk test. If that's true, I'll be first in line to get it! I hate testing magnesium.

 

[Oredigger77]

I've been using Red Sea for magnesium. Cross checking with ICP it seems reasonably accurate. I heard a rumor that Hanna is going to produce one, with the announcement possibly coming in April. Word is that it will be as easy as their alk test. If that's true, I'll be first in line to get it! I hate testing magnesium.

I agree magnesium is a pain. The Hanna checkers are great I can run through 4 tests in less than 10 minutes. I'll be in line right behind you.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

Here we go:

New Hanna marine checkers: magnesium and ammonia

 

[Oredigger77]

Here we go:

New Hanna marine checkers: magnesium and ammonia

Is it sad I just marked April 15th on my calendar?

 

[jcolliii]

I can test Mg with a Salifert kit in 2 minutes. Doesn't take long at all.

 

[TheWB]

I've been using Red Sea for magnesium. Cross checking with ICP it seems reasonably accurate. I heard a rumor that Hanna is going to produce one, with the announcement possibly coming in April. Word is that it will be as easy as their alk test. If that's true, I'll be first in line to get it! I hate testing magnesium.

I ordered the Salifert test kit from Amazon last night, hopefully arriving today.
I'm a fan of Hanna Checkers except for Calcium so I’ll probably be right there in line with you guys for it next month as long as it doesn’t have any screwy hoops you have to jump through like the low range nitrate tester had. After watching the video to do that one there’s no way I would buy one. High range Nitrate, Phospahate and Alk are all great though. I use Red Sea for Calcium and that one is easy as well. Biggest issue for me is always getting the right amount of water in the test vial. I hate the meniscus lol. I also hate air bubbles in the syringe. I think a Trident is definitely in my future at some point. What else am I gonna throw away that $650 bucks on?

 

[TheWB]

Some top downs and other shots from this morning during water change.

 

[jcolliii]

Looking great man! Kudos!

 

[TheWB]

Looking great man! Kudos!

Thanks man. It’s much more of a mishmash than anything else though. I never really had a plan as far as buying specific corals and putting them in specific places so it’s not well thought out.

 

[jcolliii]

Thanks man. It’s much more of a mishmash than anything else though. I never really had a plan as far as buying specific corals and putting them in specific places so it’s not well thought out.

Natural reefs aren't though out at all! Stuff lands as larvae or natural frags. If it lands in the right place, it lives, if not it doesn't. I think it looks dang fine!

 

[jcolliii]

Really? dang gets autocorrected? !nmaD