seabass Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 https://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-store/E.S.V.-B-Ionic-Calcium-Buffer-2-part-System-2-x-32oz.html ESV B-Ionic is often used for small tanks or small dosing requirements. Sure Seachem Reef Fusion 1 and 2 is another suitable product. Many of these two part solutions still require a magnesium component. Proper magnesium levels are required to maintain the desired alkalinity and calcium levels. There are even DIY recipes. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php But most people use some off the shelf system to help ensure purity and balanced levels. 1 Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted December 28, 2021 Author Share Posted December 28, 2021 On 12/27/2021 at 9:40 AM, Kindanewtothis said: @seabass My KH is 8, it's usually around 9.5 but I think I need to test more often. Should I start dosing KH? Testing Mg and Ca? KH is now 7.6 so consumption seems to be around 0.4 a day. Ca 440 Mg 1480 Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted December 30, 2021 Author Share Posted December 30, 2021 Quick update on the YWG, little guy "Abeille" ("bee" in english) now eats mysis also and even tried a flake. The name is from my 3 yo because it's yellow. Did a KH test again and I must have messed something because previous results were 8 then 7.6 and now more than 9? I've order Seachem fusion 1 and 2. 1 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 Not really sure what's going on with your testing. Alkalinity won't go up on its own, so it's testing errors. You'll need to improve that somehow. What kit do you use? I really like Salifert's alkalinity test kit. Once you figure out how to get reliable test results, you can figure the daily consumption rate. I would probably use the drop taken over seven days, and divide that by seven to get your daily consumption rate. After you start dosing, you will need to continue to test to check stability. If dosing is pushing alkalinity up, you'll need to decrease your daily doses; and likewise, if alkalinity is still dropping, you'll need to increase the dosage. 1 Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted December 30, 2021 Author Share Posted December 30, 2021 6 hours ago, seabass said: Not really sure what's going on with your testing. Alkalinity won't go up on its own, so it's testing errors. You'll need to improve that somehow. What kit do you use? I really like Salifert's alkalinity test kit. Once you figure out how to get reliable test results, you can figure the daily consumption rate. I would probably use the drop taken over seven days, and divide that by seven to get your daily consumption rate. After you start dosing, you will need to continue to test to check stability. If dosing is pushing alkalinity up, you'll need to decrease your daily doses; and likewise, if alkalinity is still dropping, you'll need to increase the dosage. I use Redsea for KH, Ca and Mg so I don't know what happened. Will test again. Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted December 30, 2021 Author Share Posted December 30, 2021 Retested KH still 7.6, really don't know what I did to get that 9. Should I test newly mixed water and try to reach that level of KH or just bring it back above 9? Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 10 hours ago, Kindanewtothis said: Should I test newly mixed water and try to reach that level of KH or just bring it back above 9? Stability is the key. I feel that maintaining alkalinity at the same level as your water change water helps to prevent swings (no matter how much water you need to change out). So I try to target all the major elements (alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium) at salt mix levels, with alkalinity being the most important of the three. I consider dosing to be replenishing the consumed elements, not elevating levels to some other ideal. So if you aren't happy with the levels that your salt mix mixes to, you might consider switching mixes. That said, in the dosing video that I previously linked, BRS suggested keeping levels at: Alkalinity: 9 dKH Calcium: 420 ppm Magnesium: 1350 ppm Those levels are perfectly fine provided that you can maintain stability. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 Also, I'd probably try not raising alkalinity much more than 1 dKH per day. 2 Quote Link to comment
Maas101 Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 10 minutes ago, seabass said: I consider dosing to be replenishing the consumed elements, not elevating levels to some other ideal. So if you aren't happy with the levels that your salt mix mixes to, you might consider switching mixes. This is good advice, stability is key. Corals will be happy in a range of dKH but it needs to be maintained once they are acclimatised to it. 3 1 Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 2, 2022 Author Share Posted January 2, 2022 (edited) Anyone knows this model? Would it work with a simple 5 gallons bucket under the tank? https://www.aquariumdepot.ca/hydor-smart-level-control-ato-automatic-top-off.html Edit: no pump with this one so... But about this Amazon model https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09FPRN3GT/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_A1DV3SBADJEF42XPN2PF Edited January 2, 2022 by Kindanewtothis Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 15 hours ago, Kindanewtothis said: Anyone knows this model? Would it work with a simple 5 gallons bucket under the tank? https://www.aquariumdepot.ca/hydor-smart-level-control-ato-automatic-top-off.html Edit: no pump with this one so... But about this Amazon model https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09FPRN3GT/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_A1DV3SBADJEF42XPN2PF Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Any return pump (that can pump the water high enough) would work. Actually, lower flow rates are typically better for an ATO pump. 1 Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 4 hours ago, seabass said: Any return pump (that can pump the water high enough) would work. Actually, lower flow rates are typically better for an ATO pump. I found the pump that goes with it but I find it too expensive. I've oredered the Amazon one. Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 No3: 15 Po4: 0.17 dKh: 7.3 Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 I think I have bubble algae growing on the acan frag. Should I do something about it and if yes what? Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 Not sure if bubble algae or not. However, you could try to: remove the frag peel off the algae dab the area with a Q-tip soaked in hydrogen peroxide rinse the frag with some tank water (but not inside the tank) 1 Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 2 hours ago, seabass said: Not sure if bubble algae or not. However, you could try to: remove the frag peel off the algae dab the area with a Q-tip soaked in hydrogen peroxide rinse the frag with some tank water (but not inside the tank) I think it was a bubble forming, it was hard and not on the plug but on the acan skeleton. I've cut a part of the skeleton to remove it. Cleaned the zone with a Q-Tips and peroxide and rinced it in tank water. Then I glued it back on another rock in the 50g. The acan frag was on a small rock that I put in a plastic bowl. It seems I have a lot of pods in my tank because I could count easily a dozen in the bowl. The small rock is now in the Qt tank that needed more rocks. 1 Quote Link to comment
Critteraholic Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 That looks like ulva to me. Veggie eaters will eat that. I've never had any trouble with it. Actually, I kinda like it. But I have seen that some people feel they have too much and want to get rid of it. So it's up to you! Also, bubble algae begins as a teeny weeny little green bubble. I've never seen it leafy looking. I think it's kinda pretty, too. 😆 But it's been known to get out of control if you don't have anybody to eat it or pluck it. Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 1 hour ago, Critteraholic said: That looks like ulva to me. Veggie eaters will eat that. I've never had any trouble with it. Actually, I kinda like it. But I have seen that some people feel they have too much and want to get rid of it. So it's up to you! Also, bubble algae begins as a teeny weeny little green bubble. I've never seen it leafy looking. I think it's kinda pretty, too. 😆 But it's been known to get out of control if you don't have anybody to eat it or pluck it. Must not have been a bubble algae then. Thanks ! Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 I starting to have a lot of GHA patch on my rocks. I suppose high phosphate contributes and that it is normal but what is the approch here? Should I do something about it? What? 2 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Manual removal with herbivorous snails. Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 14 minutes ago, seabass said: Manual removal with herbivorous snails. I'm 100% with the snails part, maybe I need more (I have maybe 1 snail / 2 gallons). Not sure you ever recommanded me (if you agree with the method from the video) to reduce phosphate to 0 over night. I will not do that. Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 No, I wouldn't bottom out phosphate. This was a 2014 video. However, I feel that recently, depriving nutrients has lost most of it's favor. It's the method of manual removal that's most compelling about the video. 1 Quote Link to comment
Kindanewtothis Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Just now, seabass said: No, I wouldn't bottom out phosphate. This was a 2014 video. However, I feel that recently, depriving nutrients has lost most of it's favor. It's the method of manual removal that's most compelling about the video. Yeah with the dinos experience, I prefer a little high than too low. Still, I did some manual removal, the bigger patchs were easier than expected. Also, impulsive purchase alert, I bought 30 snails (astraea, margarita and trochus). 🤷♂️ 1 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Those are all good herbivores. However, keep in mind that Margarita snails are a temperate species, whose life spans will be shortened by typical reef temperatures. I've purchased some before, but tend to stick with tropical species when I can. Quote Link to comment
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