purple up enough for calcium?

[marie]

One has to remember that coraline is an algae and requires the same conditions to grow that any other algae needs...nutrients and light. It just happens to be more desirable then any other algae and is therefore a good way to soak up nutrients in a tank.



And corraline not liking bright light is just a myth. It won't be the nice dark purples and reds but the pink stuff grows like gangbusters only 6" under a 250w 10K DE MH





and just in case there are people out there that don't know it yet...I HATE coraline algae

[PzReefer]

I agree also that the magnesium levels are likely your cause of lower calcium levels. If you use a magnesium supplement like kents or seachem you could raise the Mg levels by about 50 ppm every couple of days over a week or so, to about 1400-1450 ppm then target your Ca at your desired level with a Ca supplement at about an increase of 15 ppm per couple of days after that.

My levels are as follows 1450 ppm Mg 440 Ca and Alk is 9.2 dKH.

I use a Calcium reactor with reef bones and Zeomag with an effluent drip rate of 80 ml/min and ph of 6.6 I have not added any other supplement for these three for over three months just check drip rates and monitor alk. check CA and MG once a month.

Pz

[bv_reefer]

Originally Posted by PzReefer

I agree also that the magnesium levels are likely your cause of lower calcium levels. If you use a magnesium supplement like kents or seachem you could raise the Mg levels by about 50 ppm every couple of days over a week or so, to about 1400-1450 ppm then target your Ca at your desired level with a Ca supplement at about an increase of 15 ppm per couple of days after that.

My levels are as follows 1450 ppm Mg 440 Ca and Alk is 9.2 dKH.

I use a Calcium reactor with reef bones and Zeomag with an effluent drip rate of 80 ml/min and ph of 6.6 I have not added any other supplement for these three for over three months just check drip rates and monitor alk. check CA and MG once a month.

Pz

thats exactly the parameters i'm going for, looks like i might have to balance out other parameters like my alkalinity before worrying about my calcium. although my tanks not big enough to go into a Calc.reactor i think i'm gonna start another calcium buffer in liu with my purple-up in my top-off water.

thanks again for all the comments everyone-

[bv_reefer]

i know exactly what you meen marie, the biggest/thickest clump i got is barely 6'' away from a 400 watt mh, plating and growing away every day, it's competing with space with me xenia, should be interesting! ( in a slow, boring, & time-consuming sort of way )

[Pan]

Originally Posted by marie

One has to remember that coraline is an algae and requires the same conditions to grow that any other algae needs...nutrients and light. It just happens to be more desirable then any other algae and is therefore a good way to soak up nutrients in a tank.



And corraline not liking bright light is just a myth. It won't be the nice dark purples and reds but the pink stuff grows like gangbusters only 6" under a 250w 10K DE MH





and just in case there are people out there that don't know it yet...I HATE coraline algae

sigh..

[marie]

Originally Posted by 'Ol Nobodaddy

sigh..

Not sure why you feel a need to sigh, I wasn't trying to step on anyones toes. I was just pointing out to bv_reefer that maybe excess nutrients is the reason why he is getting better coraline growth then mik_101, not because he is using purple up.

And I really do find coraline to be as invasive as some of the "pest algaes" out there. I also realize i need to manage the nutrient levels in my tank better

[Pan]

Originally Posted by marie

Not sure why you feel a need to sigh, I wasn't trying to step on anyones toes. I was just pointing out to bv_reefer that maybe excess nutrients is the reason why he is getting better coraline growth then mik_101, not because he is using purple up.

And I really do find coraline to be as invasive as some of the "pest algaes" out there. I also realize i need to manage the nutrient levels in my tank better

I am not fond of my coraline algae either thats why i sighed I like it on the rocks but never stays there. And yes i would agree excess nutrients will spur all forms of algae...among other things...as well all know

[bv_reefer]

Originally Posted by marie

Not sure why you feel a need to sigh, I wasn't trying to step on anyones toes. I was just pointing out to bv_reefer that maybe excess nutrients is the reason why he is getting better coraline growth then mik_101, not because he is using purple up.

And I really do find coraline to be as invasive as some of the "pest algaes" out there. I also realize i need to manage the nutrient levels in my tank better

thats true marie my nutrient levels are higher than his, thats ok the rc80 will take care of that next week by the way did you see way more clarity in you're water column when you switched over to the bubble king? i actually can't wait to get the rc in there!

[marie]

Originally Posted by bv_reefer

thats true marie my nutrient levels are higher than his, thats ok the rc80 will take care of that next week by the way did you see way more clarity in you're water column when you switched over to the bubble king? i actually can't wait to get the rc in there!

The difference in water clarity was apparent within 24 hrs and its been getting better and better ever since. I love my BubbleKing

I think you'll find your lights are even bluer then you thought once you get all the yellow out of the water column

[bv_reefer]

you're not running external are you? think thats the way i'm gonna go, too nice to be in-sump ....but i've always wondered usually a ''wet'' skim means light coffee colored, but what's considered skimming wet on a Bubble King? light black?