Need help setting up doser-Calgary

[Coralgurl]

I've been using Seachem Salinity. In the bottom of my mixing bucket, there's a lot of build up on the bottom, but when I test, everything is good.

Today my parameters are as follows
Mag 1450
Ca 420
Dkh 6
Temp 78
Salinity 1.026
Phosphates between 0-10, hard to distinguish results

I've tested phosphates and ammonia 0

I noticed this morning, my wall frogspawn is now showing skeleton. I'm going to rescape my 55 and move him back over. This coral has done significantly well up till now, I paid $250 for it and have had it almost a year, not prepared to lose it.

I don't know what is going on and very frustrated. I dont know what to do at this point. I've lost $100's in corals over the past while and although the parameters have been a bit low, is this really enough to have this affect? What am I missing?

[fishytime]

nitrates?

[Coralgurl]

I meant nitrates are between 0-10. Hard to tell with API test.

If you mix the salt while it is cold over night, that will prevent the build up. Then turn the heater on when its all mixed up.

Are you trying to raise your alkalinity levels up a little higher? 6dKH makes me cringe.

Based on your tests, you don't have a parameter issue. Are you vacuuming the sand bed at water change? If yes, maybe ease on it for a while until everything gets settled down. maybe gas bubbles are being released.

Or feed more to increase the nutrients. The frogspawn will like it.

[Coralgurl]

I mix warm, will turn the heater off and see if this helps.

The dkh was up to 8 2 days ago. I missed dosing Friday and Saturday but caught up today.

I never have vacuumed the sand in either tank, have a goby who keeps things clean.

I wonder if I need to increase the lighting intensity, have radions, can post what I have them set at. One of them unplugged when I changed some things around this week, but it's only been a few days, checked the programming today and reset.

[Coralgurl]

I've been testing over the last 3 days and dosing accordingly.

July 29
Mag 1450
Dkh 6
Ca 420

July 30 - no dosing mag and ca
Mag 1350
Dkh 7
Ca 420

July 31 - no dosing
Mag 1150
Dkh 6
Ca 440

New salt water - tested tonight
Mag 1250
Dkh8
Ca 380

I've used the calculators and know what to dose to raise and then to maintain. I skipped the water change scheduled for this weekend and am using the balance of the salinity salt before switching. We are heading away this weekend and I'm hesitant to set up the doser without being able to keep an eye on things, but don't want things to slide either.

I'm only going to dose mag and alk, calcium should remain stable. I also need to pick up more magnesium will research DIY mixes if available, but for a quick supply, what's a good local product? I bought a pack from red coral, but didn't write down what it was called, as they are currently closed, any suggestions on what I could grab?
Thanks for the help. I know my posts have been a bit random and scattered out of frustration and not thinking about what I'm saying....

[blacknife]

Epsom salts. Aka magnesium sulphate. Found at pharmacys or bulk food stores.

I would highly recommend that you setup the doser. At 6dkh alk, your tank can crash if it is dropping 1dkh each day. Just set it to the maintenance dose for each day. Remember to have a plastic check valve on both ends. That's one inside your solution container, and one at the tube holder. Prime the doser so that the tubes are completely filled.

Oh and be aware that if you don't have the doser led set so that you see current time, it will not work. Meaning your stuck in a menu so it will simply pause.

I don't understand why your mag is all over the place. That's usually the only element that we don't have to dose often.

[Coralgurl]

I don't have any check valves so I will have to run out and find some. Not sure if we are going away this weekend now, looks like all campsites are full already...

Prior to setting up this tank, my alk has always been at 6 in my small tank, it caused issues with SPS but nothing else, figured if everything was ok, don't mess with it. Had great growth from everything

I understand the relationship between calcium and alkalinity, so last nights results were not surprising there. I don't have a lot of corals in this tank as stated ive lost a lot, for lps I have a wall frogspawn, bubble coral (has grown significantly in the last few weeks) fox coral, brain, duncans - have 2 heads out of 11 left, some zoas, mushrooms (blue rics just split) gsp, and green polyps. My pectina and goniopora are almost dead. I did move my button coral to the other tank, only because i had a fish flipping it. I haven't moved the frogspawn, am moving it to a different location to see if it's flow. Most of these were transferred to this tank in March this year.

I'm diligent when testing and have double tested to make sure results are accurate. My elos test kit (mag) is about a year old, API is about 8 months.

I dosed mag and all last night, I expect they should be at 1350 mag and 8 alk, haven't tested yet tonight but will to confirm.

[warriorcookie]

Originally Posted by blacknife

Epsom salts. Aka magnesium sulphate. Found at pharmacys or bulk food stores.

I would recommend using magnesium sulphate and magnesium chloride. Using just magnesium sulphate you run the risk of sulphate building up in your system over time.


Why do so many people say to use 1 way valves on both the input and output of the doser? I have used a valve just before the pump head and have not had any issues. Is it a redundancy thing? If so why not just two valves, one immediately after the other?


Sorry I can't offer any help, if I was in Calgary I'd offer to come over...