Parameters max out?

[vaporize]

I was dosing B-ionic today and noticed that when I add the ALK buffer, the stuff actually precipitate out of the water so I asked my assistant to test the Mg/Ca/ALK ratio for me. Found out that my Cal and ALK is very high and I am wondering if it has to do with my Calcium reactor media being very fine.

Salifest test - Ca 500ppm
Salifest test - ALK 13 dKH
Seachem test - Mg 1875 ppm

My calcium reactor (cheapo coralife500, can never get the drip rate constant with various methods, aqualifter/johngest fitter etc..) was offline for 2 weeks due to CO2 so I was dosing B-ionic (30ml for 120G tank) for the previous two weeks. During that dosing period I do not see any precipitation at all. Also dosing Kent Tech M to increase Magnesium for hair algae.

After the calcium reactor comes back online (2 weeks ago), I try to raise Ca/ALK a bit by dosing 15mL every other day. I also noticed that the media in the calcium reactor is turned to very fine, talking to others, I was told that it might cause channeling in the media and cause it not to melt properly, so I shake the media chamber (turning left/right) to mix the channeling. I am wondering if these fine media is actually better at disolving and giving me higher ca/ALK ratio afterall. I woould think fine = easier to dissolve, if no channeling, then it dissolve fast. Any comments?

Or anybody know the "max" level before I get a snowstorm effect? I remembered talking to some reefer, he has very high parameters too but also has very high magnesium that seems to compenstate for the higher ca/ALK ratio.

p.s. despite the high Mg , I do not see my hair algae dying off really fast, it is over 1500 since 2 weeks ago.

 

[DonW]

Sounds like you need to get the testing and monitoring part of reefkeeping in check before doing any dosing or using a ca reactor. High Mg is a sort of fix for briopsis not hair algae. I would take the reactor off line and only dose two part untill you can get a handle on the dosing and testing. There is more to a snowstorm than just the three high parameter. I would just do water changes with balanced fresh mix to get everything back down to where it is supposed to be.

Don

 

[class clown]

Salifest test - Ca 500ppm
Salifest test - ALK 13 dKH
Seachem test - Mg 1875 ppm

I've not experience a snow storm before, but at these levels, I'd expect it to snow anyday. I can't imagine this high on any of these three paramaters would be good for your corals. Have you noticing ill effects to them (STN/RTN)? Also.. have you spent time to try to figure out the "fuel" for the hair algae?

 

[vaporize]

High Mg is a sort of fix for briopsis not hair algae.

I thought the whole reason for high Mg for biopysis is because high Mg level actually damage the functioning of chorophyll, so it should work for all chorophyll based plants (green plants?)? no?

I would take the reactor off line and only dose two part untill you can get a handle on the dosing and testing. There is more to a snowstorm than just the three high parameter. I would just do water changes with balanced fresh mix to get everything back down to where it is supposed to be.

I think I will take the reactor offline and wait for it to drop. What other parameters might contribute to the snowstorm effect aside from cal/alk balance too high?

At these levels, I'd expect it to snow anyday. I can't imagine this high on any of these three paramaters would be good for your corals. Have you noticing ill effects to them (STN/RTN)?

Now that you talk about it, maybe a bit of STN amongst some sps corals, I was thinking it's because of the Magnesium .

One more question I have is whether the finer reactor media would cause faster increase in the dissolved levels? As finer the media, more surface area, therefore it is easier to dissolve more media than when the media is more granular? Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for all the help.

 

[DonW]

It doesnt work for typical hair algae, dont know why. High nutrients is the #1 cause. PH is the deciding factor as to wether or not your going to precip. If your media is channeling it should actually be less effective. Fine media needs to be fluidized to realize the full effect of using it.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php

Don

 

[mmkeeper]

Rule of thumb don't add anything before you test for what you are adding. IF you are adding two part B-Ionic according to the label and running a calcium reactor, it is not a surprise that your levels are high.

 

[vaporize]

Thanks Don for the help and insights. I actually keep the reactor pretty fluidize (by shaking it twice daily), so maybe that also contributes. I will just run the reactor with inside pH of 7.2 for now to lower the parameters.

While on the topic, can anybody confirm that a high Mg level will allow higher saturation rate for Cal/Alk? I somewhat recalls sps reefers told me that they raise the Mg on purpose to allow the higher saturation rates. Any SPS reefers can comment on this?

 

[DonW]

Shaking is not fluidized its just shaking. Excess ca inhibits coral growth. There is no reason to run very high levels. Besides not being good for the life its not good for the equipment.

Don