Cali Kid Corals

Biocube 32


There’s probably no way your tank consumed that much mag in that short of a time, and it’s almost certainly just the difference in test kits (salifert vs spin).
I won't argue tbe point as I have No clue personally. I will try to get another test kit for mag- most for the point of comparsion to each other and to themselves over time. So I could actually tell if a test result is off or just a random fluke in a single test. I was Dosing 5ml everyday than stopped, so was considering going back to just doing it a few times a week.
 
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Just to be totally clear my suggestion was NOT to buy more mag test kits! :p

Lol not taken that way I only have one type of mag test unlike the others , I just would like one more so if I see something crazy with one test I can determine if it's semi in range and continuing the same trend. Mostly aiming to identify right dosing amounts that will keep things super stable, and get rid of the up and downs in numbers.

I was however reading that if mag is off, makes things really hard to keep calc and alk steady - my only goal stability
 
20240626_190855.jpg

Testing update.

6/26/2024
Dosing:
7mil daily afr
5mil twice weekly mag

Alk 9.4 - hanna
Alk 9.4 - salifert
Mag 1215 - salifert
Ca 387 - hanna
Ca 385 - salifert
Po4 0.54 - hanna (low range)


*I will find a online calcaulator to identify proper amount of ESV 2 part for dosing (only the Calcium part) for a corrective dose. I'm happy with numbers, yet would like to raise calc/mag only slightly. I've noticed that Afr isn't able to fine tune specific parameters. I plan to use the 2 part calcium only as a adjustment dose. I will stick to afr as my primary dosing method for this tank.

* I used natural sea water from Neptunes with high alkalinity for my last 2 water changes. which leads me to believe is the reason alk is currently staying up. The reef crystals salt I normally mix at home doesn't seem to have enough alkalinity in it to keep up with my tanks weekly up take. That lack has prehaps lead to my struggles with keeping alk stable from week to week.

1.) The only major change was I removed the crappy koralia wave maker and put the hygger mini wave maker oppsite the mp10. This hygger was previously my main wave maker prior to getting the mp 10. Overall I feel flow has greatly improved with this adjustment. I may possibly add one more wavemaker at the bottom of the tank to blow over the crushed coral. I will allow more time for observations before any more changes to flow.
 
I've always liked this online calculator: https://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html
Beat me to it!


Thanks, I used first one that popped up before I saw your replies which was the BRS one. However I entered the same information into the one you guys shared and it recommended the same dose. I will use the one you guys recommended in the future however. Again I only used that one because it was first in the search list.
 
Test results update. Numbers seem to be falling again. Apparently Something must be off with my dosing amount. Only trying to hold things steady still having minor ups and downs according to the trends.

*last two test reposted for easier comparsion*

6/16/2024 dosing 7mil daily afr,
Day before water change
*Paused dosing mag (06/08/2024)4mil mag
* fritz slime out (Treatment added 06/15/24)

Alk 8.6 - hanna
Mag 1260 - salifert
Ca 540 - hanna
Ca 400 - salifert
Po4 0.31 - hanna (low range)


6/26/2024
Dosing:
7mil daily afr
5mil twice weekly mag

Alk 9.4 - hanna
Alk 9.4 - salifert
Mag 1215 - salifert
Ca 387 - hanna
Ca 385 - salifert
Po4 0.54 - hanna (low range)

6/26- added 40 mil of esv calcium buffer - after testing
6/27 calc 504 - hanna (not rodi water)
6/28 calc 438 - hanna (clean rodi water)


7/04/2024
Test preformed 15 mins after water change (natural seawater high alk enhance Neptunes)
Dosing:
7mil daily afr

Alk 8.7 - hanna
Mag 1240 - salifert
Ca 450 - hanna
Po4 0.5 - hanna (low range)
 
Test results update. Numbers seem to be falling again. Apparently Something must be off with my dosing amount. Only trying to hold things steady still having minor ups and downs according to the trends.

*last two test reposted for easier comparsion*

6/16/2024 dosing 7mil daily afr,
Day before water change
*Paused dosing mag (06/08/2024)4mil mag
* fritz slime out (Treatment added 06/15/24)

Alk 8.6 - hanna
Mag 1260 - salifert
Ca 540 - hanna
Ca 400 - salifert
Po4 0.31 - hanna (low range)


6/26/2024
Dosing:
7mil daily afr
5mil twice weekly mag

Alk 9.4 - hanna
Alk 9.4 - salifert
Mag 1215 - salifert
Ca 387 - hanna
Ca 385 - salifert
Po4 0.54 - hanna (low range)

6/26- added 40 mil of esv calcium buffer - after testing
6/27 calc 504 - hanna (not rodi water)
6/28 calc 438 - hanna (clean rodi water)


7/04/2024
Test preformed 15 mins after water change (natural seawater high alk enhance Neptunes)
Dosing:
7mil daily afr

Alk 8.7 - hanna
Mag 1240 - salifert
Ca 450 - hanna
Po4 0.5 - hanna (low range)
Have you tested the natural sea water from Neptune's? I got some awhile back and I tested alk at 7.5 or something (which is natural sea water), not the 10-11 that the sign says. Maybe that's contributing to your lower alk numbers?
 
Have you tested the natural sea water from Neptune's? I got some awhile back and I tested alk at 7.5 or something (which is natural sea water), not the 10-11 that the sign says. Maybe that's contributing to your lower alk numbers?
I've never tested it. I'm also hand dosing afr daily. So i'm also not fully sure what’s actually possible as far as the stability with numbers being I try to test once every7-10 days.

I don't have any data that would narrow down the time frames. Like I imagine some with auto tester would be able to gather trends from.

* like the ability to notice daily changes to there numbers over time

I forgot to note it. But I change water ever week been using the same natural sea water for several weeks now. Yet only real difference is most of the time I test the water right after dosing afr but before the water change.
I'm Not sure if that makes a difference or not in the test results?

I guess my bigger question is considering the current methods of my testing and dosing. What would be a acceptable shift in numbers from week to week?

Where I could say things are stable?
 
Just looking at your alkalinity, the difference between your low and high is within 1dKH, which I think is pretty good for manual dosing and occasional testing. I think testing at the same time of day would help with consistency, if you aren't already doing that.
 
I won't wave the flag and cry victory yet, however i'm proud to report that since resuming getting natural seawater from Neptunes, and adjusting the flow. I've arrived at a happy place where sps is starting to encrust and color up like they were prior to alk getting outta wack.

20240712_221822.jpg


This image shows the walt Disney bright yellow- actively encrusting and growing tiny buds on base (slow grower so far)

The other two in this picture are frags of pc rainbow. (This started off purely green yet now rainbow part of the name is starting to announce itself.) The frag on the lower level is also sprouting several small tips.

The dull looking one I believe is dead is the contest frag of adam bomb. It was alive yet when I broke off the dead tip, it just croked for the most part. Only the tinest part of it still has possible color.

20240712_221838.jpg


This picture shows 1st the stand out in the tank as far as color goes the tiny nub of vivid confetti. The hues it's starting to show are simply amazing.

The other two in this photo left most Calicali frag is encrusting more and showing polyp extension.

The right most is the green slimer encrusting abd extending polyps as well.
 
I won't wave the flag and cry victory yet, however i'm proud to report that since resuming getting natural seawater from Neptunes, and adjusting the flow. I've arrived at a happy place where sps is starting to encrust and color up like they were prior to alk getting outta wack.

View attachment 58532

This image shows the walt Disney bright yellow- actively encrusting and growing tiny buds on base (slow grower so far)

The other two in this picture are frags of pc rainbow. (This started off purely green yet now rainbow part of the name is starting to announce itself.) The frag on the lower level is also sprouting several small tips.

The dull looking one I believe is dead is the contest frag of adam bomb. It was alive yet when I broke off the dead tip, it just croked for the most part. Only the tinest part of it still has possible color.

View attachment 58533

This picture shows 1st the stand out in the tank as far as color goes the tiny nub of vivid confetti. The hues it's starting to show are simply amazing.

The other two in this photo left most Calicali frag is encrusting more and showing polyp extension.

The right most is the green slimer encrusting abd extending polyps as well.
The magic of natural seawater, and good husbandry skills :). I love yellow corals, WD looks very happy.
 
I won't wave the flag and cry victory yet, however i'm proud to report that since resuming getting natural seawater from Neptunes, and adjusting the flow. I've arrived at a happy place where sps is starting to encrust and color up like they were prior to alk getting outta wack.

View attachment 58532

This image shows the walt Disney bright yellow- actively encrusting and growing tiny buds on base (slow grower so far)

The other two in this picture are frags of pc rainbow. (This started off purely green yet now rainbow part of the name is starting to announce itself.) The frag on the lower level is also sprouting several small tips.

The dull looking one I believe is dead is the contest frag of adam bomb. It was alive yet when I broke off the dead tip, it just croked for the most part. Only the tinest part of it still has possible color.

View attachment 58533

This picture shows 1st the stand out in the tank as far as color goes the tiny nub of vivid confetti. The hues it's starting to show are simply amazing.

The other two in this photo left most Calicali frag is encrusting more and showing polyp extension.

The right most is the green slimer encrusting abd extending polyps as well.
where did the walt disney come from? It does look quite healthy :)
 
Just got back home yesterday after two weeks out the country. I must admit my teenagers did a good job with my tanks.I only lost one coral the dragon soul favia for the grow out compention. (Most likey my fault I moved it the day before I left and it was probably stung to death by hammers).


The sps is looking stunning again.

20240801_220423.jpg

Vivid confetti, coloring up more and encrusting. This one definitely has the potential of being a tank center peice if it maintains those colors as it grows out more.

20240801_220522.jpg


Pc rainbow was the base of the frag in the next picture, I broke it off the top when I was putting it in the tank.

20240801_220230.jpg


Left: walt disney starting to encrust, and sending out new sprouts along the base- no additional colors as of yet.

Right: pc rainbow was the tip of the one in the other picture, its also starting to encrust and sending out rainbow clolors as the name implies.


Picked up natural water from Neptune's for water change tomorrow. Will test tomorrow after water change to see where number are hanging.
 
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