Max’s 55G tank simple setup

[Max Mangolin]

Here’s my 55g tank which includes two AI primes, five wave makers, one auto feeder, jebao dosing pump, dosing kalkwasser from Brs, dosing alkalinity, 10g sump with live rocks, and skimmer.

 

[dochou]

Nice start.
Where did you get the yellow polyps from? They can become pests, so be careful. GSP can also become a pest too.

 

[Bolicks]

Nice start.
Where did you get the yellow polyps from? They can become pests, so be careful. GSP can also become a pest too.

Not a pest if you like it's looks

 

[Max Mangolin]

Nice start.
Where did you get the yellow polyps from? They can become pests, so be careful. GSP can also become a pest too.

Thanks, the yellow polyps it’s growing, got it from I think the last frag swap,the gsp it’s a branching so it’s been good so far.

 

[Max Mangolin]

Just got 4 new hygger wave makers for 50% off on amazon. Added the link in case someone wants it.

Amazon.com

Added some live rocks from my local Petco ( could not keep up with removing algae) from the dry rocks I had before.

And also bought a Zoa rock from my local Petco for $24.00, which I think was a steal.

 

[Max Mangolin]

Long overdue tank journal update.
Started to dose aqua forest components 1,2 and 3
Alk 12 dkh
Cal 519
Nitrate 10
Mag 1440

About 40% water change every 2 weeks.
First time I see my clownfish lay eggs, so we going to see what happens.

 

[Coral reefer]

Are you running alk that high on purpose?

 

[Max Mangolin]

Not really, even with the water change it doesn’t go down. So I am just watching the corals and they look fine, if you have any suggestions how to bring it down I would take it. Thanks

 

[Coral reefer]

What are the aqua forest components 1-2-3?

 

[Darkxerox]

What are the aqua forest components 1-2-3?

They're balling method components so Ca, Alk, and Mg. Def save some $! No need to dose @Max Mangolin until all the levels even out towards natural seawater.

 

[Max Mangolin]

So every SPS or LPS always dies with a 1 to 2 weeks so I am trying to dose these to see if helps, the 3 is suppose to have other types of trace elements as well so I am holping that will help.

 

[Max Mangolin]

Ingredients:

Component 1+ contains: Ca, Sr, Ba, Co, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr. (50mL dissolved in 27 US gal raises Ca by 9 mg).

Component 2+ contains: NaHCO3, F, I. (50mL dissolved in 27 US gal raises KH by 1.3 dKH)

Component 3+ contains: Mg, Reef Mineral Salt, K and B. (50mL dissolved in 27 US gal raises Mg by 0,6 mg).

 

[Arvin R]

Have you sent out for an ICP test before or after dosing? It's hard to be able to help with info on dosing traces without a baseline of seeing what is trying or may need to be corrected.

 

[Coral reefer]

You are hurting yourself dosing those. Alk is at a problematic too high level, and ca and mg needlessly high as well. Def stop imo

 

[Max Mangolin]

I will stop and send a ICP test, I just got hammer corals last month and I don't want them to lose their heads.

 

[Darkxerox]

What salt are you using? If you're using Aquaforest I read it mixes at 35 ppt to 7.7-8.3 dKh, 440-460 Ca, and 1360-1420 Mg. You could always grab some natural sea water from a local store too and do a big change and see if that works.

 

[Max Mangolin]

I am on my last box of reef crystal, and i have 2 boxes of the aquaforest to start with.

 

[H2OPlayar]

I haven't seen this done before in reefs but this makes sense to me. When you switch dog foods, you are told to mix some of the old with the new to not shock the dogs gut. I could see the same argument for the salt. Consider mixing the Reef Crystals with the Aquaforest so there isn't an overnight swing of something when the water change happens.

I am kind of surprised I haven't seen this recommended before. The more I think about it, the more sense it makes to me.

 

[Darkxerox]

That would explain it. Reef crystals mixes up to higher than natural sea water levels.
Calcium ~490 ppm
Alkalinity ~13 dKh
Magnesium ~ 1440 ppm according to other sites.

So since you have little consumption (mostly soft corals) and dosing, you'll always end up high.

Try doing what Michael said with mixing in the new Aquaforest salt to the next batch, but you'll be high on all parameters for awhile until things consume them.

 

[Arvin R]

I haven't seen this done before in reefs but this makes sense to me. When you switch dog foods, you are told to mix some of the old with the new to not shock the dogs gut. I could see the same argument for the salt. Consider mixing the Reef Crystals with the Aquaforest so there isn't an overnight swing of something when the water change happens.

I am kind of surprised I haven't seen this recommended before. The more I think about it, the more sense it makes to me.

Mixing salt types is definitely recommended when chaing from one brand to the other. Start gradually 25% new 75% old then go 50/50, 75/25 then 100 new is how I would go about it.

The key to any changes in a reef tank is to go slow.