Calcium and dKh dropping rapidly!

[mrhasan]

So I always do a 5 gallon WC every saturday and don't dose anything. But recently, my corals have kicked off rapid growth (sps; for some reason, my LPS, other than acans, don't grow!) and birdnests are growing like weed.

So on Saturday, I start with SG 1.026, Ca 410-420ppm, Alk 9dkH (don't measure Mg). But the dKh falls very rapidly (today, I read something between 5-6 with API) and the Ca is resting around 380. I have not seen any issue with any of the corals (other than two zoas: one closed up and one opens slightly; I never have any luck keeping zoa - don't know why!). Alongside, I don't get growth in my torch (been one headed for like 5+ months). Funny thing! My SPS are growing crazy (birdnests; montis; red planet) while LPS are like...naaaah I wont grow!

Advice please Should I start dosing? Or should I just keep up with the 5 gallon change since there is no ill affect on the corals?

[Wheelman76]

I would get a mag test and measure that , if your mag is low then you'll have a harder time keeping your cal and alk up.

[xenon]

With limited corals, you can get away with water changes to maintain cal/alk/mag but there comes a time when corals consume faster than you can replenish with water changes so its time to start dosing.

It's much cheaper to dose what your corals consume, rather than doing bigger water changes.

Your water may be too clean for LPS. That is my problem also. You will need to target feed your LPS if you want them to grow.

Make sure you never let alk drop bellow 6.5dKH. That is when bad things happen to SPS. We keep our system stable @ 7.5dKH.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by xenon

With limited corals, you can get away with water changes to maintain cal/alk/mag but there comes a time when corals consume faster than you can replenish with water changes so its time to start dosing.

It's much cheaper to dose what your corals consume, rather than doing bigger water changes.

Your water may be too clean for LPS. That is my problem also. You will need to target feed your LPS if you want them to grow.

Make sure you never let alk drop bellow 6.5dKH. That is when bad things happen to SPS. We keep our system stable @ 7.5dKH.

Well my tank holds 56 corals in 20 gallon water so don't know whether I should say its limited amount of coral

I did have a drop to 5dKh once (possibly for a week even! didn't check) but nothing bad happened (atleast not with SPS). No clue why so (although good for me haha); weird things happen with my tank.

I was planning to do my regular water change this saturday, monitor how things change over the course of next week, and take action accordingly perhaps?

[RDNanoGuy]

For such a small tank I would simply start dosing with a quality brand two part formula in the middle of the week. A set of large bottles should last quite awhile with stank that size.

[Proteus]

Buy a good product like aquavitro. They have online calculator to so do over dose. Make sure you stay on top of dosing as stability will help with your growth. I was told not to raise dkh more than 1.5 a day. And yes start checking mg. all three play a role for the other.

[Spyd]

I would dose 2 part. Some B-ionic or something like that would be good for a system like yours. The jugs would last a very long time. Try not to increase dkh more than 1 per day. I would definitely check Mg levels as well though as that definitely plays a factor with maintaining Cal & Alk levels.

As for the LPS, target feeding works best. Mysis and cyclopeeze are what I use. Feed about 15 minutes after lights out when all the tentacles are out. I would feed once every 3 days or so if you want some nice growth.

[Wheelman76]

+1 on Salifert

[mrhasan]

Alright good folks. Got myself a Salifet (I like red sea's box but heard that what's inside matters!). Checked the Mg and found it to be 1350 (what it supposed to be according to my salt). So I am putting Mg aside as the source.

So should I start researching on dosing now?

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

So should I start researching on dosing now?

Uhhhhhhhh. Ya. Lol.

Simple liquid form such as aquavitro and there calculator and you be flying