purple up enough for calcium?

[Pan]

Originally Posted by bv_reefer

are you really finding that little use out of it as a coraline enhancer? i've found that my tank's getting much faster corraline growth than per say people who are using 2-part/1-part like liquid reactor, like mik_101's tank, much slower coralline growth. then again you might have a point, i am maintaining my alkalinity and calcium in order. interesting how you found that you're dimmer tanks are getting quickewr corraline growth, the tops of all my rock are covered and bottoms where it's dark are bare

I'm sorry but the benefit of purple up over normal stable calcium levels, is i'm sorry to say...and mean this with no ill will...all in your head.

I have thick coraline everywhere, the thickest though was always out of direct light....and by thick i mean it looked like the LR was melting off coraline..some places i could have chiseled 3 inches in and would still be at coraline...mind you that was on a tank that had flourished for years and years...coraline doesn't walways seem to grow in everyones tanks either...some immaculate tanks seem to have none, but the above was my opinion and some of the general consesus on coraline i have read over the years. But everyones tank is a completely different environment compared to even the tank in the nxt room. But with regards to purple up it is not snake oil, just overpriced. There are quite a few different types of coraline i've noticed over the years...although if they are different in any other way than the growth pattern they show i'm not sure.

[marie]

One has to remember that coraline is an algae and requires the same conditions to grow that any other algae needs...nutrients and light. It just happens to be more desirable then any other algae and is therefore a good way to soak up nutrients in a tank.



And corraline not liking bright light is just a myth. It won't be the nice dark purples and reds but the pink stuff grows like gangbusters only 6" under a 250w 10K DE MH





and just in case there are people out there that don't know it yet...I HATE coraline algae

[PzReefer]

I agree also that the magnesium levels are likely your cause of lower calcium levels. If you use a magnesium supplement like kents or seachem you could raise the Mg levels by about 50 ppm every couple of days over a week or so, to about 1400-1450 ppm then target your Ca at your desired level with a Ca supplement at about an increase of 15 ppm per couple of days after that.

My levels are as follows 1450 ppm Mg 440 Ca and Alk is 9.2 dKH.

I use a Calcium reactor with reef bones and Zeomag with an effluent drip rate of 80 ml/min and ph of 6.6 I have not added any other supplement for these three for over three months just check drip rates and monitor alk. check CA and MG once a month.

Pz

[bv_reefer]

i know exactly what you meen marie, the biggest/thickest clump i got is barely 6'' away from a 400 watt mh, plating and growing away every day, it's competing with space with me xenia, should be interesting! ( in a slow, boring, & time-consuming sort of way )

[Pan]

Originally Posted by marie

One has to remember that coraline is an algae and requires the same conditions to grow that any other algae needs...nutrients and light. It just happens to be more desirable then any other algae and is therefore a good way to soak up nutrients in a tank.



And corraline not liking bright light is just a myth. It won't be the nice dark purples and reds but the pink stuff grows like gangbusters only 6" under a 250w 10K DE MH





and just in case there are people out there that don't know it yet...I HATE coraline algae

sigh..

[bv_reefer]

Originally Posted by Oscar

OK so what is the supposed benefit of Purple Up? I have been using it since I started my tank 2 months ago, primarily to encourage coraline alagae. I am using Kent salt and my clacium is regularly testing at 500 although my Mg is low.

Is there any benefit to Purple Up at that level of calcium? It tests at that same level with a fresh batch of SW as it prepares for a water change.

honestly as far as corraline is concerned, theres nothing better, 2 weeks after i took my sand out and went bare bottom my bottom pane was already mostly dotted all over with purples and pinks, it's just not proving to hold it's buffering capability very well (in my case at least ), as for you're calcium level of 500, that seems overkill, what test kit are you using? let it slowly drop down thru precipitation

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by bv_reefer

as for you're calcium level of 500, that seems overkill, what test kit are you using? let it slowly drop down thru precipitation

I am using Kent salt and Salifert test kit. That is testing my replacement water just before a water change. The tank water was at 525 the same day.