SPS Growth Puzzle

[Aquattro]

Christy, I did the bleach test 2 years ago, it didn't break up at all. I could tell it wasn't a bacterial matrix holding it together, I could drop it and the slab wouldn't break
I have to scrap the inside of my sump walls, and even the PVC parts of my zeo reactor were completely white. Pretty sure this has something to do with the growth problem, just not sure what...

I used kalk for a while last year, then stopped and put my Ca reactor back online, no change. Not even sure where to look anymore. I had to just post on that "other" site for help

[Sebae again]

I noticed when I ran co2 24/7 my sand bed would solidify. Read somewere that mg has to be a minimum of 1300 or the corals can't use up the calcium as the proper chemical ratio is required for this to take place.With your calcium on the high side maybe try bumping up your mg a bit. I've run mg as high as 1500 and alk at 11 and had the best growth. Your alk is way to low.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Sebae again

I noticed when I ran co2 24/7 my sand bed would solidify.

The CO2 only got added after the first year.

[Sebae again]

Your alk is way too low.

[Canadian]

Originally Posted by Sebae again

Your alk is way too low.

Not if he's reporting it in meq/L

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Canadian

Not if he's reporting it in meq/L

Right. Which puts it a bit on the high side

[MitchM]

Brad, are you any closer to solving your puzzle?

Mitch

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I had to just post on that "other" site for help

Nooooooooooo. Say its not so Brad.

My experience with precipitate,

When I lived in the country, on well water and had my large tanks, I had really bad precipitate. And my sps never grew, as a matter of fact they ended up bleaching, which I blamed on my 400w Radiums.

That had to do with mixing the IO salt wrong and if you remember the problem they had with high alk. That combined with the high alk. in my well water, which I never measured until it was to late.

Also the combination I use with my IO salt now, by mixing in an app. amount of magnesium and a little calcium, prevents any precip. as well as brings the water up to proper levels.

Not sure what you can take from all that, as I believe you use a different salt but the reference to adding some magnesium perhaps??? Although your level seems fine.

I had stupid precipitation everywhere in my 225g. Tank, pumps, you name it. I have not had any since. At that house I used ro BUT not DI behind it, which would have helped my alkalinity problem.

Since adding magnesium to my salt mix for water changes, I have never had a spot of precipitate. Not to mention I also run DI to but on city water in which the alk. is not bad anyways.

Hope something in there may help.

[Aquattro]

Doug, it's ridiculous!! My streams actually lock up every 3 months from it. I'm actually thinking of trying tap water, just to remove the RO unit out of the equation! My corals are doing well, color wise, just not actually growing much. I get some, but jeez, compared to what I used to get, it's getting silly.

[Sebae again]

Are you using a Salifert alk test kit?