SPS Growth Puzzle - Page 2

Doug · #1 07-10-2010, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

What gets me, is when did Mg start becoming a supplement? 10 years ago nobody even heard of dosing, and there were a lot of awesome tanks out there. And for me, I guess my levels measure fine due to the large Ca reactor I run. But I've never dosed and never had a need to...

Perhaps the salt we used then, even the same brand had enough in it??

I cant see you having a magnesium problem if running a co2 reactor. When I did, using CaribSea media, my mag was always over 1300.

On the other hand, your co2 reactor, better named alkalinity reactor as you know, may be contributing to your calcification problem. Just a thought.

Canadian · #2 07-10-2010, 12:31 AM

I know you've been back and forth with sand in the past but I'm going to speculate that if you add sand and give it some time you'll find an uptick in your growth rate. This is not to say that you can't have great growth and color in a BB tank but that in your present case it may help. The substrate could theoretically allow for increased zooplankton in the water column and thereby food for the corals. Some substrate will also provide surface area for the precipitate you are reporting having problems with in your pumps. If you notice some clumping you can stir the sand manually and replace a little with your water changes a la Steve Weast.

On the one hand I like substrate because it reflects some light and provides a "finish" to the tank and on the other I hate it because it really dictates my flow pattern with a higher flow tank. But in the end it's just a few hours of work to remove it if you really hate it. And it gets more fun every time you do it

(I've now been back and forth from SSB to BB 4 times in the last 2 years).

Aquattro · #3 07-10-2010, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

On the other hand, your co2 reactor, better named alkalinity reactor as you know, may be contributing to your calcification problem. Just a thought.

No, the reactor was offline when the sand bed seized up

Aquattro · #4 07-10-2010, 01:57 AM

Andrew, I wanted sand for that "finished" look, but sand is also a sink for crap and that wories me. While I'm comparing my old tank to new though, the old did have sand......

StirCrazy · #5 07-10-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

What gets me, is when did Mg start becoming a supplement? 10 years ago nobody even heard of dosing, and there were a lot of awesome tanks out there. And for me, I guess my levels measure fine due to the large Ca reactor I run. But I've never dosed and never had a need to...

9 years ago I was measuting and adding Mg as nessasary.

Steve

Canadian · #6 07-10-2010, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

9 years ago I was measuting and adding Mg as nessasary.

Steve

Yeah Steve started it. Blame it on him.

StirCrazy · #7 07-11-2010, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian

Yeah Steve started it. Blame it on him.

Shhh. don't say that to loud..

I wouldn't say I started it as people were already doing it as there were test kits available, I think I was just ahead of the bell curve up here though.

Steve

Canadian · #8 07-11-2010, 03:05 AM

It really does come down to good marketing. In '99 I was dosing Mg in my reef because Seachem had a test kit and sold the supplement. I had no idea why I was dosing it but Seachem said I should, so I did.