Newly purchased Corals

[kwandrsn]

I would only run carbon to remove medicine if you ever have to treat for anything or if you ever propagate coral inside the tank which is not recommended btw

 

[Chrisc0930]

Well I would not use it... You want your beneficial bacteria to form on the rocks not the filter. Its different than freshwater tanks. I, would buy some polyfloss out something similar to run as a filter and maybe put it in with the carbon for a little while then remove carbon if your worried about it. it may cause a bacterial bloom and your water may be,a tiny bit cloudy but I think you would be ok to remove it

Good to know! Ill look into it

 

[kwandrsn]

My lfs sells filter material off a huge roll for $1 a foot and it lasts forever

 

[Chrisc0930]

Ok well test your calcium, kh, and phosphates

Phosphates should be 0
And I try to keep my calcium at 420 and kh at 10

I wouldn't dose calcium our anything without having it tested.

Yeah the leds are probably ok. You will get several opinions. I run dual PCs and I get told I can't grow much coral but my tank is deep and I have mushrooms, soft corals,lps and sps and have not ran into any problems yet

Ok so I got my phosphate tested its at 0.25.. My LFS doesn't test calcium so I bought a tester and I must be doing it wrong because if I'm not then its off the charts. I must have put like 30 drops in there to turn it blue and I'm only at a dark purple

 

[kwandrsn]

What brand test?

 

[kwandrsn]

You said you doses calcium and toy probably didn't need to. So that may be why its so high. Water changes will help bring it down

 

[Chrisc0930]

What brand test?

Brand is API

 

[kwandrsn]

Yeah you probably need to do water changes. I have to dose with calcium only because I have 20 corals and over 200 snails. Before I added all that I didn't need to dose. A few corals are not going to use up the calcium you add by doing water changes which replenishes a lot of nutrients you need

 

[kwandrsn]

I use API as well. You want your calcium about 420

 

[kwandrsn]

Ok of its 480 I would say its good.
sometimes it takes some time to get used to these tests lol

 

[kwandrsn]

what is your kh and ph?

 

[Chrisc0930]

I didn't get to test Kh and pH is 8.2 and solid

 

[kwandrsn]

Ok kh needs to be checked as well. I keep mine at 10

Ph is prefect though

 

[kwandrsn]

What all where you dosing, brand names as, well

Kh issues can keep coral retracted too

 

[Chrisc0930]

What all where you dosing, brand names as, well

Kh issues can keep coral retracted too

I've only ever dosed Carib Seas purple up, it has a calcium and iodine supplement and one I used instant ovens reef accelerator but I didn't take out my phosphate pad before doing it, I think. The pad package says that it neutralizes it

 

[apet66]

http://www.marinedepot.com/reef-tank-parameters.html
This chart is invaluable! Hope it helps. I'll read through your thread and offer any advise I can.

 

[Chrisc0930]

I've only ever dosed Carib Seas purple up, it has a calcium and iodine supplement and one I used instant ovens reef accelerator but I didn't take out my phosphate pad before doing it, I think. The pad package says that it neutralizes it

Omg.. Once* and instant oceans* lol

 

[kwandrsn]

Thank you tony, that isn't the one I am looking for though

 

[Chrisc0930]

What all where you dosing, brand names as, well

Kh issues can keep coral retracted too

I couldn't find a Kh testing kit

 

[kwandrsn]

Probably wasn't any need for iodine and calcium supplement though