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Post by gotareef on Jan 3, 2014 14:02:03 GMT -5
a phosphate reactor is like carbon dosing once you start using it you cant stop using it.....
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jan 4, 2014 9:20:50 GMT -5
Kinda but your not taking good bacteria out of your tank if you remove a phosphate reactor.it's not that hard to maintain and only requires being changed every 4-8 weeks as phosphate start to climb back up.
The way I see it with food and everything else that has phosphates in it we put in our tanks everyday, everyone should have a phosphate reactor. It's just too helpful and easy to use it doesn't make allot of sense not top use one if you need it.
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Post by gotareef on Jan 4, 2014 12:59:52 GMT -5
po4 reactor is basically the same as adding vodka, it puts food in the water to bring bacteria populations up to eat the phosphates once you stop adding food the problem comes back with a vengeance
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Post by speedyron on Jan 5, 2014 7:35:16 GMT -5
I think every one should watch this. the guy from reef dynamics is really smart. there is a commercial in the middle so stick all the way thru the video
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jan 5, 2014 9:03:24 GMT -5
But you have a 180g system so you have allot of wiggle room with water parameters. All of us don't have that and another thing is I don't think I'll ever have to take my phosphate reactor off my tank done like I said before imo phosphates are always a problem in a reef tank big or small there still a problem and something to worry about so it's personal preference and can depend on different deciding factors for different people. It's only my opinion that a phosphate reactor is more help then trouble. Especially in "smaller systems 120g and under I'd personally have one on any size tank I ever ran?
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Post by jess on Jan 5, 2014 9:20:25 GMT -5
I think her problem lays somewhere other than phosphates. She needs to have her water tested for alk, mag, calcium, etc. Her tank is about a year old, there's no dosing and using instant ocean salt. I think it's just deteriorating from nutrient loss and extended periods of high nitrates. She has no test kits for any of this and no chemicals to dose with so thinking of grabbing a 10gln box of instant ocean reef crystals and try a water change with that to see if there's any improvement.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jan 5, 2014 10:33:05 GMT -5
If she's not adding any calcium magnesium or alk them she should probably start using reef crystals instead of instant ocean? It has allot more cal, alk/dkh and mag to replace the list nutrients. The corals in her tank can't survive without these things as you know.and can't thrive without consistent levels of all of these things. Maybe even some purple up for between water changes? You can still try and keep it simple and maintain a healthy and happy reef tank.
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fragfreaks
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Post by fragfreaks on Jan 5, 2014 11:51:55 GMT -5
If she's not adding any calcium magnesium or alk them she should probably start using reef crystals instead of instant ocean? It has allot more cal, alk/dkh and mag to replace the list nutrients. The corals in her tank can't survive without these things as you know.and can't thrive without consistent levels of all of these things. Maybe even some purple up for between water changes? You can still try and keep it simple and maintain a healthy and happy reef tank. +1 on the reef crystals. I love this salt and it is all that I use. As for purple up, I would stay away from that stuff, I believe it is just a calcium carbonate supplement. If you are to dose I would do 2 part calcium and alk, something b-ionic or bulk reef supply has their own 2 part solution that works very well also.
It's a good habit to test water at least once a week. This way you can make any necessary adjustments to get your parameters back on check. I even better habit is to stay very disciplined with weekly water changes as that is truly the best way to keep all your parameters on check. I usually do bi-weekly changes of about 20% and every week check parameters to see if I need to dose anything. |
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Post by doverdoug on Jan 5, 2014 21:03:04 GMT -5
I started my tank with reef crystals and once cycled and I started testing the big 3 I found my Ca and Mg really high. My KH was good. I dont really have much in the tank that require calcium yet so I switched to Instant ocean sea salt to try to get my Ca precipitation off the heater etc. Once I get it straight and have corals I will most likely use reef crystals again.
good luck!
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Post by jess on Jan 5, 2014 21:43:00 GMT -5
Yea without anything using it then it would be high. She keeps allot of lps so it's crucial for her to have these elements
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jan 6, 2014 9:58:32 GMT -5
I also use brs 2 part dosing but I was suggesting this to get because it's easier and is supposed to add all three I believe? Cal mag and dkh? The one I used to use was by Kent not the caribsea one? Either way I agree that brs(or another) 2 part dosing would be the best things. Lps and sps need these levels to be consistent and checked often when when dosing.
But using reef crystals instead of instant ocean will help I believe as well because it adds allot of this stuff(cal mag and dkh) back into your tank top an extent it's not going to take care of the problem all together in a fully stocked reef tank but it'll help allot more
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