I've been in the hobby for about 8 months now and am beginning to add corals. I have struggled with these because it is difficult to keep my pH consistent (big swings at night from 8.25 to 8.10). Right now, my only corals are mushrooms, polyps, and one a piece of hammer coral (that is really struggling). Along with that, there is plenty of coraline algae growing in the tank, which is the major consumer of Ca at this point.
I am currently using SeaChem Reef Builder and SeaChem Advantage Calcium with the drip method, but I can't keep up with the needs of my aquarium. Despite regular dosing over two weeks, I could only raise my calcium to 360 (from 300) and my Alk dropped from 9 to 8.
It is winter in Michigan, so I am not getting as much fresh air in the house as I would like, but on days when I am home, I run a hose from the skimmer air intake to an open window, but that does not seem to help steady the pH very much.
With those problems in mind, I just ordered a complete two-part doser system from Bulk Reef Supply.
Three Questions:
1) What am I overlooking? Any ideas on what I could be missing? Or is my coraline algae really consuming that much?!
2) With the dosing system, at what rate can I safely raise cal & alk without harming things?
3) Is the product used with the dosers the same thing that I am already using from SeaChem, or is it more potent?
PS - 75gallon system with sump, skimmer, and other parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) consistently at 0.
I am currently using SeaChem Reef Builder and SeaChem Advantage Calcium with the drip method, but I can't keep up with the needs of my aquarium. Despite regular dosing over two weeks, I could only raise my calcium to 360 (from 300) and my Alk dropped from 9 to 8.
It is winter in Michigan, so I am not getting as much fresh air in the house as I would like, but on days when I am home, I run a hose from the skimmer air intake to an open window, but that does not seem to help steady the pH very much.
With those problems in mind, I just ordered a complete two-part doser system from Bulk Reef Supply.
Three Questions:
1) What am I overlooking? Any ideas on what I could be missing? Or is my coraline algae really consuming that much?!
2) With the dosing system, at what rate can I safely raise cal & alk without harming things?
3) Is the product used with the dosers the same thing that I am already using from SeaChem, or is it more potent?
PS - 75gallon system with sump, skimmer, and other parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) consistently at 0.