K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? - Page 2

AQTCJAK · 05-16-2008, 10:58 AM

Unless you have a test for Iodine dont use it. Magnessium is a important one as well

Stacef · 05-16-2008, 11:37 AM

I will buy tests for anything I need to add.

So mag too huh? Gosh, tons more to buy!

funkpolice · 05-16-2008, 05:21 PM

For calcium/alk, I like the B-Ionic two part stuff. It's not very expensive, and pretty easy to dial in. Thats all I've had to add to my tank so far. I use oceanic salt and all my test are good to date.
bill

seafansar · 05-16-2008, 05:35 PM

I don't have any myself, but I've been told you should drip acclimate pulsing xenia slowly or it will die. And if you take it out of the water it stinks and they seem to do better when you turn off your skimmer. Just what I've heard.
I have some zoas. I only add cal/alk two part stuff. I've only had everything a little over a month, but all seems well. I got some tubs blues that started with 4 polyps and now has 22 polyps in just one month! The other zoas aren't budding so quickly though. Dunno why, maybe I just got some super tubs!
You may invest in magnesium and iodine tests in the future, but I don't think you have to worry that much about them for the time being. Also I don't think it matters if you add cal/mag since you just got softies. I do because I have some sps.

seafansar · 05-16-2008, 05:36 PM

Oh have fun with the new goodies! Those clove polyps are beautiful!

funkpolice · 05-16-2008, 05:40 PM

I think Xenia is kind of a mystery. Some people just throw it in the tank, others need very long acclimations. I would acclimate as long as your patience allows.
bill

Stacef · 05-16-2008, 07:19 PM

Thanks for the help guys.

Today at the lfs they only had some of the stuff we needed. So we are making a 2 hour drive tomorrow to our next closest SW supplier.

What I got today was:

Kent Marine-Liquid Calcium
SeaTest-Calcium test kit
Kent Marine-Iodine

So I need to pick up, test kit for Iodine, alk test, and alk?

So should I get mag? and mag test?

Let me know, we are leaving at 6 am tomorrow to go to the lfs, so please get with me before then, this is my last chance to get everything I need to be ready for my corals to arrive!

Also--we are picking up a blue tuxedo urchin tomorrow, from what I have read, he should be fine in with the corals

Dentoid · 05-16-2008, 07:38 PM

You definitely need a Mg test kit. No sense in testing for Alk and Ca without also testing for Mg. They all go hand-in-hand.

Stacef · 05-16-2008, 07:45 PM

So I should buy magnesium to add to be safe too right??

I am new to all of this Scott, so be patient!! hahaha.

Dentoid · 05-16-2008, 07:51 PM

I apologize if I sounded impatient, that wasn't my intention. Mg is used up pretty fast as it competes with Ca in the deposition of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Simply put, having the correct level of Mg will help to keep Ca levels high as Mg competes with Ca in the precipitation of calcium carbonate. Mg can be added with medical grade Epsom salt you get at the pharmacy. However, if you don't want to mess with that you could purchase a Mg supplement to have on hand.

Stacef · 05-16-2008, 07:57 PM

Scott! I'm sorry, I wasn't calling you out for being impatient you weren't at ALL! I was just trying to say that I am sure I have a lot more questions coming.

**One thing I hate about comps...you can't hear the expression behind something that is being said!!**

Anyways, I think I would feel more comfortable purchasing a Mg supplement.

So, do you suggest to use Iodine or no??

I need to pick up--
Mg test
Mg supplement
Iodine test
Alk supplement?? Is this such a thing?
Alk test.

That will be a pretty bill! Hahah. Ahh well, it has it's luxury--My peace of mind watching the corals sway!

Dentoid · 05-16-2008, 08:05 PM

Iodine is one of those supplements that is questionable and I don't want to muddy the water for you. For my tank, I only briefly used it when I had some xenia, that didn't make it. So I stopped supplementing. I have one of those tanks that will not support xenia. I whole heartily agree that if you are going to supplement then test. To be truthful with you, I found the Salifert Iodine test to be a PITA and I couldn't figure out the color chart to save my reef!

Dentoid · 05-16-2008, 08:09 PM

Oh, you can supplement Alk and Ca with a 2-part ionic solution like B-Ionic or Two Little Fishes C-Balance or a similar product. It's always best to try and balance these two components. When your tank get more mature and is using a lot of Ca or the Alk is going down fast, you can consider other ways of supplementing like Ca reactors, Kalkwasser drips or the Balling method used in Europe.

rmlevasseur · 05-17-2008, 05:55 PM

Its been two days! Where are the PICS???

plecosword · 05-17-2008, 05:57 PM

Seriously!, all that is kinda overwhelming!.

05-16-2008, 10:58 AM	#16 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,937 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? Unless you have a test for Iodine dont use it. Magnessium is a important one as well __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

05-16-2008, 11:37 AM	#17 (permalink)
Stacef Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 1,427 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? I will buy tests for anything I need to add. So mag too huh? Gosh, tons more to buy! __________________ Stace My 20g Build

05-16-2008, 05:21 PM	#18 (permalink)
funkpolice Scopas Tang Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orland Park IL Posts: 483 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? For calcium/alk, I like the B-Ionic two part stuff. It's not very expensive, and pretty easy to dial in. Thats all I've had to add to my tank so far. I use oceanic salt and all my test are good to date. bill

05-16-2008, 05:35 PM	#19 (permalink)
seafansar Limpet Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 139 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? I don't have any myself, but I've been told you should drip acclimate pulsing xenia slowly or it will die. And if you take it out of the water it stinks and they seem to do better when you turn off your skimmer. Just what I've heard. I have some zoas. I only add cal/alk two part stuff. I've only had everything a little over a month, but all seems well. I got some tubs blues that started with 4 polyps and now has 22 polyps in just one month! The other zoas aren't budding so quickly though. Dunno why, maybe I just got some super tubs! You may invest in magnesium and iodine tests in the future, but I don't think you have to worry that much about them for the time being. Also I don't think it matters if you add cal/mag since you just got softies. I do because I have some sps. __________________ -Sara Member of Gainesville Reef Club http://www.gnvreef.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=445

05-16-2008, 05:36 PM	#20 (permalink)
seafansar Limpet Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 139 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? Oh have fun with the new goodies! Those clove polyps are beautiful! __________________ -Sara Member of Gainesville Reef Club http://www.gnvreef.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=445

05-16-2008, 05:40 PM	#21 (permalink)
funkpolice Scopas Tang Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orland Park IL Posts: 483 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? I think Xenia is kind of a mystery. Some people just throw it in the tank, others need very long acclimations. I would acclimate as long as your patience allows. bill

05-16-2008, 07:19 PM	#22 (permalink)
Stacef Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 1,427 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? Thanks for the help guys. Today at the lfs they only had some of the stuff we needed. So we are making a 2 hour drive tomorrow to our next closest SW supplier. What I got today was: Kent Marine-Liquid Calcium SeaTest-Calcium test kit Kent Marine-Iodine So I need to pick up, test kit for Iodine, alk test, and alk? So should I get mag? and mag test? Let me know, we are leaving at 6 am tomorrow to go to the lfs, so please get with me before then, this is my last chance to get everything I need to be ready for my corals to arrive! Also--we are picking up a blue tuxedo urchin tomorrow, from what I have read, he should be fine in with the corals __________________ Stace My 20g Build

05-16-2008, 07:38 PM	#23 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? You definitely need a Mg test kit. No sense in testing for Alk and Ca without also testing for Mg. They all go hand-in-hand. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

05-16-2008, 07:45 PM	#24 (permalink)
Stacef Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 1,427 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? So I should buy magnesium to add to be safe too right?? I am new to all of this Scott, so be patient!! hahaha. __________________ Stace My 20g Build

05-16-2008, 07:51 PM	#25 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? I apologize if I sounded impatient, that wasn't my intention. Mg is used up pretty fast as it competes with Ca in the deposition of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Simply put, having the correct level of Mg will help to keep Ca levels high as Mg competes with Ca in the precipitation of calcium carbonate. Mg can be added with medical grade Epsom salt you get at the pharmacy. However, if you don't want to mess with that you could purchase a Mg supplement to have on hand. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama Last edited by Dentoid : 05-16-2008 at 10:11 PM.

05-16-2008, 07:57 PM	#26 (permalink)
Stacef Reef Lobster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 1,427 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? Scott! I'm sorry, I wasn't calling you out for being impatient you weren't at ALL! I was just trying to say that I am sure I have a lot more questions coming. One thing I hate about comps...you can't hear the expression behind something that is being said!! Anyways, I think I would feel more comfortable purchasing a Mg supplement. So, do you suggest to use Iodine or no?? I need to pick up-- Mg test Mg supplement Iodine test Alk supplement?? Is this such a thing? Alk test. That will be a pretty bill! Hahah. Ahh well, it has it's luxury--My peace of mind watching the corals sway! __________________ Stace My 20g Build

05-16-2008, 08:05 PM	#27 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? Iodine is one of those supplements that is questionable and I don't want to muddy the water for you. For my tank, I only briefly used it when I had some xenia, that didn't make it. So I stopped supplementing. I have one of those tanks that will not support xenia. I whole heartily agree that if you are going to supplement then test. To be truthful with you, I found the Salifert Iodine test to be a PITA and I couldn't figure out the color chart to save my reef! __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

05-16-2008, 08:09 PM	#28 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? Oh, you can supplement Alk and Ca with a 2-part ionic solution like B-Ionic or Two Little Fishes C-Balance or a similar product. It's always best to try and balance these two components. When your tank get more mature and is using a lot of Ca or the Alk is going down fast, you can consider other ways of supplementing like Ca reactors, Kalkwasser drips or the Balling method used in Europe. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

05-17-2008, 05:55 PM	#29 (permalink)
rmlevasseur Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 926 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? Its been two days! Where are the PICS??? __________________ Robert http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ufas-tank.html

05-17-2008, 05:57 PM	#30 (permalink)
plecosword Achilles Tang Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Irvine Posts: 867 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: K, I placed my order, now what to prepare?? Seriously!, all that is kinda overwhelming!. __________________ --Andre !!!20g for reals!!!

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