K, I placed my order, now what to prepare??

[Stacef]

Trust me, it is very overwhelming!!!

Robert---I get them all on Tuesday, trust me, I am a picture FREAK to judge their growth, my camera is not the best for tank shots, so I will have plenty of pics while acclimating also!

[T_kuemmet]

xenia doesnt seem that mysterious! lol its the most abused coral in my tank, only because it has to be cut down so frequently

[Stacef]

Ok so,

Today I was able to pick up B-Ionic.

I now have, B-Ionic
Calc test
Iodine
Iodine Test
I can't get my hands on Mag, or Mag test OR Alk test.

We drove 2 hours one way today and went to several stores there, NOTHING my LFS can't even get any of the three right now. What's the deal? So... Should I use the B ionic even though I can't test for Alk at the moment? The corals come on Tuesday. What should I do? Do I need to go another two hours up to Madison, Wi tomorrow to try and get Mag and test kit???? Help!

[plecosword]

I would rather stick with bunny! lol

[funkpolice]

I would order test kits online. In the mean time, use the min. dosage written on the bottle to start with. Then increase the amount until your calcium is right. I think you should use equal parts of each. I think it's hard to have your alk dangerously high, so you should be ok until you get the test.
bill

[Woodstock]

Congrats on your coral purchases
I recommend testing and supplementing the following: PH, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium and nitrAtes.
Depending upon which salt mix you use (not all have the same values of the above), you may need to supplement all newly mixed salt water to reach the disired levels:
Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
Use this calculator to determine exactly how much supplement to use:
Reef Chemistry Calculator

Regular weekly water changes using a good saltmix should provide everything your reef needs. Only once the reef becomes heavily stocked (or lack of water changes is an issue) is when you will need to supplement your reef tank.
Continue testing weekly for the above values to keep an eye on the values.

[Stacef]

Thank you Doni!! Those links helped a ton!

I am excited to get these corals on Tuesday, but very nervous about doing it wrong. I still can't get ahold of Mag before Tuesday. I called the stores up in another area and they don't have it either!

[Stacef]

Originally Posted by Dentoid

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.

Ok, I can't get ahold of Mag supplement or Mag test...Should I use minimal amount of epsom salt? The corals come tomorrow!

[rbursek]

If you use Epsom salts watch your SG because it can raise it being a salt.

[Dentoid]

Originally Posted by Stacef

Ok, I can't get ahold of Mag supplement or Mag test...Should I use minimal amount of epsom salt? The corals come tomorrow!

I wouldn't recommend adding any supplement until you can test and know the results of the initial test. You may not even need to add any Mg at this time.

Now that you have the Alk and Ca tests, you can at least get started there. If the Mg is low, you'll have a harder time keeping the Ca in the acceptable range and will require a lot more supplementing of Ca.

I agree with Bill though, add Ca/Alk in equal protions.

[Woodstock]

Originally Posted by Stacef

Ok, I can't get ahold of Mag supplement or Mag test...Should I use minimal amount of epsom salt? The corals come tomorrow!

As previously mentioned, do not supplement without testing first. After you get a magnesium test kit and it is found that your water needs mg supplementation, you can either purchase a magnesium supplement or make your own per Randy Holmes-Farley:
An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com


I use Recipe #2 3-A (combination of magnesium sulfate and magnesium chloride).

Recipe #2, Part 3: The Magnesium Portion



The magnesium portion again gives us two options, with Part 3A being preferred from an aquarium chemistry standpoint. Pick one and follow the same dosing directions regardless of which version you select.

Recipe #2, Part 3A

Dissolve Epsom salts (3 cups) and magnesium chloride hexahydrate (5 cups) in enough purified freshwater to make 1 gallon total volume. There will likely be a precipitate that forms even if you fully dissolve both ingredients separately. That precipitate is calcium sulfate (calcium as an impurity in the magnesium chloride and sulfate from the Epsom salts). It is fine and appropriate to dose the precipitate along with the remainder of the fluid by shaking it up before dosing.

This solution is added much less frequently than the other two parts. Each time you finish adding a gallon of both parts of Recipe #2, add 305 mL (1 ¼ cups) of this stock solution. You can add it all at once or over time as you choose, depending on the aquarium's size and set up. Add it to a high flow area, preferably a sump. In a very small aquarium, or one without a sump, I suggest adding it slowly.

The first time it's added, I recommend adding just a small portion and making sure there isn't any problem (such as corals closing up due to stress) before adding the remainder. Make sure corals and other organisms don't get blasted with locally high concentrations of the main ingredients or impurities, or else they may become stressed. This solution contains about 47,000 ppm magnesium, 70,000 ppm sulfate and 86,000 ppm chloride.

Recipe #2, Part 3B

Dissolve a 64-ounce container of Epsom salts (about 8 cups) in enough purified fresh water to make 1 gallon total volume. This solution is added much less frequently than the other two parts. Each time you finish adding a gallon of both parts of Recipe #2, add 305 mL (1 ¼ cups) of this stock solution. You can add it all at once or over time as you choose, depending on the aquarium's size and set up. Add it to a high flow area, preferably a sump. In a very small aquarium, or one without a sump, I suggest adding it slowly.

The first time it's added, I recommend adding just a small portion and making sure there isn't any problem (such as corals closing up due to stress) before adding the remainder. Make sure corals and other organisms don't get blasted with locally high concentrations of the main ingredients or impurities, or else they may become stressed. This solution contains about 47,000 ppm magnesium and 187,000 ppm sulfate.

[Stacef]

Originally Posted by Dentoid

I wouldn't recommend adding any supplement until you can test and know the results of the initial test. You may not even need to add any Mg at this time.

Now that you have the Alk and Ca tests, you can at least get started there. If the Mg is low, you'll have a harder time keeping the Ca in the acceptable range and will require a lot more supplementing of Ca.

I agree with Bill though, add Ca/Alk in equal protions.

I am using the 2 part B ionic for Alk/Ca. So they are going to be controlled in equal parts as I add them.

[Dentoid]

Make sure you test first to see if you even need to add anything.

[seafansar]

I still don't see why you would have to dose calc/alk/mag if you're just keeping softies. Don't you just need those for stonies? Just wondering.

[Dentoid]

Originally Posted by seafansar

I still don't see why you would have to dose calc/alk/mag if you're just keeping softies. Don't you just need those for stonies? Just wondering.

Nope, coraline algae and the deposition of calcium carbonate on hard surfaces will deplete these ions. Even without SPS these ions have to be balanced for good water quality.

Stace, are they there yet?! Oh, it's only 8:22am!