Idlefingers' Salty Journal

[idlefingers]

I bought some Reef Advantage Magnesium yesterday to help bring up the magnesium a bit before starting to tackle the calcium deficiency (370 Calc / 1050 Magnesium). I dripped in a few spoonfuls of the Mg yesterday and then again today and should be receiving the calc powder during the week to start with that. I've also ordered some Reef Builder (to buffer alkalinity) even though there's no issue now, I'm ready to deal with it when it starts to dip..

I also bought 6kg more live rock today, bringing the total to 33kg which I think should do the trick. With a little re-arrangment, here's how it looks now:

While I was at the lfs, I also decided to reserve a really nice looking green star xenia coral which, if everything goes well I'll go pick up next weekend.

 

[sophos9]

Hi mate,

Your tank is looking great! I'm with you at the minute, trying to bring magnesium up... Whats your target parameters?

 

[idlefingers]

Cheers! I don't really have a set target at the mo.. I've read that between 1200-1350 is good so I'll probably just go for mid way between the two. I don't know. What's your target?

 

[Musho3210]

target for NSW levels

 

[sophos9]

Cheers! I don't really have a set target at the mo.. I've read that between 1200-1350 is good so I'll probably just go for mid way between the two. I don't know. What's your target?

My tank should end up at 1350ppm mag... sometime

 

[CAC]

Only just seen this thread and it looks great. Just wondering where youve been going for your livestock arround here? I imagine its the falconary centre at blakemere? (great marine section there) but just interested to see where youve gone.

Cheers, Mike

 

[idlefingers]

I've bought pretty much all the livestock and LR from A-Z aquatics in crewe so far but I'm going to go have a look at The Abyss in Stockport tomorrow.. Do you know if they're any good? They say they've got 100 marine tanks which sounds good but that's all I know

I'll have to go check out that shop at the falconry centre.

 

[idlefingers]

I've been neglecting this journal a bit! Time for an update.

The dosing's been going well and my calc/alk/mg is getting to a more acceptable level. I've been using Seachem Advantage Calcium, Advantage Magnesium and Reef Builder in my top-ups (obviously not all at once) which seem to be doing their job really well and not making the pH swing.

A few weeks ago I bought some green star polyps which are growing nicely now.

Last weekend I bought a mushroom leather coral which has had a bit of a rough start because I had difficulties placing it on the rock properly - it kept getting knocked out of position where it was placed and I didn't want to glue it down because I didn't want to commit to that position either. I finally found a good spot and it seems quite happy now.

Then this weekend I bought a flame firefish and a bangaii cardinal.

And Finally, the obligatory full tank shot!

 

[shibby]

looking awesome

 

[idlefingers]

Thanks shibby!

 

[littleme1969]

Yup, nice neat and tidy..lol You sure you are are male lol
Nice pics too

 

[idlefingers]

lol thanks! Too bad nothing else in my life is neat and tidy!

 

[SkiFletch]

Lookin great

 

[sophos9]

Hi mate,

Your tank is looking great! What ppm per day have you been increasing the values?

 

[idlefingers]

Cheers Ski and sophos!

I add 30g magnesium and 8g calcium 2-3 times per week which increases mg by about 10ppm and calc by about 18ppm with each dose according to Seachem. I haven't tested straight after dosing as I figured it'd be inaccurate so I don't know how accurate those figures are.