Ca/Alk, B-Ionic, and a M. Digitata

007

007

Active Member
Well, I just started using B-ionic last week and started at 5 ml, then bumped it to 6, and then 7.
At 5 ml Ca was at 420, and Alk was at 3.09meq/L, then at 6 ml it went to Ca of 430 and Alk of 3.20.
So I bumped it up to 7 ml expecting it to go up a bit . . .
However, I added a M. Digitata frag (about 2" tall) two days ago and todays water tests, after 4 days of dosing B-ionic at 7 ml, result with Ca of 420 and Alk of 3.09 . . . back to where I started with the 5 ml.
I am going to continue dosing 7 ml for at least another week and see what happens.
My question is though, will a coral begin consuming Ca and Alk that quickly after acclimation? I mean we're talking two days here and thats a pretty significant impact. If this is not the case, then whats the reason behind the drop?
 
007

007

Active Member
yeah, but will they begin to consume that much after being in the tank for only two days?
 
007

007

Active Member
I would say that its in moderate flow with the occasioanl blast, as of now, the polyps are extended more than they were at the LFS where it was under MH, . . . however had only been there for a couple days. Not as full as yours there . . .
Currently, they are under 2x75w VHO at the top of the water column . . . its kind of an experiment really. I have hydnophora, pachyseris, and pocillopora all growing in the middle of the tank so I wanted to see if this would grow up top . . .
 
007

007

Active Member
Bang somehow manages to grow M. Digitata like a "gangbuster" under his VHO . . . but then again he manages to do a whole lot of other crap that I can't do either . . .
I'll keep some updates coming along.
:rolleyes: :D
 
jugger

jugger

Member
i think it possible and its odd you bring this up... beacuse i have been using b-ionic for ~ 2 months and have been doseing 20ml of each and the levels have been at 420-450 ppm cal....and 6-9 dKH for the alk.....now for my reason.....just one week ago i added two small acro frags....today i checked the calcium and it was down to 360....like i said for ~2 solid months i have been adding the same amount of both parts with very stable consistant numbers and after one week of the two new corals the calcium is low....iv had good luck and good growth of my digitatas with great color....i got this purple frag from a guy that was actually brown....ever since it has been it my tank it has since turned purple...whats odd about it is the guy i got it from had it under MH lights...i dont understand
 
kc36330

kc36330

Member
no offence but with your posting it sounds like you dont have an understanding of how Ca supplamentation works.
you want to add to your system what is demanded from it in a days time. you want to match that amount to keep it steady.
when you went from 5ml to 6ml you stated that you got an increase of 10ppm Ca. if that was true, then without the addition of anything to the tank (no new corals) if you kept adding 6ml daily, you'd end up with a 10ppm increase in Ca every day as well.
you dont up the amount to get you there and then expect the same amount to keep you there, it will continue to raise the levels thats why you need to match the dose to the demands of your tank.
if you want to boost levels then find the amount you need to maintaine levels first then add the proper amount to boost to your desired levels.
for B-Ionic it takes 60ml per 100 gallon of water to boost Ca 10ppm. the same 60ml of the part 1 (alk) will give 100g a dKH boost of 1.3
kc
 
007

007

Active Member
I'm not having problems with the dosing at all . . . got that part down just fine.
I am wondering how soon after placement in a new environment will a coral begin consuming Ca and carbonates . . .
Thanks anyway though . . .
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator

Originally posted by Kip4130
i am soon to do the same experiment under 3x 75w of VHO over a 30g tank... i expect the results to be similar

I expect you're going to be plesantly surprised :D
I absolutely do not understand why Digitata sp. appears to grow faster under VHO vs. PC. PC is more intense.
My experience is that it will.
Kip - Please be sure to keep us updated. I really want to know if this experience is typical or just me.
 
007

007

Active Member
I too will document as best I can what I find, however I don't have any sort of control . . . . all I can do is document growth (or lack there of) in my one lonely tank . . .
 
jugger

jugger

Member
not sure if this helps but this is a before and after growth under PCs ~2 months after placing the digitata in the tank
 
jugger

jugger

Member
ill try and get a recent pic to show the purple on top...its not all purple and not a very deep color of purple but like i said when i got it it was all brown and not a trace of purple
 
jugger

jugger

Member
that is beautiful!!!!! and that is what MH with a healthy tank will get you i guess...mine is no where near that purple... nice looking coral
 
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