reef carbonate

[mattsfishin2989]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#hey can someone explain if it is beneficial for me to use reef carbonate or reef calcium. heres the situation i have a 30 gal with live rock but my cleanup crew ate all the life off of my rock and i have no corals can someone tell me if reef carbonate would add more life to my rocks or reef calcium and explain wat it exactly does.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Reef_Angel]

#ed_op#P#ed_cl#If you don't have any coral in your tank, there really isn't a need to add anything to it. Is this a fish only tank, or are you planning on adding coral in the near future? It would have no real benefit on a fish only system. If you plan on adding coral at some point, then the important thing you need to do is run your tests to see if all your parameters are where they should be. Then, if there's a need for something additional, you will know exactly what it is your tank needs added. Have you tested your water to see if it's needs anyadditional chemicals etc?#ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#P#ed_cl##ed_op#/P#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Reptoreef]

agreed... test before youdose. If it's something you can't test for, don't dose.

[mattsfishin2989]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#i plan on getting corals but i get my water tested about 2 times a month but i really want to know what i can do to get more growth onto my rocks becuase they are so boring and plain and i need some more flavors in my tank. This is a fish only tank for right now.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

When you say you want more growth on your rocks... what is it that you are looking to 'grow' on the rocks? Did you start with Live Rock or dead base rock? What type of lighting are you using now?

With enough lighting, alkalinty, and available calcium coraline will grow and in time turn your rocks purple for you.

[mattsfishin2989]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#i have standard 20 watts right now but im getting a satellite pc which should help. and i have live rock #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[davejnz]

You need to test alkalinty regularly.8-10dKh is a good target to keep it at.There are many products to use that will keep these levels idea.I prefer kalkwasser(german for limewater).It is a balanced additive that supplies alk/calc.Corals/coralline algea(pink and purple stuff) uptake bicarbonate and carbonate(alkalinty)as they grow.Regular additions of alk/calc products like kalk really seems to cause coralline algae growth to take off IME.
Although the products you mention will work,they aren't balanced and will require alot of testing/experimenting with to keep levels ideal.When buying an alk/buffer product at the store,check the label for the ingredients.You want the alk product to have both forms(carbonate and bi-carbonate).If you go that route,you will need to use a calcium product to balance the alk/buffer additives out.A rough guide is 12ml of Kents Liquid Calcium to 1 tsp of buffer/alk.The dry forms of Calcium additives i have no ideal what the balance ratio is.If you decide on the dry form,let me know and i'll find out for you