lduncan

More often than not they contain phosphate, plus lots of other stuff. They are practically raised in phosphorous, nitrogen, and trace metal baths.

Another tank with no calcium reactor.

Yip, it's most of Verons "Corals of the World" three volume set published online.

We're not trying to replicate and ocean though. Were trying to replicate a small part of a reef.

That's the only algae which i've found has a high demand for Mg. Problem algae doesn't seem to.

which would display as:

It's similar to posting images. You would type:

:lol:

If you could get back all the money you have spent on your tank so far, and put it all into setting up your ideal tank, how would you do it? What animals would you keep? ASW or NSW? What sort of lighting and how long would you run it? Skimmer / no skimmer? Needle wheel / venturi / beckett / air driven ? DSB, vaccumed sand, no sand? How would you maintain water chemistry? Kalk / two part / calcium reactor? What would you use for flow? Streams / closed loops / surge devices / sea swirls? How much live rock? minimal / average / great wall of china? Would you run chemical media? iron based phosphate remover / aluminium based phosphate remover / carbon / zeolites ? UV? Ozone? Would you use bacterial cultures? prodibo / zeobak ? What additives would you use? amino acids / vitamins / fatty acids / strontium / iodine / iron / fluorine / potassium / other magic potions ? What would you feed? frozen / flake / coral food? Would you grow macro algae? Would you have a refugium? Layton

My guess is that not a lot would happen. Magnesium is already available in sea-water well in excess of what most animals require, mainly because magnesium salts are so soluble. If it was an element which played a more limiting role biologically, or something which negatively effected other important parameters, i'd be more worried. It will drop naturally, slowly, water changes will help, but I don't think there's any need to panic about it. Layton

I've heard this before. Anyone know why or where it came from? I haven't noticed any relationship between magnesium and algae.

The joys of tuning calcium reactors. Sell up and get some dosing pumps, it'll have it sorted in a day. But if you've got a soft spot for reactors, there's heaps of references here on tuning and drip rates, bubble counts etc: http://www.cnidarianreef.com/faq.cfm?FID=37 Layton

good question. I think it may be different for each power company though.

I'm paying 21 cents per kWhr during the day, and 9 cents a kWhr night rate.

yip, meter how much power it draws. Or you can get an estimate from the wattages of all the equipment you have running.

:lol: i'll stick to halides.

$190 a month purely on the tank.

I won't say what I was going to. :lol:

It's either that or they're gagging on it. :lol:

Crosshatch: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/1-vt13863.html?start=0

For fish it's frozen mysis (when available) or frozen brine, large cocktail shrimp for the trigger, and nori. Corals, well keeping almost all SPS, light is what they get. Along with a lifetime supply of dissolved nitrogen and phosphate which comes hand in hand with feeding the fish. They don't need to be fed extra particulate food, they farm that for themselves. Layton

I was more interested in what, rather than who. But everyones been quick to reply, it's probably a bit late for a poll anyway :lol:

No Causes more problems than it's worth. They won't starve.

Option 2 for me. Have you ever tested that water for phosphate after it's thawed the food? It's off the scale.