How long does it take for you to notice 2 parts effect?

Hey,

Can you can notice a difference in the coral growth rate once you get your water up to the proper levels using 2 part. I guess this would be in comparison to the growth rate prior to using 2 part.

I am about to do the first initial does to 2 part so I was just wondering

 

you can notice a difference over a 2 weeks or so, also visually in the tips on stony corals.

with soft corals you probably shouldn't notice a huge difference.

 

You are measuring your tank levels before you add the stuff, right?

 

Elevated Ca and alk does not grow coral. Food and light grow coral. Was your ca and alk defficient compared to natural sea water?

 

yea ca was 380 and alk was 7.. my target levels are ca = 420ish and alk 8-9.. did first dose last night and my levels now are 420 and alk is 8.

 

Well that is pretty close to natural salt water.... meaning you were not defficient. You can raise your levels to where you want but that does not mean your corals will grow faster.

 

I don't know powerman, I have heard slightly boosting alk over normal seawater increases in some corals.

 

Calcium carbonate skeleton is laid down by metabolic processes powered by light and fueled by nutrients. Building blocks do not form walls by themselves. You can have better growth if you have better everything, but not by just increasing alk and ca.

 

Yeah, years ago people tried to increase ca and alkalinity to increase growth. There is some evidence that this works. Some studies did show increased calcification, with increase calcium bicarbonate. The popularity of the idea has faded in recent years though. I think much of this is because in ULN systems, it dosn't help as the other parts aren't there, but that's just speculation.

Another thing to consider, I don't think anyone mentioned is phosphate. High levels have been shown to inhibit calcification. Regardless of your ca and alk, if phosphate is high, you won't get growth. Many other factors too, but just pointing out, it's not so simple as to say ca + alk = growth.

 

The way I understand it is high alk helps in systems with poor water quality(we are talking about poor quality for sps here, so its still pretty good quality).

However you don't want to go to high in a ULN system because it burns the tips. so stay under 10 in them.