Thrive Prescription

Anyone else using the online Thrive Aquatics Prescription? I entered my tests results and it said that I needed to add Calcium and Magnesium.

Here are me test results.

Temp - 78.3
Salinity - 1.024
Alkalinity - 8.4
Calcium - 375
Magnesium - 1100
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate < 4
Phosphates - 0
Iodine - 0.03

I have a couple zoas, xenia, kenya tree, mushrooms, sun coral, briarium and sympodium corals along with snails, hermits, and shrimps.

Just wondering if their calculators are correct or if they are just trying to sell product. If I do need to supplement, what brand would you recommend?

 

Your Ca and MG could come up a bit.

 

Since you have mostly soft corals your salt mix and wc's should make it unecessary for you to dose.What brand of salt are you using and how often/much water are you changing?

 

I was using Red Sea Salt and recently changed over to their coral pro mix. I am doing a 10 gallon water change weekly.

 

I think I have a profile created on there...I never use it.

I would slowly raise your Mag to at least 1350ppm, I am assuming you are using their Mag and Ca? As for the Calcium, 375 is not bad but I typically aim for 410-430 ppm.

 

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

This might help you.

My apologies, I didn't answer the part where you asked about brands for supplements (assuming you do need to dose). Many people make their additives because it is far cheaper than buying already mixed. It depends on how comfortable you feel with DIY stuff. Also, different salts have different levels of magnesium, calcium, etc. so you need to determine what those levels are in your salt and then adjust accordingly. As vinnie said, your corals are soft so won't use a lot of calcium, but if your salt is low in calcium you still need to get it higher, in the range recommended by Dr. RHF. HTH

 

Well the Coral Pro has elevated Calcium,Alk. and Mag. levels.What size is the system ??You should be able to raise your numbers with just WC's.

 

Agreed.

Also, how are you measuring you SG? Cheap hydrometers are notorious for inaccuracy. Getting your SG to 1.026 with a refractometer would also increase your cal and mag, although any changes should be made slowly.

 

Ok, that's weird. If those levels are elevated then why are his/her readings so low. Hmmmm, strange.

 

75 gallon DT and salinity is measured with a refractometer. I just changed over to Coral Pro a little over a week ago. What are your thoughts on Brightwell additives?