Alk and cal

[Broken reefer]

I just tested water today,my alk was at 9 and calcium was at 540. Did weekly 15 gal water change yesterday on 90 gal tank. Should I be way concerned on calcium. I believe my amounts I added was off possibly. The Hanna checker for calcium only test a .1 sample of tank water. It's not hard to be off a smidgen on that test. It's got me worried about elevated levels. Usual I'm testing at 450 to 470. Maybe the red sea water I use from my lfs has something to do with it. Idk. Thoughts?

 

[griss]

A persistent high Ca level can drive down Alk. Given your Alk is (I assume) stable at 9, my initial thought is there was a testing error.

Before doing anything to correct it, I'd test again to see what it's at. Also, test a sample of the new water from the LFS and see what those levels are.

I had two bags of Coralife salt (different batch numbers) that both had extremely increased Ca levels and extremely low Ca levels a while back.

Sometimes manufacturers have a bad batch of salt.

Also, sometimes the ingredients in a salt mix can "settle." I keep my salt in buckets and when I add a new bag to the bucket, I always roll the bucket around for a bit to re-mix the ingredients.

 

[Broken reefer]

A persistent high Ca level can drive down Alk. Given your Alk is (I assume) stable at 9, my initial thought is there was a testing error.

Before doing anything to correct it, I'd test again to see what it's at. Also, test a sample of the new water from the LFS and see what those levels are.

I had two bags of Coralife salt (different batch numbers) that both had extremely increased Ca levels and extremely low Ca levels a while back.

Sometimes manufacturers have a bad batch of salt.

Also, sometimes the ingredients in a salt mix can "settle." I keep my salt in buckets and when I add a new bag to the bucket, I always roll the bucket around for a bit to re-mix the ingredients.

Thanls,after retesting this morning I'm sitting at 448. I was pretty sure I didn't test correctly. Thank you!

 

[Dustin07]

Thanls,after retesting this morning I'm sitting at 448. I was pretty sure I didn't test correctly. Thank you!

every time I test for mag I end up having to do it like 3 times, I never do it right the first time, lol.

 

[Broken reefer]

Yeah,I know the feeling. Seems like with cal I'm the same way.

every time I test for mag I end up having to do it like 3 times, I never do it right the first time, lol.

I may sound stupid but I dont honestly test for mag. So far, as long as I continue to do my weekly 15 to 20 percent water changes my magnesium as been consistently 1300 to 1310 according to my lfs that I do truly have faith in. And I don't have a test for magnesium but will order one here in the next day or two if u think I should. I usehannah checkers. Everyone once In Awhile I will have to retest twice when I believe it is incorrect.

 

[kharmaguru]

Yeah,I know the feeling. Seems like with cal I'm the same way.

I may sound stupid but I dont honestly test for mag. So far, as long as I continue to do my weekly 15 to 20 percent water changes my magnesium as been consistently 1300 to 1310 according to my lfs that I do truly have faith in. And I don't have a test for magnesium but will order one here in the next day or two if u think I should. I usehannah checkers. Everyone once In Awhile I will have to retest twice when I believe it is incorrect.

Yes magnesium doesn't really move much and any big changes are usually testing error. Checking it once a month is plenty unless you are actively making an adjustment.

 

[jrill]

Yeah,I know the feeling. Seems like with cal I'm the same way.

I may sound stupid but I dont honestly test for mag. So far, as long as I continue to do my weekly 15 to 20 percent water changes my magnesium as been consistently 1300 to 1310 according to my lfs that I do truly have faith in. And I don't have a test for magnesium but will order one here in the next day or two if u think I should. I usehannah checkers. Everyone once In Awhile I will have to retest twice when I believe it is incorrect.

Avoid the Hanna magnesium checker. Very unreliable . Salifert or Aqua forest.

 

[Dustin07]

Yeah,I know the feeling. Seems like with cal I'm the same way.

I may sound stupid but I dont honestly test for mag. So far, as long as I continue to do my weekly 15 to 20 percent water changes my magnesium as been consistently 1300 to 1310 according to my lfs that I do truly have faith in. And I don't have a test for magnesium but will order one here in the next day or two if u think I should. I usehannah checkers. Everyone once In Awhile I will have to retest twice when I believe it is incorrect.

At one point I was playing with the zero water change approach, just top off+ some supplementing and found that my mag and cal were both a little low so I needed to dose them, and my corals responded fantastically. At some point I took up 10% weekly WC's again though and then my corals really flourished, without dosing.... so I've moved over to the mindset that fresh salt is giving them the added nutrients they were missing.

 

[Broken reefer]

Avoid the Hanna magnesium checker. Very unreliable . Salifert or Aqua forest.

I agree,to little amount of sample.

 

[Broken reefer]

I agree,to little amount of sample.

I thought said calcium. My mind didn't comprehend. Thanks.

 

[Broken reefer]

Yes magnesium doesn't really move much and any big changes are usually testing error. Checking it once a month is plenty unless you are actively making an adjustment.

Thanks