Alk to low!
- Thread starter Socalx45
- Start date
AlSimmons
New member
Where is your Magnesium at? This needs to be within a certain range for everything to kind of balance out. If your Calcium is 430 then your Magnesium should be about 3x that. (1290)
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php
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What test kit are you using?
My alk dropped to 7.5 for month's without me realising and causeed my coral's no end of problem's. I used Elos carbonate's 03 to raise it to 9.9 dkh which has helped alot. Water change's couldn't keep up with the amount of alk being used.
Tanthaitrung
New member
If your CA or KH are low, test and bring your Mg up first
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Ok will do....gotta get mag supplement!.
My friend who got me into this hobby, he has a 300g tank. He never does water changes and said hee never checks Mag. Only checks alk and ca once and awhile. I guess you have to have a more established tank to do that
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My friend who got me into this hobby, he has a 300g tank. He never does water changes and said hee never checks Mag. Only checks alk and ca once and awhile. I guess you have to have a more established tank to do that
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Tanthaitrung
New member
Every tank is different
GoVols
Cobb Webb - 1989
+1) Mag needs to be about 3 higher than Cal. If not your Coral can't intake calcium or Alk.
My params.
Cal 450
Alk 8.5 dkh
Mag 1400
Mag is the saliva (grease) to the big 3
3 x the cal keeps the Cal and alk ions from bonding together. Corals have to intake those ions separately.
Example:
So lets says you want to eat a peanut butter sandwich for energy and growth.
Peanut butter = Calcium
Bread = Alk
Saliva = Magnesium
You can put the sandwich in your mouth. Now think if you have no saliva (Magnesium).
No way your going to swallow that sandwich.
My params.
Cal 450
Alk 8.5 dkh
Mag 1400
Mag is the saliva (grease) to the big 3
3 x the cal keeps the Cal and alk ions from bonding together. Corals have to intake those ions separately.
Example:
So lets says you want to eat a peanut butter sandwich for energy and growth.
Peanut butter = Calcium
Bread = Alk
Saliva = Magnesium
You can put the sandwich in your mouth. Now think if you have no saliva (Magnesium).
No way your going to swallow that sandwich.
GoVols
Cobb Webb - 1989
You have to monitor all 3. Some reefs use more alk than Cal or Cal than alk.
When you raise your Mag recheck your cal and alk and SG.
I figure you'll see your cal raise and maybe lower your alk.
Also, If your dose up your cal to fast it could precipitate down your alk to a lower parameter.
Follow your products directions for max dose per day or you will have precipitation and you'll never get your big 3 ions to balance out.
When you raise your Mag recheck your cal and alk and SG.
I figure you'll see your cal raise and maybe lower your alk.
Also, If your dose up your cal to fast it could precipitate down your alk to a lower parameter.
Follow your products directions for max dose per day or you will have precipitation and you'll never get your big 3 ions to balance out.
