Ca, Alk, Mag too high

[johnrigu]

ok, so I'm new to the hobby and found out that I was not testing the most important level. Calcium, Alk, and Magnesium. Of course and others like Salinity, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, etc.
So I bought the Red Sea Reef Foundation® Pro Test Kit http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=23774 and tested my levels and they were as followed:
Calcium: 850
Magnesium: 1440
Alkalinity: (Meq/L=5 & dKH=14 = 250 ppm)

I know, I know they are way too high.

So then I went and bought the Red Sea Reef Foundation ABC Reef Supplement Multipack http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=28317
The problem is that I dont really understand how I'm supposed to use it. I see the dosing chart https://www.google.com/search?q=Red+...68;439;450 and it makes sense but do you add the supplement whether its too high or even too low?
I see that I need to test again after four days to see how much I have dropped and then divide the difference by 4 and dose that amount every day until I reach my desired level. Do I have that correct?
I think that I need to add the supplements to decrease my levels but do I add them if I need to increase my levels too? Thats what I dont understand?
I hope this all make sense and I would appreciate any feed back.
Thank in advance.

 

[shesacharmer]

What salt mix are you using and are you using a calibrated refractometer to measure salinity? No salt mix should be giving you these levels if properly measured. Have you been dosing anything without testing first? You should not need to supplement or dose a new tank. I suggest you start with water changes but you need to ensure your water isn't the culprit.

 

[Zer0.]

+1 ^ No salt mixes to over 600 cal @ 1.026 SG (35 ppt)

Also why would you be dosing anything if your levels are too high instead of too low?

what are you measuring salinity with and what is it at?

 

[disc1]

The only way you get numbers like that without dosing would be if you made the saltwater way too strong or if you made it with tap water that was very hard.

 

[Sk8r]

Possibly you are having mis-reads from the tests.