CA seems to be rising, Alk is not.

[Patrick Cox]

I am running a 75G primarily SPS tank. The tank is 27 months old and has never looked better. I switched to hw-Marinemix Reefer salt back in March and this change really seemed to improve my results. I think the main difference with this salt is that it is mixing more consistently than I was getting previously and also the Alk and Mg are higher. I also dose ESV 2-part for Alk and CA at 20 ml per day spread out over the entire day using dosing pumps.

The issue I noticed this morning is that my CA level is higher than my change water but my Alk is not. Tank measurements this morning were...

Alk - 8.8
CA - 500
Mg - 1470

My change water measured...

Alk - 9.1
CA - 440
Mg - 1380

I am not sure why the magnesium is high in my tank. I do know that I tested this morning and got a very low reading that I knew was wrong so I trashed the test kit and opened a new one and then it tested as above. I last dosed 100ml of Mag on 5/1 due to a low test so that might be the reason the tank levels are high but I am not sure as I have changed water weekly since then.

On Calcium, all I can think of is something with my dosing. So my question is - should I lower my CA dosing amount to something less than the Alk? Or just do nothing for now? Or lower both? I don't want to get out of balance.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[bogg]

Re test ca again and with another kit first

 

[outssider]

you don't have to dose exactly equal parts....

 

[Patrick Cox]

Re test ca again and with another kit first

Hi,
I tested again this morning and I got 8.7 Alk and 480 CA. Both are probably within the test kit margin of error so I guess that is basically the same reading as yesterday. At least CA is not climbing. I will keep testing every few days and look at buying another brand test kit. I use Salifert currently. thanks.

 

[Patrick Cox]

you don't have to dose exactly equal parts....

Hi,
I thought you were supposed to does these in equal parts to keep them in balance. Is that not correct?

 

[Tweaked]

Hi,
I thought you were supposed to does these in equal parts to keep them in balance. Is that not correct?

definitely, but only if they are in balance lol. Also ensure Mg is within range as it has some effects on the other two.

 

[Patrick Cox]

definitely, but only if they are in balance lol. Also ensure Mg is within range as it has some effects on the other two.

OK, thanks and yes, maybe the higher Mag is causing the issue. I had a bad test kit and added Mag and then realized I didn't need to do so. I have not added any since May 1st but maybe I need to do a larger water change to bring it down. Is 1470 enough to get my Alk and CA out of whack?

Thanks

 

[Myka]

I would just pull the dosing tube out of the calcium mix for a couple days until it drops to where you want it. If you want to lower alkalinity too, do it the same way. Once you have each one lowered, monitor them to make sure they aren't rising again. If they are going up again, then you will need to adjust your doser lower. Mg should come down on its own, but it will take awhile.

 

[Reef Bass]

Is 1470 enough to get my Alk and CA out of whack?

Thanks

No. I've run mag higher and longer without destabilizing alk and ca.

 

[Mock]

OK, thanks and yes, maybe the higher Mag is causing the issue. I had a bad test kit and added Mag and then realized I didn't need to do so. I have not added any since May 1st but maybe I need to do a larger water change to bring it down. Is 1470 enough to get my Alk and CA out of whack?

Thanks

You mag is not high. 1480 is a standard number to shoot for for mag.... Anything in the 1400's is assumed okay.

It is okay to dose one part at a time to get them into balance.

Then you dose the same amounts to keep them in balance.

 

[Myka]

You mag is not high. 1480 is a standard number to shoot for for mag.... Anything in the 1400's is assumed okay.

Agreed. I aim for 1400 ppm myself.