Hi i have 180 gallon tank my alk is low my calcium is very low like 200 amd mag is at 1000 i am using 2 part from bulk reef supply what i am doing something wrong i restarted the tank over with new rocks and sand i use coral reek salt bt red sea any help or suggestions would be appreciated
Mag alk and calcium very low
- Thread starter wtjoe
- Start date
Tanthaitrung
New member
What is your salinity?
What are your tests? Are they out of expiry?
Please cross check all of your parameters
What are your tests? Are they out of expiry?
Please cross check all of your parameters
Last edited:
If your salinity is low then everything could be low as a result. Most salts seem to want to be around 1.25/1.26 to get the big three to be ball park where you want them. I am not familiar with that salt though. Personally I would do a series of water changes.
Since your here asking I assume you are relatively knew and only have a few corals so I doubt they are depleting these from the water quickly and water changes will help in other ways. If your tank has depleted that much calcium then it's probably been a while and there is likely a nitrate build up as well.
I assumed alot here so take my advice with a grain of "salt".
Since your here asking I assume you are relatively knew and only have a few corals so I doubt they are depleting these from the water quickly and water changes will help in other ways. If your tank has depleted that much calcium then it's probably been a while and there is likely a nitrate build up as well.
I assumed alot here so take my advice with a grain of "salt".
lockdown52
New member
Another thing that you may want to check is the date on your test kits. Make sure they are not expired. All of the aforementioned advice will also help you zero in on the problem.
I would not recommend water changes to correct your parameters if they are truly as low as you report, the salinity is correct and the numbers are not a result of testing error or out of date test kits; it would take a 100% water change to get the chemistry correct. First I would get the salinity right (1.026), then start dosing magnesium 100ppm per day until your levels are up to 1350, then start dosing calcium at 50ppm per day until the calcium is up to 430ppm and then finally dose alkalinity at a maximum increase of 1.2 dKh per day until it is up to 8.5 dKh.
Im with thegrun on this.
You first need
1) Get the salinity correct 1.026 /35ppt
2) Get Mg correct 1310-1350 (100 per day)
3) Then when Mg is correct increase the Ca (440-480)but also at the same time increase the Alk (8.2-8.7dkh)
...Ca max 50-75ppm per day Alk 1 doh per day. You need the Mg up before you can get the Ca and Alk up because they need to be in balance and the Mg is the 'seesaw' that holds the Ca and Alk in balance at higher levels.
You first need
1) Get the salinity correct 1.026 /35ppt
2) Get Mg correct 1310-1350 (100 per day)
3) Then when Mg is correct increase the Ca (440-480)but also at the same time increase the Alk (8.2-8.7dkh)
...Ca max 50-75ppm per day Alk 1 doh per day. You need the Mg up before you can get the Ca and Alk up because they need to be in balance and the Mg is the 'seesaw' that holds the Ca and Alk in balance at higher levels.
Capsle
New member
What are you using to test salinity? If its a refractometer make sure that it is calibrated properly.
The Red Sea Coroal Pro is the salt I use. My salinity is at 1.023 (working to increase it)
Cal 440
Alk 9.3
MG 1290.
I believe your salinity is very low.
If you are getting different readings at different spots in your tank, your salt is not properly mixed up and most probably you do not have enough flow in your tank.
I would not recommend adding salt directly to your tank if you have any livestock. If it is just live rock and sand it's not that bad but I would still premix it before.
The Red Sea Coroal Pro is the salt I use. My salinity is at 1.023 (working to increase it)
Cal 440
Alk 9.3
MG 1290.
I believe your salinity is very low.
If you are getting different readings at different spots in your tank, your salt is not properly mixed up and most probably you do not have enough flow in your tank.
I would not recommend adding salt directly to your tank if you have any livestock. If it is just live rock and sand it's not that bad but I would still premix it before.
