need help with test results

[xmenx2dad]

Just tested my tank, corals seem not to be as active and puffed out as normal. these are my test levels

temp 78 f
sg 1.021
ammonia .25
ph 8.4
nitrate 80
nitrite 0
phosphate 0
dkh 6
ca 400
mg 2000

I am using api for all of the test kits and red sea for the magnesium. Any thoughts on what is wrong and how to fix. Was thinking a water change will help with the ammonia and nitrates. I think that i need to raise the dkh and lower the ph and magnesium. I have been using a 2 part b ionic dosing system every other day. Thanks in advance

 

[HulaDad]

Raise your salinity to around 1.025, Ammonia should always read 0, look around in your tank for something dead, snail, crab, etc.... That or your tank could be doing a mini cycle... Get your nitrates to at least under 20 ppm... Raise your dkh to 7-11... Mag. will lower on it's own, just don't dose it for a while... API phos. test kits are crap in my opinion. My kit will read 0 too, but if I take 20ml of aquarium water and add 24 drops of the regent, I actually get a reading of .5.... PH is great too, wish I could keep mine at 8.4....
Hope this helps....

 

[reign]

yeah you need a higher sg than that.(1.026).do a small water change as well..you should be ok after that

 

[xmenx2dad]

did a 5 gallon water change and have dosing just the alkalinity. Got my sg to 1.024 nitrates 0 and dkh up to 7. Trying to go slow so as not to throw everything out of whack. Everything looks much better now.