people asked i take this to randy in chemistry forum

[Mikegray]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7075322#post7075322


summery i got 6 buckets of IO reef crystals salt and make up my water and every bucket or every water change my Mg is low low low like 600 or lower and calcium is like 200 b/c Mg is so low.

is it all the salt or is it the way im mixing something im using or doing causing all these low numbers... rubbermaid GC messed up my pump or outside with lid on puts no air circulation in water? i have a mag 18 running in the water moving all the water but i leave the garbage can lid on all the time.. so no rain or dust gets in it..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Calcium is not 200 ppm because the magnesium is low. That cannot be the cause. The three possible causes would seem to be a faulty testing, a bad batch of salt where both are unusually low, or low salinity.

How are you measuring salinity? Calcium and magnesium? What brand kits and units?

Did you add anything else to the salt mix before taking those measurements?

Did you measure the alkalinity in the new water?
Is the water mostly clear?

 

[Mikegray]

no freshly mixed salt. nothing added. i use a refractometer to measure my salt and i use salifert test kits.. i took my calcium test kit to LFS and it tested 500 for him so its not the test kit. and i thought it was the salt before so i called the place returned the 3 50lb buckets..... and they sent me 3 50lb MORE and its still really low....

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

This is the first that I've heard of any possible off batches of IO in the last couple of years. What is the alkalinity in them?

You might double check the refractometer against a home made standard:

Reef Aquarium Salinity: Homemade Calibration Standards
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.htm


If the calcium and magnesium really are that low, I wouldn't try to fix them since you do not know what else may be off.

 

[Mikegray]

i figured out the problem i been having for 8 months lol. my refractometer. i didnt have directions to them didnt know u needed to calibrate them. so when i was mixing my salt it said it was 1.025 but i finally calibrated it and its reading my batches of salt ANDDDDD my current tank 1.010 LOL ***... so its just low on salt so low calcium and magnesium and stuff. so i added more salt to my garbage can letting it mix test salt again and see what numbers are... but umm my refractometer broke. tyhe screws that hold the lens and let it spin one side rusted and i unscrewed it and it broke in the hole in there... i dunt kno how to get it out so i can put another screw in there... drill it out???

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm glad the problem is so easy to fix!

I don't know whether it is worth trying to fix the refractometer, but tryting to drill it out and put in a new screw may work.

 

[Mikegray]

yea i actually had 2 clownfish and some hermits living in 1.010 ***.... hehe but it explains why 200 snails died every shrimp i tried died instantly and 2 starfish died.. and why my calcium and mg was soo low cause its suppose to be a reef tank and i didnt wanna get coral with it soo low but

me raising the salt will raise Mg and CA and ALK. will this help with algae control. my tank is getting kinda dirty and i heard like high CA will help control it and also if i get purple algae it prevents other algae to grow.... but yea so i need to do like 4 20g water changes with the proper salt and i think im set and clean the glass and all then turn on MH and VHO to help purple algae...

 

[jman77]

1.010 ... Holy Cow .... :eek2:

You've had your clowns in hypo treatment for 8 months... i bet they are pretty clean at least.

 

[PatMayo]

Chemistry, isn't it a great thing? I have to tell you, I think a lot of problems could be solved if folks just stopped to learn a little more about the chemistry of the SW tanks and their critters needs. I know I have learned a tremendous amount by spending time in this forum.

Thanks Randy

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:thumbsup:

I'd raise the salinity by topping off for evaporation with salt water. Raising it faster might be more stressful.