Reef chemistry questions..

[triggerjay]

I just finished a few tests on my system, and my Magnesium and Alk are low. Here are the results of my testing:

PH 8.4 - Red Sea kit
Temp 79*
Sg 1.024 via refractometer
Alk 1.8 meq/l converts to 5.04dkh or 90ppm- Red Sea kit
Calcium 400ppm IO Reefmaster kit, and Red Sea Kit
Nitrates >5ppm IO Reefmaster kit
Ammonia 0 API test kit
Nitrites 0 API test kit
Phosphate .03ppm Salifert test kit
Magnesium 640 - Red Sea kit


If I increase the Co2 count on the calcium reactor, it should boost Alk and calcium both, but the flow rate to the tank from the reactor will need to be adjusted to maintain proper PH within the reactor to prevent the media from dissolving too fast. It also looks as if my Mag may be a major contributing factor on the low Alk. I have a little room to play with the reactor, as my calcium is only 400ppm, so I can safely increase the Alk to 8.4 dKH, and the calcium should settle around 425PPM, but the mag will remain low. If I add Mag, it should raise both the Alk and calcium without having to play with the reactor too much. I feel that until I get the Magnesium level where it needs to be, tuning the reactor would be a waste of time, as things would still be out of balance. What do you guys think? Dose some Magnesium or do a large WC? then play with the reactor? This seems to be the only two options I can come up with to get things back in balance. The low magnesium will be a limiting factor on my reactor setup, and then once back in check, my reactor setup will be off.... Am I thinking correctly? Thanks

Jason

 

[Medicine Man]

I think you are thinking correctly. I would personally dose some magnesium and then adjust your reactor. I shoot for 8.5 and 420 with mine. You should look into Zeovit magnesium crystals for your Ca+ reactor. Haven't had to add Mag to my sytem in 4 months after putting the crystals into the reactor. Ca+ and ALK are also much more predictable. HTH

 

[triggerjay]

I will look into the Zeovit crystals. Less maintenance is always a plus . The chemistry stuff can be a little confusing to me at times, so before I make changes, I usually see if others think I am on the right track. Its easier to change a plan than it is to go backwards on a bad plan you carried out with! lol Thanks!

Jason

 

[aquaconnect]

Your dkh reading is almost fatal for corals. I know it's only around 2.0-2.5 in the ocean, but aquariums really need 3.0-3.5 because of all the 'other' stuff we can't simulate that the ocean can. You really need to get that up asap, but you'll need to raise it slowly. I'm sprized it's that low using a reactor. I would definitely mix up whatever salt you're using and test it if it's really that low, and maybe try to borrow someone else's test kit just as a comparison. Between that, and your mag, almost all corals are going to be super stress. Both affect each equally, but the low mag I don't think will cause your alk to drop, I think it'd be the other way around.

Also, what media are you using in your reactor? Is your reactor a recirc? If I were you I'd get a ph probe in there. Having a ph probe allows you to keep a constant ph in the reactor. What you want to do is find the ideal setting for it, mine is 6.6, and keep it dialed in there by adjusting the 'drip' (or stream in my case). I don't even mess with bubble count because it's pretty much impossible to be accurate, the only way is a ph probe. I don't know if you saw mine running or not, but my reactor doesn't drip out, it is a constant high flow stream. My feed pump is a maxi jet 1200 and it's turned up 2/3rd's of the way. I think it puts out 12ml per 10 seconds. Also, you can't mess with the flow, then the bubble count at the same time. You have to adjust one at a time and allow some time to pass before messing with the other.

Maybe best thing to do would be to first check your mixing salt to see if it's good. Second, if the mixing water is good, do a 25 percent water change. Third thing, I'd pull the reactor offline totally because something is majorly out of wack. You can dose 2 part for now because the low mag and dkh is a serious problem and you really need to get the tank up and running perfect or at least close to perfect before you start your reactor back up. I don't think your tank is going to be using up that much calcium. I think it's either the salt your using, or something is seriously going on with your reactor.

That's just my 2 cents.

 

[triggerjay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12310904#post12310904 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquaconnect
Also, what media are you using in your reactor? Is your reactor a recirc?

I am using ARM reactor media, and the reactor is a DIY reactor, made by John Kelly. Its the same one he ran on his system.. Here is a pic of it:

There is no feed pump for it. It siphons the inlet water with the recirculating pump, and has a valve on the drip line going back to the tank to control the flow into the tank. I have three adjustments on it.. Gas rate, Flow to tank rate, and recirculation rate within the reactor.

My salt mix of latley has been mainly IO, but the last change I used a bag of either Reef Crystals or coralife.. don't remember which one it was.. John gave me two white unmarked bags leftover from his system. I still have one unopened bag. I will mix and test both brands I have at the house.. the IO, and the mystery salt from JK.

I have some two part on hand, so if the salt tests proove to be ok, I will cut off the reactor, and get things back in line with the two part, and water changes.

I do not know what the current PH is coming out of the reactor, as my PH test kit doesn't go low enough to read it. I have a PH meter though that I will calibrate and test it.

Thanks for the input!

Jason

 

[triggerjay]

Ok, when I got home this morning, I re-tested the Alk with my IO reefmaster alk kit, and the results read 7.7 dKH, or 2.75meq/l . I re-tested with the Red sea again, and got the same results as before, 1.8 meq/l .. Now I guess I need a third test kit for comparison. I am hoping the IO is right, as its a little closer to ballpark. Still low, but not as far out as the red sea kit tells me. Didn't have time to re-test the Mag,.. I will do so in the morning, but I only have one mag kit.. so I have nothing for comparison. (I am hoping there was some human error involved with the previous results). After the reading I got this morning, I decided to leave the calcium reactor on, and untouched. We have an alk test kit here for the boilers, and I may borrow it for the night to see if it confirms one of my test kits to be true. I will have to buy another Magnesium test kit however.. the only ones I can find in town are Red Sea.. I will order a sea-chem or a salifert online.

Jason