Water Test

[nathanemmerich]

I have noticed in my new tank the alk, calcium are dropping and Magnesium looks a little low:
9/5 9/7 9/17 10/2
Alkalinity dkh 10 10 9 8
Ammonia ppm 0 0 0 0
Calcium ppm 420 440 440 420
Nitrate ppm 0 0 0 0
Nitrite ppm 0 0 0 0
pH pH 8.2 8.2 8.2 8
Phosphateppm 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Salinity sg 1.025 1.026 1.025 1.025
Temp F 78.5 78.3 78.5 78.3
Magnesiumppm 1215

What do you think I should do if anything?

 

[mcgyvr]

Why is your phosphate high too? overfeeding? bad rock?

Do you do water changes?

and yes alk/mag/cal will drop but water changes should keep them stable.. and when they aren't stable enough and you don't want to increase water changes then I'd look into dosing..

 

[nathanemmerich]

I am using the API test kit for phosphate and I have heard it always gives a 0.25ppm reading. I need to get a low range phosphate kit. I do water changes, about 5% a week.

 

[nereefpat]

alk, Ca, and Mg are all at natural seawater levels for now. I would just keep testing alk weekly, while you do weekly water changes.

How old is the tank?

 

[mcgyvr]

A good read..
Stability is more important than a specific number as long as you are in the accepted "range"..
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Some with very low nutrient levels keep alk on the lower side to avoid burning the tips of SPS corals,etc.. but other than that anywhere in the range is fine..

I typically like to keep values close to what the specific salt mix I'm using is..