Billybeau1
Premium Member
What did alk and mag come in at ?
Why does reef crystals only have 320 Ca?
- Thread starter StrategicReef
- Start date
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Thanks. I'm studying a few trends as of late and want the total picture.
Awaiting your mag results.
Awaiting your mag results.
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Just about everyone I've seen report RC at 360 also has low mag.
These look more like IO numbers.
I hope if they are made at the same plant that they didn't accidentally put some IO in RC buckets.
These look more like IO numbers.
I hope if they are made at the same plant that they didn't accidentally put some IO in RC buckets.
StrategicReef
New member
do these work better than test kits?
DrBDC
Active member
FWIW I've been ordering from drsfostersmith in 3 or 4 bucket groups. Can't beat 200lbs of shipping for 14 bucks! I've been using 1 bucket a month if I don't do some extra messing around that requires replacment. I was doing 2 @ month for a weekly change but I need to cut back. Even at 36 after shipping it starts adding up.
Is everyone using buckets or bags? Could that be a difference?
I also pick up the bucket upside down and shake the heck out of it until I hurt myself
in case of settling effects. Perhaps crystal size variation makes it prone to settle certain parts in buckets?
Is everyone using buckets or bags? Could that be a difference?
I also pick up the bucket upside down and shake the heck out of it until I hurt myself
in case of settling effects. Perhaps crystal size variation makes it prone to settle certain parts in buckets?
DrBDC
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11421086#post11421086 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by StrategicReef
do these work better than test kits?
This article pretty well covers it.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-04/rhf/index.php
acrylic_300
New member
Mine was a bucket bought from DFS in Aug. I didn't shake the bucket till it was half gone and I realized it was reading low....but it reads the same.
Mr. Ugly
New member
DFS buckets here.
I'd been using regular IO for the longest time, and just bumped the numbers with the Randy recipes.
I tried a few buckets of Reef Crystals from my lfs and liked the higher Ca and Mg. My lfs didn't restock on the salt, so I got a bunch from DFS.
Later I saw the low Ca and Mg. I hadn't tested the fresh mix originally, but then I found my tank read way low on Mg. I thought I must have screwed up on dosing somehow. That's when I tested the new salt and found the low numbers.
I'd been meaning to post on the Chem forum to ask if others had problems. Actually I posted recently about Mg tests because I was thinking that my Salifert kit was bad.
I'd been using regular IO for the longest time, and just bumped the numbers with the Randy recipes.
I tried a few buckets of Reef Crystals from my lfs and liked the higher Ca and Mg. My lfs didn't restock on the salt, so I got a bunch from DFS.
Later I saw the low Ca and Mg. I hadn't tested the fresh mix originally, but then I found my tank read way low on Mg. I thought I must have screwed up on dosing somehow. That's when I tested the new salt and found the low numbers.
I'd been meaning to post on the Chem forum to ask if others had problems. Actually I posted recently about Mg tests because I was thinking that my Salifert kit was bad.
Last edited:
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Hmmmm. The batch I just tested was a bag I got from a local pet supply store.
It was still 420 calcium and 1290 mag as I'm used to.
Hmmm.
It was still 420 calcium and 1290 mag as I'm used to.
Hmmm.
Mike O'Brien
New member
It does seem that most of us who have low CA levels purchased the salt from Dr.'s Foster and Smith.
I verified my refractometers accuracy with the Pinpoint solution. At 35 ppt, Elos 300 ppm, API 320 ppm.
I verified my refractometers accuracy with the Pinpoint solution. At 35 ppt, Elos 300 ppm, API 320 ppm.
StrategicReef
New member
I tested again 15 gallon mixed well at 78 degrees for a few days.
it's between 300-350 so I'd say 325.
few tsps of kent turbo calcium or equivalent will boost it up.
with the kent turbo calcium seems to lower the alk just a tad, I think some Ca cabonate was formed with the big dose of additional calcium, but that's fine.. alk is so high out of the box anyway.
it's between 300-350 so I'd say 325.
few tsps of kent turbo calcium or equivalent will boost it up.
with the kent turbo calcium seems to lower the alk just a tad, I think some Ca cabonate was formed with the big dose of additional calcium, but that's fine.. alk is so high out of the box anyway.
Ok...
I've never used RC until my tank which is cycling now. I've been doing A LOT of water testing this week and my results pretty much match everyone else who's reporting a problem.
Ca - 380
Mg - 1100
I also bought my bucket from Drs Foster and Smith in the past month.
I'm not so much concearned about the levels as they can be fixed, but my question is this... What is the best way to bring the levels up of new water?
Should I add Mg to the RO/DI before adding salt? Or mix the salt, dose the Ca then dose the Mg to the tank? I only mix 5 gallons at a time so I don't have a lot of room for extra volume...
Ben
I've never used RC until my tank which is cycling now. I've been doing A LOT of water testing this week and my results pretty much match everyone else who's reporting a problem.
Ca - 380
Mg - 1100
I also bought my bucket from Drs Foster and Smith in the past month.
I'm not so much concearned about the levels as they can be fixed, but my question is this... What is the best way to bring the levels up of new water?
Should I add Mg to the RO/DI before adding salt? Or mix the salt, dose the Ca then dose the Mg to the tank? I only mix 5 gallons at a time so I don't have a lot of room for extra volume...
Ben
