Fellow Reefer needs some advice

[jdnumis]

I just did a 20% water change on Sunday. I tested my water a little while ago and here are my results:

Calcium-360
KH-11
Ammonia-.50
Nitrate-20
Nitrite-0
Phosphate-.5
Magnesium-840
Salinity-1.023

I use reef crystals and I just upgraded my lights to LED about 1 month ago. I'm assuming the lights have something to do with it because I never had these pi-- poor results before. Can I dose anything?

I appreciate all the advice! Have a great day!

~James

 

[masterswimmer]

ames, those results MUST be from a conglomeration of problems. Your parameters are seriously out of whack. Is your reef an sps dominated tank? When was the last time you did a water change? What are your dosing measurements and frequency?

Russ

 

[empire]

what test kit are you using? what is your pH? i think you might be having a mini cycle..

 

[jdnumis]

ames, those results MUST be from a conglomeration of problems. Your parameters are seriously out of whack. Is your reef an sps dominated tank? When was the last time you did a water change? What are your dosing measurements and frequency?

Russ

Thanks Russ. Its mostly lps. I have a few sps coral in there. I did a 20% water change on Sunday w rodi water. I dont dose anything. I believe whats not broke dont fix. Im gonna have to start dosing. My tank has been running for over 3 years

 

[jdnumis]

what test kit are you using? what is your pH? i think you might be having a mini cycle..

I use api test kits. Salifert for mag. Ph is between 7.8-8.0

 

[duke62]

Lights have nothing to do your with calcium,alk unless your getting a explosion of growth and the corals are sucking them up. Throw those API in the garbage and get good test kits. Use salifert for your alk and cal. Maybe even red seas new kit anything other then API. Test your water using those kits and test your new water. Are you mixing up your salt before you add it to the ro/di? I use to roll the bucket on the floor every time i made new water. If your corals are growing water change will not supplement for alk and cal as your corals are sucking them up even your sand and coraline algae. Then get yourself 2 part and figure out what your tank is going through in a day and dose

 

[jdnumis]

Thanks Duke

Lights have nothing to do your with calcium,alk unless your getting a explosion of growth and the corals are sucking them up. Throw those API in the garbage and get good test kits. Use salifert for your alk and cal. Maybe even red seas new kit anything other then API. Test your water using those kits and test your new water. Are you mixing up your salt before you add it to the ro/di? I use to roll the bucket on the floor every time i made new water. If your corals are growing water change will not supplement for alk and cal as your corals are sucking them up even your sand and coraline algae. Then get yourself 2 part and figure out what your tank is going through in a day and dose

I usually mix salt in Ro/di water before I put it in DT.

 

[duke62]

Yes thats not what i meant though. I mean you need to stir the dry salt up in its container to make sure when you put the dry salt in your ro/di it has a even mixture.

 

[jdnumis]

Yes thats not what i meant though. I mean you need to stir the dry salt up in its container to make sure when you put the dry salt in your ro/di it has a even mixture.

Yes I do that before I add to rodi water

 

[masterswimmer]

Thanks Russ. Its mostly lps. I have a few sps coral in there. I did a 20% water change on Sunday w rodi water. I dont dose anything. I believe whats not broke dont fix. Im gonna have to start dosing. My tank has been running for over 3 years

The problem with the above statement.....it is now broke (and seriously broke at that) and needs fixing.

Russ

 

[jdnumis]

The problem with the above statement.....it is now broke (and seriously broke at that) and needs fixing.

Russ

You are absolutely right about that. Im gonna take care of it ASAP

 

[jdnumis]

I made a mistake mag is 1080

 

[Moneymaks24]

Its the salt u use. High in nitrate phos silica and low in cal and magnesium. Get coralife same price and all parametwrs will be perfect.

 

[duke62]

Mag that low im surprised you dont have algae growing everywhere

 

[lnevo]

Its the salt u use. High in nitrate phos silica and low in cal and magnesium. Get coralife same price and all parametwrs will be perfect.

What? Reef Crystals is typically high in Cal, Alk and Mag...it's one of the most popular salts and you are recommending Coralife? I could understand if you said ESV or Red Sea Coral Pro...or anything else!

I personally since re aquascaping and everything mounted getting better light etc. watched my alk drop from a stable (over a year) at 8dkh start dropping and hitting a low of 5.6!!! When i measured my RC mixed at 1.025 i had cal at 450, Mag at 1500 and alk at 9.5 which i was told is still low for ReefCrystals!

Anyway, start bringing your mag up and calcium up then when its where you want leave it for a few days so you can measure your consumption. Then start dosing your 2 part (equally!) based on the consumption you recorded.

I would start with the mag first before you start adjusting the calcium. Magnesium is what helps balance the alk and cal. Once there a WC will probably help get your cal back to a reasonable level. Cal will only drop 5ppm for every 1dkh your alk drops and its much easier to see the changes in alk vs calcium.

Good luck keep us posted.

 

[jdnumis]

What? Reef Crystals is typically high in Cal, Alk and Mag...it's one of the most popular salts and you are recommending Coralife? I could understand if you said ESV or Red Sea Coral Pro...or anything else!

I personally since re aquascaping and everything mounted getting better light etc. watched my alk drop from a stable (over a year) at 8dkh start dropping and hitting a low of 5.6!!! When i measured my RC mixed at 1.025 i had cal at 450, Mag at 1500 and alk at 9.5 which i was told is still low for ReefCrystals!

Anyway, start bringing your mag up and calcium up then when its where you want leave it for a few days so you can measure your consumption. Then start dosing your 2 part (equally!) based on the consumption you recorded.

I would start with the mag first before you start adjusting the calcium. Magnesium is what helps balance the alk and cal. Once there a WC will probably help get your cal back to a reasonable level. Cal will only drop 5ppm for every 1dkh your alk drops and its much easier to see the changes in alk vs calcium.

Good luck keep us posted.

I thought the same thing with reef crystals. That is why I went with this brand 3 years ago and continue to do so. Just did water change and dosed. I will follow up w results

 

[jdnumis]

knock on wood

Mag that low im surprised you dont have algae growing everywhere

hopefully it will start going back to normal

 

[Moneymaks24]

Why dont u check out the post " best salt for reef" last page theres a link to a comparison of salts and then tell me reef C is the best salt. I used to believe what people say also untill i read this actual comparison by Professionals.

 

[Moneymaks24]

Here: https://764aea2c-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites...8Lb7HrB3ij0uet-tQN2H-7dJc6JcY=&attredirects=1

 

[Moneymaks24]

ESV might be a good salt but its DOUBLE the price so my reccomendation for Coralife Stands as best salt for a reasonable price.