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Post by scoobnoob on Aug 26, 2012 8:15:35 GMT -5
I changed over to I/O because I was using Kent Reef salt and wanted to up my Alk and lower my Calcium. I've been doing 50/50 salt mix until my Kent is gone to gradually switch over next week will be 80/20. My Alk is still decreasing and my Calcium is still increasing. I wanted my Calcium to drop so I could buffer Alk.
Current Params are:
Temp 77.2
PH 8.1
SG 1.0245
Calcium 560
Alk 6.4
NO3 0
Any suggestions? Do I just wait it out a few more water changes? I did a 7.5 change yesterday and cleaned out my sump. Tank is 30 gallons with about 7 gallons in the sump. Thoughts ideas/Suggestions.
Also my Mixing buckets (Home Depot) have a hard film on the inside of them almost like coraline...could my salt have so much calcium that it's binding when mixing thus lowering my alk and leaving this film??? Just a thought? '
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Aug 26, 2012 9:38:45 GMT -5
Are those water parameters from your display tank or saltwater mixing container? Its pretty common to get some calcium precipitation in the mixing container. I scrub mine out every few months. Any chance you got a faulty test reading? What test kit are you using? I've been getting a pretty constant alk reading in my mixing container of around 10DKH with IO salt using salifert test kits.
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Post by scoobnoob on Aug 26, 2012 10:00:26 GMT -5
Readings are from display, I'm using a salifert mg test I tested with a red sea test and got same result, I'm using an API test for ca. Going to test mix buckets next.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Aug 27, 2012 22:42:35 GMT -5
How did the mixing container test for Alk and other parameters?
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Post by scoobnoob on Aug 28, 2012 18:49:59 GMT -5
been way too busy, hoping to test them this weekend. Also need my wife to read the tests as I'm color blind (shade blind) and would invest in all digital tests if I could afford it.
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Post by gotareef on Aug 28, 2012 20:25:02 GMT -5
what is your magnesium level? without magnesium nothing can use calcium
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Post by scoobnoob on Aug 28, 2012 20:43:56 GMT -5
I don't have a mag test yet I will be ordering soon
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Post by scoobnoob on Sept 1, 2012 8:54:45 GMT -5
I mixed my first bucket of 100% Instant Ocean last night and tested the Params:
PH 8.2
Calcium 480
Alk 9.6
SG 1.0245
NO3 0
Temp 76
I'm using an API test for Calcium and my calcium has been reading in excess of 500 in my tanks, I know Instan Ocean is typically lower in calcium (this is not reef crystals), so I believe my test may be faulty. I'm pleased to see a higher alk value than in my tank and believe that to be correct (salifert test), low alk was my biggest concern so in 5 gallon weekly water changes I hope this will up the Alk...and as far as Calcium I'm in the dark until I get another test kit. I know there are a lot of Instant Ocean users on this forum can someone test a fresh batch for Calcium and let me know their reading?
Looks like I'll be ordering the following
Salifert calcium test
Salifert Phos test
Salifer Magnesium test
I only have softies and LPS, and one SPS between the two tanks everything is doing well, but I want to get everything stabilized and consistent and take the next step of keeping SPS.
Thanks for everyones help.
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Post by gotareef on Sept 1, 2012 10:06:36 GMT -5
I have to add about a pound of epsom salt a week to get my mag up around 1400. but i have a ton of lps and a few sps that eat it up I would test but i would have to buy kits  the only test I use is alk if that is off then i have the lfs test my water |
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Post by scoobnoob on Sept 8, 2012 21:28:18 GMT -5
I'm using 100% instant ocean now, I have two tanks one heavily stocked with LPS the other more or less a frag tank. Reading in each tank are identical:
PH 8.2
Calcium 500
Alk 5.4
SG 1.025
PO4 0
NO3 0
Temp 77.7
My PH increased slightly, my Calcium is going down but so isn't my ALK. I've purchased a magnesium test but it hasn't arrived yet I'm hoping to see where my Magnesium is and if it's in a normal zone dose for Alk. Does this sound like a reasonable approach? I've also read that running phos reactor or other phosphate eliminating methods will also decrease alk? I was running Chemipure Elite in both systems but right now just the nano as the bag in my 30xh broke....another head ache. Ideas or suggestions appreciated.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Sept 8, 2012 22:02:51 GMT -5
Sounds pretty basic to me. Chances are either your corals are using a lot of alk and calcium, or there may be a test issue. My tanks having mostly soft corals use very little alk or calcium. That may change for me now that I'm adding more SPS. My alk in my display tank has been steady around 9-dkh and 10.5 dkh in my mixing container at 1.024 SG. I haven't ever tested calcium or mag just because I don't have the test kits yet. I've been full instant ocean for months now and love it so far.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Sept 8, 2012 22:18:32 GMT -5
Little confused? Readings are from display, I'm using a salifert mg test I tested with a red sea test and got same result, I'm using an API test for ca. Going to test mix buckets next. What test are you using for your Alk again? This kinda helped point me in a direction when I was looking to switch salts. So far the numbers for ALK in IO salt have stayed constant and as listed. Will hopefully be able to get the salifert tests for mag and calcium as well soon. www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505 |
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Post by scoobnoob on Sept 9, 2012 7:49:52 GMT -5
I'm using a salifert mag test I did back to back testing with red sea test kit and they both agreed the salt mix came out around 9 but my corals aren't slurping calcium but the mag keeps dropping I thought the new salt would slowly raise it
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Sept 9, 2012 9:11:01 GMT -5
Whats your mag testing out at? Am I missing something, how are you testing for Alk with a salifert mag test? If all your livestock is doing fine then I wouldn't worry about adjusting things manually at this point. Just keep doing water changes and testing as things even out on their own. Keep us posted.
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Post by scoobnoob on Sept 9, 2012 10:42:33 GMT -5
Wow I shouldn't post before coffee, I only have alk tests at this point I'm awaiting delivery of a may test. I've been keeping up with water changes and alk has continued to steadily decline despite water change buckets reading double my tank water. I haunt dosed for all in fear my calcium is too high and if my may is low then it would just precipitate out
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the only test I use is alk if that is off then i have the lfs test my water