Question on my water lvl's

[Mstanker]

I have about 8-10 frags in my 40g tank. My cal is 450, Mag=1530,alk-9. So my question is that having high mag a problem. For 3 months now its staying in the 1500+ range. I'm trying to have the "best" water conditions to have good growth. I just not sure that having high MAG, is causing a problem in my tank. Also I do not dose anything. I do a water change about every 3weeks. Thanks for any input.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I doubt it is a problem.

It is probably from your salt mix as some start that high (assuming it is accurate).

What mix are you using?

 

[Mstanker]

IO and RO/di water. Just trying to look why my torch and hammer are not showing growth in 3 month

 

[Mstanker]

How do you get mag. to come down into the 1400 range.??

 

[JOKER]

I run mine around 1500. You would be surprised if you don't look at the tank for a few days how much stuff actually grows. Also it will take few months sometime for a coral to adjust to your system as long as they look healthy I would just keep it up. Your phosphate or nitrate aren't high are they?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Normal Instant Ocean (as opposed to Reef Crystals) should not have magnesium that high.

I wonder if it might be a testing error, which are really very common.

Or the salinity is higher than you think it is.

How are you measuring salinity and what do you think it is?

 

[Eric B]

I use Instant Ocean and new salt for me measures around 1250 on magnesium at 1.025. It does vary a little from that number from time to time but not far from 1250 as I test it so I can dose it to match my system for water changes. I'm with Randy on this one as it seems to maybe be a testing error or a bad test kit maybe......

 

[Mstanker]

my salinity is 1.025 and i use a hydrometer, for the reading on the mag, i just usea red sea pro kit

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

A swing arm hydrometer or a floating glass type?

If a swing arm, you might want to double check it somehow (I have a DIY 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) standard for it, if you want). Salinity off that far would be a significant concern, while magnesium alone would not be.

But it may just be test error with the kit, or a batch of IO that wasn't homogeneous and had extra magnesium in the part you used.

 

[Mstanker]

Its a swing arm meter. Ill test it with tap water and then retest with ID and saltwater.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, let us know what you find, but a seawater standard is a much better test than tap water for a swing arm hydrometer.

 

[Mstanker]

Hey Randy, So have been getting brown,green,ect algae in my DT and sump. I just did a phosphate test with API, and i know i need a hanna tester but atm i dont have one. I also did one 3 weeks ago and its saying 0. Weird hum, it could be a bad test kit, and also someone said since my tank is only 5 months old in OCT that the rocks are taken in alot of phosphate. Im not sure. I was running my Sump lights 24/7 and yesterday i cut it back to 5 hr to see if i can get some of the algae to leave the sump. I have a reactor running in my sump and I put rowaphos in yesterday also. Another question, If all of the algae in the saltwater hobby are in my tank on the rocks,then there has to be high phosphate right? Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Many phosphate kits do not accurately read low enough to say that there isn't sufficient phosphate for algae.

Additionally, the algae may be taking it up as fast as you add it in foods, just like growing macroalgae or an algal turf scrubber works, having a big algae problem will drive down phosphate as it uses it up. Be rest assured there is adequate phosphate for it, and intercepting that phosphate before the algae gets it (using GFO, for example) is one of several good plans.

Lowering nitrate may also be useful, such as with organic carbon dosing.

 

[Mstanker]

Had you ever used rowaphos in a reactor and if so whats your experiance. I cut my sump lights off the 2 days now, will that help kill off the algae. But at the same time hurting the cheto. or will the bad algae still live without the light and im just hurting my cheto from not growing.

In my reactor what would me the best combo to run GFO/Carbon. This is the reactor i have Detailed Product View. thanks
I just youtube some videos on Bio-pellets, whats your thoughts on that also. THanks again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Rowaphos is a fine brand of GFO and will lower phosphate if you use enough.

Lights off is only a temporary measure as it doesn't remove the nutrients that the dead cyano may release, so unless you export them, it will grow back.

I prefer soluble organic carbon (vinegar) dosing to pellets, but pellets can work fine.

I don't know if that reactor can use GFO or not.

 

[Mstanker]

That reactor has 2 foam pads and 2 plates, so it has GFO 100ml in it now per 40g breeder 20g sump. What if i Run carbon and GFO at the same time but use a Pad to split them up? Just trying to get this brown algae and other crap out of the tank.

I got another quetsion on my GFO i got the to foam pads pressing on the GFO so it does not tumble in the reactor. Is this how the setup is suppose to run or should there be a slight movement>?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That reactor has 2 foam pads and 2 plates, so it has GFO 100ml in it now per 40g breeder 20g sump. What if i Run carbon and GFO at the same time but use a Pad to split them up? Just trying to get this brown algae and other crap out of the tank.

I got another quetsion on my GFO i got the to foam pads pressing on the GFO so it does not tumble in the reactor. Is this how the setup is suppose to run or should there be a slight movement>?

I mix my GFO with my GAC in my canister because the GFO will pack too tightly on its own if it is not in a upflow reactor which tends to push it apart and have some small tumbling on top (not necessarily all through it). Slight movement is fine, but you don't want to pulverize it.

 

[Mstanker]

Alright so ill have to fix my GFO now because its not moving at all. Like you said it looks packed together b/c of the foam pads pressing it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That's OK if water is moving through it, but it might get solidified with calcium carbonate deposits, which will stop flow.

 

[Mstanker]

Just an update on my test week to week, my Alk dropped a bit for some reason. But my Ph is still light before. I'd like it to get up to atleast 8.2. Thanks