Alk, Ca, Mg very low. Best method to bring up?

[therealraf02]

All tests are via salifert tests, following instructions as closely as possible.
Note: my water change regimen has been on and off, going several weeks at times without a WC (I know, my first mistake).
Using regular IO salt (just opened a fresh bag).
Alk- 6.7
Mg- 1030
Ca- 310
Sal- 1.026

I know these are quite low for a reef tank:
Nuvo 20 gal.
Livestock include:
maroon clown
neon dottyback
montipora capricornis (that took off and had to be hacked down a lot)
montipora digitata
rainbow monti
mint chip pavona
gsp
micromussa
bubble tip anemone
 zoas

a bottle of all for reef at hand; no other supps. What's the best way to go about raising these levels to "normal"? I read IO is known to have pretty low levels, but I'm hopeful there's still a way.

Thanks!

 

[Garf]

All tests are via salifert tests, following instructions as closely as possible.
Note: my water change regimen has been on and off, going several weeks at times without a WC (I know, my first mistake).
Using regular IO salt (just opened a fresh bag).
Alk- 6.7
Mg- 1030
Ca- 310
Sal- 1.026

I know these are quite low for a reef tank:
Nuvo 20 gal.
Livestock include:
maroon clown
neon dottyback
montipora capricornis (that took off and had to be hacked down a lot)
montipora digitata
rainbow monti
mint chip pavona
gsp
micromussa
bubble tip anemone
 zoas

a bottle of all for reef at hand; no other supps. What's the best way to go about raising these levels to "normal"? I read IO is known to have pretty low levels, but I'm hopeful there's still a way.

Thanks!

How are you checking salinity? and, how are you calibrating the device?

 

[rtparty]

Salinity is low. Need to calibrate with a proper DIY solution

Edit: have you tested a new batch of water for the big three?

 

[therealraf02]

How are you checking salinity? and, how are you calibrating the device?

I made a calibration solution a while back using Randy's recipe which i double checked against the tropic marin hydrometer. I calibrate my refractometer using the solution (one of the "flip the cover open, drop a couple drops and close it again and look into the light" kind)

 

[therealraf02]

Salinity is low. Need to calibrate with a proper DIY solution

Edit: have you tested a new batch of water for the big three?

Currently making a new batch. I'll check salinity with the tm hydrometer because it seems to be most accurate and I'll use the saliferts for the cal and mag tests. Will update in a couple hours!

 

[rtparty]

Currently making a new batch. I'll check salinity with the tm hydrometer because it seems to be most accurate and I'll use the saliferts for the cal and mag tests. Will update in a couple hours!

These tests will help solidify or rule out a lot of things.

May be as simple as starting to dose or upping your dosing

 

[slingfox]

Sounds like you are rechecking you salinity which should rule out one issue. Next you should also test freshly mixed saltwater to make sure there is no issue with how you are preparing saltwater for your tank.

 

[Garf]

using Randy's recipe which i double checked against the tropic marin hydrometer

Hmm. Randys recipes are for refractometers or conductivity measuring devices. I dont think it works with floaty doodads, tbh

Edit. My mistake, there is a floaty calibration method in the recipe list. Guess i never read that far down the article, lol

 

[therealraf02]

I do have a question. When I go ahead and test the salinity via refractometer, my water is going to be quite cold (it's always cold when I make fresh water). I know they're calibrated to be reading at a certain temp, so how do I convert to the 78* C equivalent to make salt adjustments as needed?

 

[unchainedcoot]

I do have a question. When I go ahead and test the salinity via refractometer, my water is going to be quite cold (it's always cold when I make fresh water). I know they're calibrated to be reading at a certain temp, so how do I convert to the 78* C equivalent to make salt adjustments as needed?

If you check cold water with the hydrometer your results will not be accurate. Follow link to conversion calculator

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/SalinityCorrection.php

 

[Mebbid]

I do have a question. When I go ahead and test the salinity via refractometer, my water is going to be quite cold (it's always cold when I make fresh water). I know they're calibrated to be reading at a certain temp, so how do I convert to the 78* C equivalent to make salt adjustments as needed?

As long as the refractometer is roughly the same temperature it was when you calibrate it, the water will warm to the temperature of the refractometer fairly quickly. Give it 15 seconds or so for the water to warm up.

If the refractometer temperature changes substantially, like if it's been sitting in a different temperature room like a basement, it'll have to be recalibrated at that temperature.

 

[therealraf02]

If you check cold water with the hydrometer your results will not be accurate. Follow link to conversion calculator

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/SalinityCorrection.php

Thanks, i'm currently adjusting my salinity using this conversion. I'm using my hydromater (tropic marin). Currently at 1.025 after conversion.

 

[Jonify]

All your levels seem to be depressed equally, indicating an inaccurate salinity reading--meaning your salinity is low, if you've been doing regular water changes. With a a nano, a 5 gallon water change can correct a lot of things. I'd expect your readings to be fairly close to NSW after a water change. Have you tried a refractometer? Or maybe the Hanna salinity checker? People hate on it, but I've always found it accurate in a nano with regular water changes. My gut says if you get your salinity to 35ppm, through water changes or otherwise, everything will fall in line. But don't feel like you have to do that quickly. Your livestock can adjust to anything with time.

 

[therealraf02]

All your levels seem to be depressed equally, indicating an inaccurate salinity reading--meaning your salinity is low, if you've been doing regular water changes. With a a nano, a 5 gallon water change can correct a lot of things. I'd expect your readings to be fairly close to NSW after a water change. Have you tried a refractometer? Or maybe the Hanna salinity checker? People hate on it, but I've always found it accurate in a nano with regular water changes. My gut says if you get your salinity to 35ppm, through water changes or otherwise, everything will fall in line. But don't feel like you have to do that quickly. Your livestock can adjust to anything with time.

Hmm, i just finished adjusting my new batch of salt water's salinity. I got it up to 1.0271 after conversion (again using the tropic marin hydrometer). I know that's a bit higher than typical, I try to run my reef at around 1.0263 but I figured that slight difference won't be that big of an impact especially since i usually do 2-3gal water changes. Anywho, i checked also with my atc refractometer and after letting it sit for about a minute the reading on the refractometer showed "exactly" 1.027 without having to do any adjustments this time. So this leads me to think that my salinity readings have not been wrong?

Thoughts?

Edit: just checked the alkalinity of the new batch.
Salifert- ~9.1

 

[Jonify]

Maybe! This doesn't seem likely though...you have a nano, so a water change or two should fix everything. If it isn't, then that's a clear sign your salinity measurement isn't quite right. Do you need to recalibrate?

 

[therealraf02]

Maybe! This doesn't seem likely though...you have a nano, so a water change or two should fix everything. If it isn't, then that's a clear sign your salinity measurement isn't quite right. Do you need to recalibrate?

Check the edit of my recent reply, posted an alkalinity test for the new batch. Much higher than my reading from the tank today.
Just checked the salinity of the tank with the atc refractometer.

So far:
TANK-
Salinity: 1.0255 (refractometer) 1.0251 (tm hydrometer post conversion)
Alkalinity: 6.7
Mg and Cal readings low as well (check post above)

NEW WATER:
Salinity: 1.0271 (TM hydrometer, same reading as ATC refractometer)
Alk: 9.1

 

[Jonify]

Salinity seems fine in new water. How many water changes have you done recently/what's your schedule?

 

[therealraf02]

Salinity seems fine in new water. How many water changes have you done recently/what's your schedule?

Yeah, i'm thinking it's not a measurement error and moreso just stuff being depleted and not replaced fast enough. I've gone long times without any water changes at times. You think with consistent water changes these in tank levels will go back to where they are in the fresh batch without dosing supps?

 

[Jonify]

Yeah, i'm thinking it's not a measurement error and moreso just stuff being depleted and not replaced fast enough. I've gone long times without any water changes at times. You think with consistent water changes these in tank levels will go back to where they are in the fresh batch without dosing supps?

For sure. Weekly or even every 2 weeks (biweekly) can fix all of that. Dosing in between can help (TM All for Reef, other systems) between water changes, but I've always found that regular water changes are best. Your results don't seem weird, they just seem depressed across the board -- either wrong salinity reading on your checker, which depresses everything, or infrequent, regular water changes, which also depresses everything as your livestock sip on your sweet, sweet elements. Seems like you've figured this out already--more water changes :)

 

[slingfox]

If you are not dosing anything to replenish the alk/caclcium/mag your corals are consuming you should look into that or do more consistent and larger water changes.