Alk,Calcium and Magnesium issue

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, the easiest answer for the calcium and magnesium is raising the salinity, which I predict is low.

 

[bdare]

IMO, the easiest answer for the calcium and magnesium is raising the salinity, which I predict is low.

Touché Randy.... touché.

 

[Righteous]

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but make sure you add Magnesium first. This will help prevent precipitation when you add alkalinity.

Well the OP should really be adding a balanced additive since all his numbers are low. As crab mentioned, even the BRS “2 part” really has all three alk, cal and mag. All three need to be dosed together and should be doses in equal quantities.

But as bdare points out, definitely don’t just add an alk supplement with those low numbers... that wouldn’t be a good idea. But if you dose all three together you can bring them all up together slowly and will keep things in balance as you do.

 

[Righteous]

IMO, the easiest answer for the calcium and magnesium is raising the salinity, which I predict is low.

Good point! ... @JFleur what’s your salinity?

 

[JFleur]

Good point! ... @JFleur what’s your salinity?

1.025

 

[Righteous]

1.025

Well you can bring that up to 1.026 first. Then recheck numbers and dose from there.

Also, if you are using a refractometer, make sure it’s properly calibrated with a seawater calibration solution. You’ll want to use the ppt side of the scale and aim for 35ppt. Often times refractometers are made for brine and can report higher salinity than you actually have if you are calibrating with ro/di.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

1.025

how do you know? Even so, raising the salinity to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) will boost calcium and magnesium.

one reason I ask is the magnesium would be very slow to get appreciably low.

 

[JFleur]

Well you can bring that up to 1.026 first. Then recheck numbers and dose from there.

Also, if you are using a refractometer, make sure it’s properly calibrated with a seawater calibration solution. You’ll want to use the ppt side of the scale and aim for 35ppt. Often times refractometers are made for brine and can report higher salinity than you actually have if you are calibrating with ro/di.

Yes im using a refractometer and i do recal before every test.. my last water change was at 1.025

 

[Vansaquaescape]

What magnesium additive is good ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A diy using magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate (as from BRS) is a fine way to go.

 

[Vansaquaescape]

A diy using magnesium chloride and magnesium sulfate (as from BRS) is a fine way to go.

I ordered bionic magnesium started using Red Sea pro reef salt and super disappointed the only thing Elevated is the dkh calcium 420 ,magnesium 1260 ,and dkh 9.3

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I expect B-ionic magnesium is a very good product.