Anyone figure this out?? .......

[Emma01]

Hello all.

Ok here goes, I’ve got a ...........

• 30 litre nano tank.
• LOT of precipitation.
• Constant ‘low’ Calcium and magnesium (370. 1200) in display tank and having to dose to bunk up the parameters.
• Have a low nutrient, mixed reef - not heavily stocked (frags)
• ‘Mature’ at 3 years.
• Use H20 DDO salt.
• Parameters in salt mix bucket are....... KH- 9.1. Ca- 460. Mg- 1500.
• Parameters in Display- KH- 7.6. Ca- 360-370. Mg- 1170. (Ca not stable because of Mg low)
• I have Hanna checkers for all tests, and have used x2 different ones- so it’s not the machines. I’ve also tried it on Salifert + Redsea).
• Refractometer..... tried 2 of them(not swing arms) and both calibrated on every use.
• And my frags don’t grown!

If someone can solve this, it would be amazing!

Is it Too high of a KH in new saltmix for my needs- ? Throwing out the Ca and MG?

Thanks all
Emma xx

 

[Osaurus]

What type of corals are you trying to grow and what type of lights are you running?

 

[Mical]

A thought for you, try mixing salt in bucket/bag BEFORE you mix w/water. I've found and heard that contents in salt buckets settles over time and elements separate. Since mixing my salt first I get better and more consistent mixes that match advertisers stats.

 

[Emma01]

A thought for you, try mixing salt in bucket/bag BEFORE you mix w/water. I've found and heard that contents in salt buckets settles over time and elements separate. Since mixing my salt first I get better and more consistent mixes that match advertisers stats.

The bucket gets a shake every time. :)

 

[Emma01]

What type of corals are you trying to grow and what type of lights are you running?

I have
Ecotech radion
Flow- MP10.
SPS (birdnest, stylophora)
LPS- Acans
Softies- Mushrooms, Kenya tree

 

[Rick Mathew]

Couple of questions

1 ) How long do you let the fresh salt mix set before you test it?
2) When you do your water change how long do you wait to test your tank
3) How often do you test your tank

Interesting puzzle

Rick

 

[Martin Kuhn]

Hallo Emma

A)You said you are running a low nutrient tank.
How low are your nitrate and phosphate levels?


B) you should Dose Mg until it is about 1250 mg/l. Once you reached 1250. Start dosing Ca also to bring it 420 mg/-ish

 

[Rick Mathew]

Is this a new problem?...If so I would suspect the salt batch...

 

[Chiefmoor]

 

[Emma01]

Couple of questions

1 ) How long do you let the fresh salt mix set before you test it?
2) When you do your water change how long do you wait to test your tank
3) How often do you test your tank

Interesting puzzle

Rick

Hi.
1) I test the new batch of salt water about 1 hour after mixing.
2) the display tank, I test 6 hours after adding and the next day.
3) I test KH everyday. Ca every other and Mg once weekly.

Thanks
Emma

 

[Emma01]

Is this a new problem?...If so I would suspect the salt batch...

It’s not a new problem no.
I’ve tried x2 different salt brands
All do the same.
It’s a mystery that I’m yet to solve

 

[Retro Reefer]

It’s best to get your Mg to desired levels (1300-1400) before working on Alk and Cal levels

 

[Pntbll687]

Are you dosing any KH products? Excess kh may enhance the loss of calcium, magnesium.

I dose seachem reef builder and it says that on the label


I've never heard of the salt you're using, do you think it could be a bad batch?

Since the tank is a nano you could switch salt to see if it is the problem. Maybe buy instant ocean, red sea, or tropic Marin and try then out. I would do a series of water changes over yep weeks or so.

 

[Emma01]

It’s best to get your Mg to desired levels (1300-1400) before working on Alk and Cal levels

My mg levers differ depending on what test I use. I’ve tried Redsea and salifert. Completely different to each other. Any suggestions on a good accurate Mg tester?

 

[Emma01]

Are you dosing any KH products? Excess kh may enhance the loss of calcium, magnesium.

I dose seachem reef builder and it says that on the label


I've never heard of the salt you're using, do you think it could be a bad batch?

Since the tank is a nano you could switch salt to see if it is the problem. Maybe buy instant ocean, red sea, or tropic Marin and try then out. I would do a series of water changes over yep weeks or so.

I’m not dosing anything at this point in time, but have plans to.
I’m going to switch to Red Sea salt. I’m unsure which would be best for me though

 

[lapin]

I’m not dosing anything at this point in time, but have plans to.
I’m going to switch to Red Sea salt. I’m unsure which would be best for me though

I mix the regular (blue bucket) and the Coral Pro (black bucket) 50/50
It keeps my numbers in the middle. 9.0 alk, 420 cal, 1490 mag
I change out 10% per week

 

[Martin Kuhn]

I’m not dosing anything at this point in time, but have plans to.
I’m going to switch to Red Sea salt. I’m unsure which would be best for me though

Hello Emma
You at totally right. Not trusting your own test results is the way where you should dig deeper.

I know that what i suggest my might sound “untypical” for
Most forum members. It is very common for European reefers
- I recommend to check calibrate your test kits by a so called saltwater reference
- the principle:
A) you measure such a reference with your test kits.
B) depending on how good your test kit AND your skills to measure are, you get a result more or less close to what this references planned results are for Ca Alk, Mg
- in case it’s the same you proved you measures this parameter correctly
- in case it is “off” you not only that you might have a problem measuring this parameter, you get also a factor s
Dividing the “target result” (= reference solutions values) by “your measurement result from it.
You can and should use this factor for the future, to “correct” your measured results.

In Europe there are several shops to buy this reference solution. One of the most common is Fauna Marin reference solution. Would you be able to purchase and check something like this ?

Btw: your N3 and PO4 Levels are ??

 

[Emma01]

Hello Emma
You at totally right. Not trusting your own test results is the way where you should dig deeper.

I know that what i suggest my might sound “untypical” for
Most forum members. It is very common for European reefers
- I recommend to check calibrate your test kits by a so called saltwater reference
- the principle:
A) you measure such a reference with your test kits.
B) depending on how good your test kit AND your skills to measure are, you get a result more or less close to what this references planned results are for Ca Alk, Mg
- in case it’s the same you proved you measures this parameter correctly
- in case it is “off” you not only that you might have a problem measuring this parameter, you get also a factor s
Dividing the “target result” (= reference solutions values) by “your measurement result from it.
You can and should use this factor for the future, to “correct” your measured results.

In Europe there are several shops to buy this reference solution. One of the most common is Fauna Marin reference solution. Would you be able to purchase and check something like this ?

Btw: your N3 and PO4 Levels are ??

That’s great info thanks! I’ll have a look whether it’s sold online. :)
Nitrates- 5-10
Po3= 0

Thanks
Emma

 

[Martin Kuhn]

Hello Emma

A) Try to get this one
https://www.coral-garden.de/fauna-marin-multi-referenz-100ml-referenzloesung-fuer-wassertests.html
(I know it isn’t a link in us. You will find one, I’m sure)

B) PO3 at really 0.00 is definitely an issue if you don’t “feed your corals in parallel”

 

[Emma01]

Hello Emma

A) Try to get this one
https://www.coral-garden.de/fauna-marin-multi-referenz-100ml-referenzloesung-fuer-wassertests.html
(I know it isn’t a link in us. You will find one, I’m sure)

B) PO3 at really 0.00 is definitely an issue if you don’t “feed your corals in parallel”

Great I’ll definitely have a look for it

I feed them reefroids and mysis twice a week :).