Chasing Parameters

[Sasarsis]

Hi everyone, I am just getting back into the hobby after about 15 years. My new tank is a Prostar 90 and has been undergoing a slow setup over the past 2ish months. I have 2 clowns, a six line and a cardinal so far so nothing crazy. I also threw some zoanthids in way too early but they seem to be doing great and are growing nicely. The tank was used and isn't perfect but I have it set up currently without the sump due to some plumbing issues I am finding. Anyways, my question is around the three parameters of Calcium, Magnesium and Alkalinity. my water is currently from Red Sea which I understand and have noticed has elevate levels of calcium. I am using the Hanna checkers and have tested each parameter multiple times. My Calcium is north of 600 (Maxed out), my alk is low at 7.9(thought Red sea was normally high here too) and my mag is also low at 1240. Are these parameters that far out of wack or are they close enough to work with? Obviously I really don't want to chase numbers and I have not dosed anything as of yet. Just trying to figure out where I stand and if I should be worried about that calcium level.

 

[THE REEF WHISPER]

Your Ca reading >600 is almost certainly a false high from the Hanna HI758 checker with Red Sea Coral Pro – real Ca is probably 450–500. Common issue.Alk 7.9 and Mag 1240 are a bit low but not critical.

How you can fix
slowly raise alk to 8.3–8.5 and mag to ~1350. The Ca reading will drop on its own once they’re balanced.

Grab an ICP test for peace of mind, but you’re totally fine zoas growing proves it Enjoy the tank!
Happy REEFING

 

[EnterName]

Those parameters sound suspicious...

• If the HannaChecker alkalinity reagent is a bit older it will show too low readings. Another test kit (e.g. Salifert) can help to verify the readings.
• What are you using to maintain Calcium/Magnesium/Alkalinity levels? All for Reef? Balling salts? Something else? It's a new tank so I assume you don't actually have to dose any calcium/magnesium yet as there aren't any hard corals that would consume much of it.

 

[Sasarsis]

I also thought they were odd since I couldn't really find that makeup anywhere online. The test kits are all new and I am still within maybe the first 5-6 tests on each. I have read where people are messing up using the tests so with the attention I have been giving that, I don't know how much of it is human error, although it is certainly a possibility. I will work on getting another test to validate these results. I don't dose anything yet as the zoanthids were all I had and I am testing because I plan on getting more corals in the near future if possible.