Crazy Calcium and Mag levels

[Caruso86]

So ive had my tank up and running for about 6 months, I bought it used and already running with liverock (he kept his livestock).
Ive had the frogspawn for about 3 months and it def doesnt open like it did before. Most stuff looks good but ive lost a couple of things the past few weeks. Ie rock flower nem, a couple of shrooms and now my zoas arent opening. Ive been doing 40 percent water changes for the past few weeks. Only dosing vibrant twice a week for some GHA that popped up. Current stocklist
2 clowns
2 firefish
Tailspot blenny
A few snails and 6 or so hermits
Various shrooms
Mini max anemone
Frogspawn
Goniopora
Blasto frag

Parameters today
Mag 1800 no not a typo
Ph 8.2
NO3 15-20
Cal-620
PO4 .03
Alk 10.5
Should I just keep doing water changes until these both resume to nornal levels?
Thank you for reading all of this and any input is appreciated.

 

[Caruso86]

Forgot to add 24 gallon cube with vipaspectra set at 75 blue 1 white. Running a tunze skimmer but took it out today, was going to try not running it for a few days

 

[lapin]

1st question
What brand of salt are you using and have you measured the salt mix numbers?

 

[Keesers]

Are you dosing 2 part or anything like that? Also what salt are you using what Sg of tank and fresh saltwater your adding in your WC and what are you testing with?

 

[Keesers]

1st question
What brand of salt are you using and have you measured the salt mix numbers?

Oops you beat me too it lol

 

[ianryd]

In my experience high mag and cal levels are not detrimental to reef tanks. Your livestock list does not look to be super demanding. My mag has always been off the charts (2000+) and my corals do great. My cal was higher than ideal (500+)for most of the first year and a half. High cal can build up on pumps and impellars so do keep an eye on that. Your tank is still fairly new and your corals just arent using all the mag and cal that is in the system. Give them time and watch your other parameters and things will level out in time. Too many water changes is going to mess with tank stability. One other thing-you should test your water you are adding to the tank to see if it has high levels to begin with. Perhaps your salt mix has more than your tank needs at this time.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hello,

Good question already asked as always.
if I may tack on, are you topping off with Ro to keep a stable SG. If not each time you do water changes you are adding salt to already concentrated levels.

The high numbers more cause for a concern of precipitation I would think.

 

[Caruso86]

I always use RO to top off and do changes. My tds is so bad out of tap 520ish so after a 6 stage im getting around 20 TDS. I have just been using Insant Ocean salt mix. I have measured new mix and numbers are all within range. SG is at 1.025 with a refractometer, I just ordered another one to double check, it should be here tues. Im just confused about these zoas

 

[Keesers]

Reef crystals or reg. IO

 

[Filthybum]

Could your ro water be causing it if it’s 20 tds and should be 0? I always make sure mine is 0 if it’s one or more tds I swap out di resin

 

[Keesers]

I always use RO to top off and do changes. My tds is so bad out of tap 520ish so after a 6 stage im getting around 20 TDS. I have just been using Insant Ocean salt mix. I have measured new mix and numbers are all within range. SG is at 1.025 with a refractometer, I just ordered another one to double check, it should be here tues. Im just confused about these zoas

Just to clarify here when you say you use RO water for TopOffs is That Fresh RO (without Salt for TopOff). Just wanted to make sure cause you said you use Ro for top and do changes. Sorry just trying to make sure I’m understanding your wording

 

[Caruso86]

Just regular IO not reef crystals. When I top my tank off I use fresh water, actually setting up my tunze ato right now. I dont dose anything. Appreciate you guys taking time to help!

 

[Caruso86]

Could your ro water be causing it if it’s 20 tds and should be 0? I always make sure mine is 0 if it’s one or more tds I swap out di resin

Im not sure about that. All my filters are brand new. Ive actually been using water from a lfs because I was thinking having some tds may not be helping but didnt notice any change

 

[reef2be]

Im not sure about that. All my filters are brand new. Ive actually been using water from a lfs because I was thinking having some tds may not be helping but didnt notice any change

I had similar problem, the last 2 stage DI filters I bought had a small hole, I covered that little hole it with epoxy and now my TDS is 0...

 

[road_runner]

In my experience high mag and cal levels are not detrimental to reef tanks. Your livestock list does not look to be super demanding. My mag has always been off the charts (2000+) and my corals do great. My cal was higher than ideal (500+)for most of the first year and a half. High cal can build up on pumps and impellars so do keep an eye on that. Your tank is still fairly new and your corals just arent using all the mag and cal that is in the system. Give them time and watch your other parameters and things will level out in time. Too many water changes is going to mess with tank stability. One other thing-you should test your water you are adding to the tank to see if it has high levels to begin with. Perhaps your salt mix has more than your tank needs at this time.

High levels cause precipitation and slow down the calcification level and speed in coral which slow down growth..

 

[road_runner]

So ive had my tank up and running for about 6 months, I bought it used and already running with liverock (he kept his livestock).
Ive had the frogspawn for about 3 months and it def doesnt open like it did before. Most stuff looks good but ive lost a couple of things the past few weeks. Ie rock flower nem, a couple of shrooms and now my zoas arent opening. Ive been doing 40 percent water changes for the past few weeks. Only dosing vibrant twice a week for some GHA that popped up. Current stocklist
2 clowns
2 firefish
Tailspot blenny
A few snails and 6 or so hermits
Various shrooms
Mini max anemone
Frogspawn
Goniopora
Blasto frag

Parameters today
Mag 1800 no not a typo
Ph 8.2
NO3 15-20
Cal-620
PO4 .03
Alk 10.5
Should I just keep doing water changes until these both resume to nornal levels?
Thank you for reading all of this and any input is appreciated.

First cross correlate your measurment and make sure its accurate and not measurment error by the kit.
Second if you confirm your kits are correct test your salt mix and know what levels are your salt water mix
Third check salinity. If your salinity prob is wrong you might mix higher salinity, which means higher alk ca and mag
If 1 2 3 are correct, I would do 20% water change weekly, stop any element dosing until you reach correct parameters. Do it slowly so you do not shock your coral.
If this did not bring down your levels, I would check if you dosing anything that can add these elements indirectly. Some substrates or rocks are known to leach ca and alk.
Also check your ph and make sure you are not at very low ph. Low ph(really low) force some substrates to break down to alk and ca..

 

[Cell]

If its 6 stage its RO/DI not just RO and it should easily take 520 TDS to 0.

40% h2o changes are pretty big. I'd cut it down to something like 10% once a week.

 

[Caruso86]

First cross correlate your measurment and make sure its accurate and not measurment error by the kit.
Second if you confirm your kits are correct test your salt mix and know what levels are your salt water mix
Third check salinity. If your salinity prob is wrong you might mix higher salinity, which means higher alk ca and mag
If 1 2 3 are correct, I would do 20% water change weekly, stop any element dosing until you reach correct parameters. Do it slowly so you do not shock your coral.
If this did not bring down your levels, I would check if you dosing anything that can add these elements indirectly. Some substrates or rocks are known to leach ca and alk.
Also check your ph and make sure you are not at very low ph. Low ph(really low) force some substrates to break down to alk and ca..

I will double check numbers again. Im using salifert kits to test btw. Appreciate you taking the time to help me out! Patiently waiting for my new refractometer to get here so I can double check my salinity.

 

[Caruso86]

First cross correlate your measurment and make sure its accurate and not measurment error by the kit.
Second if you confirm your kits are correct test your salt mix and know what levels are your salt water mix
Third check salinity. If your salinity prob is wrong you might mix higher salinity, which means higher alk ca and mag
If 1 2 3 are correct, I would do 20% water change weekly, stop any element dosing until you reach correct parameters. Do it slowly so you do not shock your coral.
If this did not bring down your levels, I would check if you dosing anything that can add these elements indirectly. Some substrates or rocks are known to leach ca and alk.
Also check your ph and make sure you are not at very low ph. Low ph(really low) force some substrates to break down to alk and ca..

Just wanted to say thanks for taking time to truly help me out. So I got my refractometer today and my salinity was 1.030 I double checked calibration, re checked and same result. So ive slowly started pulling water and replacing with RO/DI, hopefully get things back in the right direction. Thanks again for your help!

 

[road_runner]

Just wanted to say thanks for taking time to truly help me out. So I got my refractometer today and my salinity was 1.030 I double checked calibration, re checked and same result. So ive slowly started pulling water and replacing with RO/DI, hopefully get things back in the right direction. Thanks again for your help!

That probably is your problem. High salinity means elevated parameters.
As simple salinity measurment is, so many reefers mistakenly take it for granted and think their salinity at a point but in reality ita at another.
I calibrate my instruments every time I want to use it. And I cross correlate my refractometer with my Milwaukee and visa vera.
Also following the right calibration procedure is so important. Each instrument is built to yield correct results withen certain condition. Many of the refractometers are built for 25 degree temp, they compensate temp but not wide range. So when you calibrate make sure your calibration solution is not too hot or too cold and follow the instrument recomended conditions.

Glad you figured it out, good luck