High magnesium/high calcium

[carlytheclown]

Has anyone had Tropic Marin Pro mix with high mag and cal? Could it be from not mixing the salt (I’m getting towards the bottom of the box so maybe it settled?) Salinity is 35 (with calibrated hanna tester) but mag is testing 1800+ and ca is 600+. I tested with another tank that I haven’t done a water change on with this new box of salt and Ca and Mg are in a normal range which rules out the testers.. RODI water is testing at 0 TDS.

I assumed I had overdosed AFR or something so I did a series of big water changes with no success, so thought to test freshly mixed water and got the same result. Both Ca and Mg testers are Hanna as well.

Other params:
Nitrates: 11
Phosphates: .05
Alk: 9.2
Temp: 78

Could the high Ca and Mg be the cause of some of the coral death i’m seeing? I have a mushroom rock that was previously thriving and now has a lot of tissue loss. :’(

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

High salinity could give high values. So could inhomogeneous mixing, faulty tests, or a bad batch.

 

[carlytheclown]

High salinity could give high values. So could inhomogeneous mixing, faulty tests, or a bad batch.

My salinity is measuring at 35 with my calibrated hanna tester. When you say bad batch do you mean of the TM salt? I was thinking it maybe settled in the box and now I’m getting high ca/mg since I’m getting towards the bottom? Just a theory, no clue if it works that way though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My salinity is measuring at 35 with my calibrated hanna tester. When you say bad batch do you mean of the TM salt? I was thinking it maybe settled in the box and now I’m getting high ca/mg since I’m getting towards the bottom? Just a theory, no clue if it works that way though.

Yes, those are among the possibilities. Bad test kits are the most common explanation.

How was the Hanna calibrated?

 

[carlytheclown]

Yes, those are among the possibilities. Bad test kits are the most common explanation.

How was the Hanna calibrated?

Hmph. I got a new batch of salt this evening so I’ll mix/test in the morning and see if it texts any different. I rolled the bag around for good measure just in case anything settled lol.

Salinity tester was calibrated with the 35ppt calibration solution from Hanna. It think it’s only been about a month or so since I last calibrated it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Salinity tester was calibrated with the 35ppt calibration solution from Hanna. It think it’s only been about a month or so since I last calibrated it.

Some folks find it needs calibration more often than that, but yours may be fine.

 

[carlytheclown]

Some folks find it needs calibration more often than that, but yours may be fine.

You’re 100% right. Recalibrated it this morning and *yikes*. Thank you!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You’re 100% right. Recalibrated it this morning and *yikes*. Thank you!

You’re welcome.

Happy reefing. :)