High params with new salt

[WillyWicked]

Hey guys! Thanks for chiming in.

I'm scratching my head right now with this new salt (instant ocean reef crystals) and don't really like the params my tests read even though they are "fine" for reek keeping. I was using the basic instant ocean salt before. I just need some clarifications as maybe why it gives me those numbers or if it's actually fine for corals when my nitrates go up (I didnt add any yet since my tank is 4 months old). Here are the numbers

Salinity 1.026 tested with icecap digital tester (calibrated)
Temp 77.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0 (tested with ****** API kit)
Phosphate 0.05 hannah test
Alk 10.5 hannah test
Calcium over 500 tested with red sea kit
pH 7.9 hannah digital tester (calibrated)
Mag 1670 hannah test

I premix the salt with RODI in a 30 gallon bucket. It has a power head and heather in it. Thanks for any insight you guys have on this!

 

[JTP424]

The parameters listed are before adding to tank?
Are you using RODI?

You're going to want detectable nitrates for happy corals.

 

[WillyWicked]

Hey JTP, thanks fir answering!

Like I said, I do use RODI water and waiting for nitrates to go up! But no the params are the display tank params.

 

[rtparty]

The parameters listed are your tank parameters?

What are the parameters for the new water that you don’t like?

 

[WillyWicked]

I havent tested the water from my mixing station. Do you think the pH, alk, mag and calcium would be different? I dont have anything in my tank that can use those elements so I didnt have any reason to think that my new made water would have different results than my tank. I will do the tests right now and will let you know.

 

[JTP424]

Sounds good. I dont think anything is super out of whack to add anything...

 

[Tahoe61]

I havent tested the water from my mixing station. Do you think the pH, alk, mag and calcium would be different? I dont have anything in my tank that can use those elements so I didnt have any reason to think that my new made water would have different results than my tank. I will do the tests right now and will let you know.

They can be different. Even if you have just rocks and sand. Did you use live rock...
so on an so forth.

 

[WillyWicked]

They can be different. Even if you have just rocks and sand. Did you use live rock...
so on an so forth.

I used dry rocks and didnt use live sand

 

[WillyWicked]

I have the results. Here are the numbers

Salinity 1.025
pH 8.2
ALK 9.3
Calcium 460
Mag 1605
Phosphate 0.77

I have gfo in my tank filter. What could be the reason for the higher calcium/mag/alk values in the tank?

 

[WillyWicked]

Sounds good. I dont think anything is super out of whack to add anything...

Gotcha. I was used to have alk around 8.2, calcium 460, mag 1400 and pH of 8.1. I guess if I can keep those new params stable it might be ok but yea I was wondering if high values would lead to something bad for corals.

 

[Pod_01]

What could be the reason for the higher calcium/mag/alk values in the tank?

Salinity,

You new water salinity is:

have the results. Here are the numbers

Salinity 1.025

Your tank:

Salinity 1.026 tested with icecap digital tester (calibrated)

Higher salinity more ions, less salinity less ions…

 

[WillyWicked]

So even though these values are on the high end, would you guys say that corals would still be fine with those parameters?

I never acclimated corals, always temp dip and drop. But with those parameters in mind, should I acclimate them since my parameters are probably "far off" compared to other tanks?

Maybe I should wait for coralline to grow so that it levels the parameters a bit?

 

[JTP424]

Probably fine. Magnesium is never accurate and your nitrates and phosphates seem in line.
Alkalinity and calc will change once you start adding corals that require them.
You can start with a easy coral or whatnot to play it safe.
If your tank is cycled and you're using a standard salt brand you good to go :)

 

[rtparty]

I wouldn’t trust the Magnesium readings to be honest.

Just say NO to magnesium testing: RMM is born

OK, this thread has been many years in the making, and I'm posting it here since folks in the chem forum are probably already tired of all the threads relating to problematic magnesium testing. I'm going to propose a method, let's call it the Randy Magnesium Method, or RMM for short. All good...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[WillyWicked]

Thanks fir the help! Appreciate it