Problematic Mg and Ca.

[Alegeo_dragonette]

Hello guys so 9 months into reefing.
And now first time I faced elemental problem. Had a drop of Kh from 8.0 to 7.0 and my expensive torch started losing flesh and some polyps. The problem here is that I cant get my dosing system run because Mg and Ca are redline since the first testing without dosing anything. My question is if I start dosing all three(Kh, Ca, Mg) high Mg and Ca can become harmful for the reef?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The video does nothing on my screen.

What are the values?

in any case, boosting alk by 1 dKH with a two part will only boost calcium by less than 7 ppm and magnesium by less than 1 ppm, so they won't noticeably change when measuring with a kit.

 

[Alegeo_dragonette]

These are my testing except the kh which is now around 7.3

 

[Saltyreef]

You should hand dose your alk product only and let the others fall naturally as randy was trying to tell you.

Then you can figure out your consumption rate and implement an auto dosing strategy once youre happy with the levels of all three.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Unless you have been dosing magnesium, the >1500 ppm values for it are likely test error or very high salinity.

 

[Alegeo_dragonette]

Unless you have been dosing magnesium, the >1500 ppm values for it are likely test error or very high salinity.

The salinity I started was 1.026 but last month I gradually dropped to 1.025 today tested the Mg on a freshly mixed saltwater and it was reading around 1250 at 1.024 but the problem is that cant just dose Kh because I will end up with 2 5L canisters of Mg and Ca supplements and you can only buy these in pack of all 3.looking and asking everywhere to why Mg and Ca is naturally all the time high from the beginning even with waterchanges.

 

[Saltyreef]

The salinity I started was 1.026 but last month I gradually dropped to 1.025 today tested the Mg on a freshly mixed saltwater and it was reading around 1250 at 1.024 but the problem is that cant just dose Kh because I will end up with 2 5L canisters of Mg and Ca supplements and you can only buy these in pack of all 3.looking and asking everywhere to why Mg and Ca is naturally all the time high from the beginning even with waterchanges.

What salt mix are you using?
If pro it will mix high but your alk is still low so idk.

What are you using to measure salinity?

Buy some baking soda and make a diy alk solution to raise your alk only while your mag and cal drops. Then you dont need to use your other solution until youre ready.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The salinity I started was 1.026 but last month I gradually dropped to 1.025 today tested the Mg on a freshly mixed saltwater and it was reading around 1250 at 1.024 but the problem is that cant just dose Kh because I will end up with 2 5L canisters of Mg and Ca supplements and you can only buy these in pack of all 3.looking and asking everywhere to why Mg and Ca is naturally all the time high from the beginning even with waterchanges.

There's no way appropriate dosing boosted magnesium from 1250 ppm to >1500 ppm.

I think we need more info on what you are adding to what size tank, but IMO, the magnesium is test error.

It would take a truly massive amount of magnesium supplement to boost magnesium by 250 ppm. Like 2 L of my DIY recipe (e.g., BRS uses this recipe) in a 100 gallon tank.

 

[Alegeo_dragonette]

What salt mix are you using?
If pro it will mix high but your alk is still low so idk.

What are you using to measure salinity?

Buy some baking soda and make a diy alk solution to raise your alk only while your mag and cal drops. Then you dont need to use your other solution until youre ready.

Aquaforest reef salt and in emergencies aquaforest Probiotic for nitrate. My refractometer is the D-D and TDS 0 its a headache that cant solve that problem.

 

[Alegeo_dragonette]

There's no way appropriate dosing boosted magnesium from 1250 ppm to >1500 ppm.

I think we need more info on what you are adding to what size tank, but IMO, the magnesium is test error.

It would take a truly massive amount of magnesium supplement to boost magnesium by 250 ppm. Like 2 L of my DIY recipe (e.g., BRS uses this recipe) in a 100 gallon tank.

Let me list all about my reef to give you some insights.
>custom made 200L display tank with 50L sump(refugium+uv).
>Products I use:Aquaforest Reefsalt, aquaforest Probiotic salt, Aquaforest Bio S(bacteria solution), Redsea AB+, Aquaforest trace elements ABC.
>lights hydra 64HD. Thats all and all that are and go into the tank.

 

[Saltyreef]

Do you calibrate your refracto often?

Your salt says it mixes up to 1380mag, 440cal and 8.2dkh at 33ppt
But its discontinued. Are you still using the reef salt? Or did you maybe happen to buy the reef mineral salt mix vs the reef salt mix?

 

[Saltyreef]

Let me list all about my reef to give you some insights.
>custom made 200L display tank with 50L sump(refugium+uv).
>Products I use:Aquaforest Reefsalt, aquaforest Probiotic salt, Aquaforest Bio S(bacteria solution), Redsea AB+, Aquaforest trace elements ABC.
>lights hydra 64HD. Thats all and all that are and go into the tank.

And have you tested alk cal and mag in a fresh mixed batch of salt water yet???

 

[Alegeo_dragonette]

Do you calibrate your refracto often?

Your salt says it mixes up to 1380mag, 440cal and 8.2dkh at 33ppt
But its discontinued. Are you still using the reef salt? Or did you maybe happen to buy the reef mineral salt mix vs the reef salt mix?

Not informed if discontinued since bought 40Kg last month but found the readings of the package

 

[Alegeo_dragonette]

And have you tested alk cal and mag in a fresh mixed batch of salt water yet???

Yes and it was reading 1280-1300 at 1.025

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Let me list all about my reef to give you some insights.
>custom made 200L display tank with 50L sump(refugium+uv).
>Products I use:Aquaforest Reefsalt, aquaforest Probiotic salt, Aquaforest Bio S(bacteria solution), Redsea AB+, Aquaforest trace elements ABC.
>lights hydra 64HD. Thats all and all that are and go into the tank.

Unless I'm misreading, I do not see the three part alk/calcium/magnesium product listed.

What exactly are you dosing for these?

 

[Alegeo_dragonette]

Unless I'm misreading, I do not see the three part alk/calcium/magnesium product listed.

What exactly are you dosing for these?

Haven't dosed yet! I have auto dosing system and Aquaforest components pro for Kh Mg and Ca but haven't used yet due to high Mg and Ca

 

[Saltyreef]

Haven't dosed yet! I have auto dosing system and Aquaforest components pro for Kh Mg and Ca but haven't used yet due to high Mg and Ca

What kits are you testing the water with?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Haven't dosed yet! I have auto dosing system and Aquaforest components pro for Kh Mg and Ca but haven't used yet due to high Mg and Ca

OK, it's fine to dose just the alk for a while, or all three in balanced amounts.

I don't think the magnesium is accurate. Even if it is, using the magnesium part of the three part should not raise it, just keep it where it is.

 

[Alegeo_dragonette]

What kits are you testing the water with?salifert

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

When you use the salifert kit for magnesium, it does not change color with a whole syringe of fluid added?

But with new salt water it does?