Understanding 1st ICP Test

[Kika]

Hi,

I just received my first ICP results from FM (please see attached). However, I would like your input on what to prioritize/ do next?

For context, I am currently on a 2-part dosing system, Reef Pro AB.

Thank you kindly.

 

[tbrown]

Nothing really looks out of whack except your salt level is a little low. Alk, mag, and calcium are decent but on the higher side. Do a water change to get the salinity up some and maybe reduce the 2-part just a little. If it were me, I'd drop the 2-Part dosing slightly today and test again in 3 or 4 days to see if it's holding or still going up. Adjust down a little more if it's still going up and test again in 2-3 days until it's holding steady. If it starts dropping, add half of whatever you reduced back in and that's where is stick for a week or two and see how it's looking afterwards.

 

[Kika]

Nothing really looks out of whack except your salt level is a little low. Alk, mag, and calcium are decent but on the higher side. Do a water change to get the salinity up some and maybe reduce the 2-part just a little. If it were me, I'd drop the 2-Part dosing slightly today and test again in 3 or 4 days to see if it's holding or still going up. Adjust down a little more if it's still going up and test again in 2-3 days until it's holding steady. If it starts dropping, add half of whatever you reduced back in and that's where is stick for a week or two and see how it's looking afterwards.

Much appreciated. I have corrected the salinity level by using the TM hydrometer . I was using a refractometer and was not very accurate.

I will also reduce the 2 parts, my Alk is now holding steady at 8.3 but cal keeps at ~460. The problem is that mag is already in part A and its most of the time very high. This is why I am thinking on moving to a balling method so I can control everything separately…

 

[tbrown]

Much appreciated. I have corrected the salinity level by using the TM hydrometer . I was using a refractometer and was not very accurate.

I will also reduce the 2 parts, my Alk is now holding steady at 8.3 but cal keeps at ~460. The problem is that mag is already in part A and its most of the time very high. This is why I am thinking on moving to a balling method so I can control everything separately…

Most hobby grade magnesium tests are inaccurate according to Randy so I wouldn't put too much worry into the magnesium levels if your calcium and alkalinity levels are in line.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sorry, I thought I posted this earlier.

Magnesium is high, and will go higher if you boost salinity (I would).

What two part are you using?

 

[Kika]

Sorry, I thought I posted this earlier.

Magnesium is high, and will go higher if you boost salinity (I would).

What two part are you using?

I’m doing ReefPro AB. Mag is in Part A along with Cal and trace

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Something is wrong for it to get this high (and now higher), unless the icp is wrong. But I don’t know what is wrong. I do not know they they devised that product.

What salt mix are you using?

 

[Kika]

Something is wrong for it to get this high (and now higher), unless the icp is wrong. But I don’t know what is wrong. I do not know they they devised that product.

What salt mix are you using?

I’m on Red Sea blue bucket. A little bit of additional context. I was struggling on getting mag at ~1400 which is where I wanted it with my 2 parts., so I raised it using the seachem mag. I stopped it when I got to ~1500 (it went out of my desired range). Since then, I have been unable to take it down, I can’t even measure it with the salitfier test because it never change colors hence >1500 for sure., except for around 3 weeks ago I did a water change of 20% and it was measured again at ~1500., but of course it went up again after few days.

The above is likely happening because I never nor is my intention to stop dosing part A which contains Mag, which is why it’s a little bit hard to take it down u less I stop dosing part A. Essentially I don’t have separate control over Mag alone.

This is why I am looking into a balling method fauna, tropic M, or BRS hybrid. Can you also advise in this ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you do regular water changes?

I advise folks to not dose magnesium based on home testing because it is not accurate enough. It has put you in a bind now because raising salinity must raise mag even more.

There are many fine diy and commercial systems, but it may be hard to lower magnesium with any of them without risking lowering other things such as potassium.

Switching to kalkwasser would do the trick very slowly. Water changes would be faster. AFR would likely work, but much slower than kalkwasser.

 

[Kika]

Do you do regular water changes?

I advise folks to not dose magnesium based on home testing because it is not accurate enough. It has put you in a bind now because raising salinity must raise mag even more.

There are many fine diy and commercial systems, but it may be hard to lower magnesium with any of them without risking lowering other things such as potassium.

Switching to kalkwasser would do the trick very slowly. Water changes would be faster. AFR would likely work, but much slower than kalkwasser.

Yeah, lesson learned!!

For now I’ll do water changes. What would you recommend, weekly 20% until I got mag to desired range ?

 

[KStatefan]

I’m on Red Sea blue bucket. A little bit of additional context. I was struggling on getting mag at ~1400 which is where I wanted it with my 2 parts., so I raised it using the seachem mag. I stopped it when I got to ~1500 (it went out of my desired range). Since then, I have been unable to take it down, I can’t even measure it with the salitfier test because it never change colors hence >1500 for sure., except for around 3 weeks ago I did a water change of 20% and it was measured again at ~1500., but of course it went up again after few days.

The above is likely happening because I never nor is my intention to stop dosing part A which contains Mag, which is why it’s a little bit hard to take it down u less I stop dosing part A. Essentially I don’t have separate control over Mag alone.

This is why I am looking into a balling method fauna, tropic M, or BRS hybrid. Can you also advise in this ?

There is a great thread here on DIY Balling

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-balling-method-recipe.1098905/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yeah, lesson learned!!

For now I’ll do water changes. What would you recommend, weekly 20% until I got mag to desired range ?

I don’t think it’s a rush (unless snails seem lethargic, which seems to happen at high magnesium) if you get it going in the right direction. I change 1% daily by AWC, 20% twice a month seems enough to me.

 

[Kika]

I’m on Red Sea blue bucket. A little bit of additional context. I was struggling on getting mag at ~1400 which is where I wanted it with my 2 parts., so I raised it using the seachem mag. I stopped it when I got to ~1500 (it went out of my desired range). Since then, I have been unable to take it down, I can’t even measure it with the salitfier test because it never change colors hence >1500 for sure., except for around 3 weeks ago I did a water change of 20% and it was measured again at ~1500., but of course it went up again after few days.

The above is likely happening because I never nor is my intention to stop dosing part A which contains Mag, which is why it’s a little bit hard to take it down u less I stop dosing part A. Essentially I don’t have separate control over Mag alone.

This is why I am looking into a balling method fauna, tropic M, or BRS hybrid. Can you also advise in this ?

There is a great thread here on DIY Balling

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-balling-method-recipe.1098905/

Thank you, sounds like the BRS hybrid balling

 

[Kika]

Do you do regular water changes?

I advise folks to not dose magnesium based on home testing because it is not accurate enough. It has put you in a bind now because raising salinity must raise mag even more.

There are many fine diy and commercial systems, but it may be hard to lower magnesium with any of them without risking lowering other things such as potassium.

Switching to kalkwasser would do the trick very slowly. Water changes would be faster. AFR would likely work, but much slower than kalkwasser.

Hey Randy, while I wait for Mag to drop to desired levels, I’ll use BRS kalkwasser. Is there any calculator that helps me with the maintenance dose via a dosing pump? For example, say I’m at 8 DKH and 420 Cal, and I want to maintain those values, what would be my Kalk daily dose when using a dosing pump? Most of the method they reference are via ATO or Reactors… my total water volume is ~130 G.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No. A calculator can only tell you what you are adding. It cannot tell how much is being consumed each day and thus cannot tell you how much you need to add each day to keep a fixed level.

 

[Kika]

No. A calculator can only tell you what you are adding. It cannot tell how much is being consumed each day and thus cannot tell you how much you need to add each day to keep a fixed level.

Thanks, that said what would you recommend / safe starting point? If it helps my dkh went from 8.3 to 8 in 48 hrs.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks, that said what would you recommend / safe starting point? If it helps my dkh went from 8.3 to 8 in 48 hrs.

That would be offset by adding about 1.3 liters of saturated kalkwasser.

This calculator can do that sort of calculation:

https://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalcnew.html

 

[Kika]

Thanks, that said what would you recommend / safe starting point? If it helps my dkh went from 8.3 to 8 in 48 hrs.

That would be offset by adding about 1.3 liters of saturated kalkwasser.

This calculator can do that sort of calculation:

https://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalcnew.html

Much appreciated, that helps a lot !!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You’re welcome.

Happy Reefing!

 

[Alexander1312]

Hi,

I just received my first ICP results from FM (please see attached). However, I would like your input on what to prioritize/ do next?

For context, I am currently on a 2-part dosing system, Reef Pro AB.

Thank you kindly.

The last page here tells you exactly which change to prioritize - second to last column.

I would focus on priority 1 and 2.

Once these have been dialed in, you might want to take another ICP and determine progress, and then graduate to priority 3 items.

Priority 4 items are considered ‘nice to have been dialed in’, but are not necessary and in some cases should actually not be adjusted unless they were based on an MS, not OES test.

Your dosing additions seem to add certain elements disproportionately, so you might want to look into this.