Why...

[domination2580]

So I have a 40b set up and multiple coral in it, well it has been set up for about a month now. Calcium is still reading 500; 11.5 kh, and 1500 magnesium...why is this? Shouldn't it be coming down? Also why is my alkalinity do high and his to lower it...

 

[nervousmonkey]

What salt mix are you using and what's your salinity? How are you measuring it?
What test kits are you using?

 

[domination2580]

I have red sea coral pro salt, 1.025 using a refractometer, and safilert

 

[dbl]

Add to the questions have your done any water changes and the amount if any?

 

[nervousmonkey]

and one more, 1..5 dKH isn't that bad and you are only in this for a month, calcium at 500 is one the high side, but not terribly so, plus mag is exactly 3 times the CA level, so that's inline. All in all, I wouldn't stress too much. You don't have corals yet that will consume it, and I'm sure there is no coralline algae, so it won't really come down a lot on its own. Water changes at the right salinity will do it.
If it's still a fish only tank, you aren't going to hurt them. 11.5 dKH doesn't correspond to a high enough pH to hurt fish. :D

 

[dbl]

Coral Pro, at 1.026 mixes at about 12.5 dKH, about 470 +/- Calc, and 1420 or so mag. Your new system does not have life form yet that will consume these very quickly. I would say your not too bad based on your numbers listed above. Mag is a little high but not terrible.

 

[dbl]

Apparently @f.lloyd.taylor types faster than I do...lol.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Agreed with dbl. You are pretty close to spot on what Red Sea Coral Pro delivers at that salinity, so you're inline with what you are going to get every time...

 

[domination2580]

I do have corals though. Two favia, two Acans, two hammers, multiple zoas. And no Coraline algae

 

[chefjpaul]

I do have corals though. Two favia, two Acans, two hammers, multiple zoas. And no Coraline algae

Those will not likely show any dent in consumption. You're looking just fine.

RSCP is slightly high for me and my LPS tank, I did switch to the blue bucket as I run higher nutrients. Just something to keep a look out for in the future.

 

[domination2580]

What do you mean high nutrients?

 

[chefjpaul]

I meant lower, sorry.

Nitrate & phosphate. = nutrient we measure.

You are going good here. Just keep researching and learning.

 

[domination2580]

Yeah I have low nutrients also

 

[nervousmonkey]

How are you getting low nutrients? Or I should say, what are the levels of nutrients? they can play a really key role in the vibrancy and health of your corals, although SPS are generally more affected by low nutrient, high alk tanks. Chef is right though, running high alk in low nutrient tanks, or even ULNS, can cause the coral to try and grow more quickly than it has the ability. LPS are generally OK though. I have an ULNS system that needs NO3 dosing to get it up to acceptable levels (2-5) but have had some periods of high alk, high CA and high MG without any adverse affect on Acans and Favias. Actually they grew and had babies during that time, but when alk comes down, color returns, same with NO3, when I bring it up, color and growth really come back... Something to think about. If you have ultra low NO3, take a look at nitrate dosing, esp with the RSCP since it's always going to give you high alk

 

[domination2580]

OK nitrates are like 10, and phosphate 0

 

[domination2580]

Rscp?

 

[nervousmonkey]

Oh, Red Sea Coral Pro

 

[domination2580]

Gotcha

 

[nervousmonkey]

OK nitrates are like 10, and phosphate 0

Cool, try to get nitrates to around 5 and try to get PO4 up just a teensy bit. Are you using Salifert for that? I am sure that you have some PO4 anyway, just not measuring on the kit.

 

[domination2580]

Yes salifert. And y phosphate up? And how?