15! dKH, 340CA, 1050Mg, 8.3PH

[Greg5OH]

3 or so months ago I had a huge nutrient spike in the tank, got rid of the sandbed completely have been bare bottom 3 months now, and have been battling instability and algea issues since.
20g AIO, 3 years old, very light stocking, few recent LPS, 3 year old RBTA and zoa.

I was sceptical of the API test kit (ordered some Hanna and salifert now) so i had my LFS check with salifert kits
my refractometer is .05 high, i show 1.025, they show 1.03 SG
1050 Mg
340 Ca
15.7 dKh
5.0 Nitrate
8.3 Ph


I know the low Mg will throw the Ca and Kh out of whack. Wil do a 50% WC tonight, and ordered some Brightwell Magnesion (I like the concentrated liquids over having to make own solution)

Any other tips in the mean time and going forward?

 

[beaslbob]

bumping up calcium will lower alk.

I suggest you look up the dr. randy holmes-farley improved diy two part method in this forum.

See: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

It will very inexpensively correct those parameters.

BTW They ain't all that far off to start with.

my .02

 

[Greg5OH]

hank you, reading through that now.

I noticed over last few weeks my candy cane receding alot, skeleton starting to show, and my zoa which never ever gave me problems in the 3 years has rarely had its polyps out.
I have seen my domino damsel recently take an appetite to all my corals, nipping at them from time to time especially during feeding-so hes got to go.

I suspect the fish along with the parameters being off are quite stressful on everyone

 

[Greg5OH]

Mixed up a fresh batch..16 dkh..
Check the RODI water....18...tap(well and softener) also 18dkh..
checked a bottle of purified drinking water...less than 2dkh..
I check calcium at mt rodi-0.

What..is going on? Hows that possible?
I checked all the plumbing on the rodi, all correct, membrane 9 months old filters approx 3.

Very cofused right now.

 

[Greg5OH]

All I did last night was flush my tank, took out the RO membrane, put it back in, filled the system...0 alk coming out of it now...
Don't knwo if the membrane got blocked up and was by passing or what was happening but...I have perfect water again. Did 2 25% Water changes, im at 11dkH now using Coralife salt.

I was getting approx 8 dKH with a fresh coralife mix at 1.028 SG

 

[SeaDweller]

How old are the test kits?

 

[Greg5OH]

3 months, expire in 2020. API, however I have new saliferts coming in today.
My tap water tested the same before and after, and I was within 1 dkh of LFS salifert kit.

 

[beaslbob]

Mixed up a fresh batch..16 dkh..
Check the RODI water....18...tap(well and softener) also 18dkh..
checked a bottle of purified drinking water...less than 2dkh..
I check calcium at mt rodi-0.

What..is going on? Hows that possible?
I checked all the plumbing on the rodi, all correct, membrane 9 months old filters approx 3.

Very cofused right now.

bad test kit

 

[Greg5OH]

yeah ive pretty much dumped the APi test kit.
Hanna alk checker will be in tomorrow,
using salifert for Mg and Calc,
Still undecided on nitrate as the API one is also far too coarse