alk, mg and ca levels

sergifed91

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this is a 60 g tank.
1 skimmer hob eshopps
60 lbs of live rock
live sand for substrate
2 wave makers and 2 heaters

little concerned about my levels for alk mg and ca
alk - 420
mg - 1200
ca - 420
po .2
ph - 7.4
nitrites 0
nitrates 10

recommendations? I am using crystal reef by instant ocean.
 
420 ppm alk?

Mag is a touch low but nothing crazy. What exactly concerns you?
never had that much of a drop in any of those levels. alk has always been between 8.6 -8.9, mg between 1260-1300, and ca has always been in the 400 -480 ppm. ph I have always been in a steady 8.0 ppm. but this time around testing my water it's been a drastic change. lower than what I expected. I usually do a wc every week when I had a medium load. but all I have is a few corals and 4 fish. and a shrimp and 3 bta's in my DT. I did add 2 new rocks the past week. it might of started a small cycle but I didn't think it would effect my numbers and bring them down like that.
I made a spread sheet of what my levels have been since I started the cycle through today.

CA:
5/31/2018 CA 460
6/9/2018 CA 440
6/12/2018 CA 450
6/17/2018 CA 450
6/24/2018 CA 470
6/30/2018 CA 480
7/9/2018 CA 420
7/13/2018 CA 420
7/16/2018 CA 400
7/17/2018 CA 430
7/25/2018 CA 350
8/5/2018 CA 400
8/11/2018 CA 440
8/20/2018 CA 450
9/13/2018 CA 450
9/24/2018 CA 430
10/26/2018 CA 430
11/12/2018 CA 470
11/15/2018 CA 420
ALK:
5/31/2018 KH/ALK 9.3 DKH
6/9/2018 KH/ALK 7.8
6/12/2018 KH/ALK 10.9
6/17/2018 KH/ALK 10.9
6/24/2018 KH/ALK 13.4
6/30/2018 KH/ALK 12.5
7/9/2018 KH/ALK 11.5
7/13/2018 KH/ALK 12.1
7/16/2018 KH/ALK 11.2
7/18/2018 KH/ALK 11.8
7/25/2018 KH/ALK 10.9
8/5/2018 KH/ALK 12.5
8/11/2018 KH/ALK 11.8
8/20/2018 KH/ALK 10.9
9/13/2018 KH/ALK 10.9
9/24/2018 KH/ALK 9.3
10/26/2018 KH/ALK 8.6
11/12/2018 KH/ALK 8.9
11/15/2018 KH/ALK 7.7
mg:
5/31/2018 MG 1500
6/9/2018 MG 1470
6/12/2018 MG 1470
6/17/2018 MG 1440
6/24/2018 MG 1350
7/9/2018 MG 1440
7/13/2018 MG 1290
7/16/2018 MG 1290
7/17/2018 MG 1350
7/25/2018 MG 1290
8/5/2018 MG 1200
8/11/2018 MG 1350
8/20/2018 MG 1350
9/13/2018 MG 1260
9/24/2018 MG 1200
10/26/2018 MG 1320
11/12/2018 MG 1110
11/15/2018 MG 1200

po4
5/31/2018 PO4 0.01
6/9/2013 PO4 0.03
6/12/2018 PO4 0.03
6/17/2018 PO4 0.03
6/24/2018 PO4 0.03
6/30/2018 PO4 0.03
7/9/2018 PO4 0.2
7/13/2018 PO4 1
7/16/2018 PO4 0.2
7/17/2018 PO4 0.2
7/25/2018 PO4 0.2
8/5/2018 PO4 0.2
8/20/2018 PO4 0.2
9/13/2018 PO4 0.2
9/24/2018 PO4 0.2
11/12/2018 PO4 0.2

PH:
5/31/2018 PH 7.8
6/9/2018 PH 7.8
6/12/2018 PH 7.8
6/17/2018 PH 7.8
6/24/2018 PH 7.8
6/30/2018 PH 7.8
7/9/2018 PH 7.4
7/16/2018 PH 8
7/17/2018 PH 8
7/25/2018 PH 8
8/5/2018 PH 8
8/20/2018 PH 7.8
9/13/2018 PH 7.8
9/24/2018 PH 7.8
11/15/2018 PH 7.4
 
my range of numbers is
alk 9
mag 1400
cal 450
my cal has been at 600 for well over a year and I haven't seen the corals suffering. I had even asked a friend who had great sps growth and he had said the same thing. His tank was also running close to 600. it wasn't something he nor I aimed for. At the time we both were using seachem's reef salt
 
Notice any increase in coralline?

Honestly its nothing crazy. I would test again in a few days or after a water change in a week and see where you are at. Reef crystals has high base numbers.

Your low mag test is probably just a outlier (because mag test is the least consistent of the three) but if it isn't then that could cause precipitation of calcium carbonate (calc and dkh)
 
my range of numbers is
alk 9
mag 1400
cal 450
my cal has been at 600 for well over a year and I haven't seen the corals suffering. I had even asked a friend who had great sps growth and he had said the same thing. His tank was also running close to 600. it wasn't something he nor I aimed for. At the time we both were using seachem's reef salt
My concern is the mag and ph levels being that low.
 
Notice any increase in coralline?

Honestly its nothing crazy. I would test again in a few days or after a water change in a week and see where you are at. Reef crystals has high base numbers.

Your low mag test is probably just a outlier (because mag test is the least consistent of the three) but if it isn't then that could cause precipitation of calcium carbonate (calc and dkh)
I have had diatoms on the sand bed. atleast that's what I think that is what was on my substrate
 
I think before I leave for work tomorrow i'll open up the window in the basement to let some fresh air in. it's winter here and extremely cold. so I have the house all closed up for the season. that might help to get the ph back up and get fresh air in and the co2 out of the basement.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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