CA dropping very fast

[ElitePirate]

Hi Friends,

So I had this issue with Mg and Ca balances.

I started dosing red sea Mg additive 2 days ago because of my low Mg level. It was around 1000, my Ca was around 440 and my KH level was 11. So I wanted to maintain a Mg level of 1350.

I'm dosing 5ML Mg additive daily because as per red sea instructions I should stay bellow 10ppm increment every day so that my corals won't get stressed. My tank water volume is 56L only.

Yesterday I did a check (using 2 test kits - Royal Nature and Salifert) and it was around :

Mg : 1150
Ca : 440
KH : 10

Now, I did another check

Mg : 1190
Ca : 370!!!
KH : 10

I have no idea why my Ca level dropped suddenly. I have only very few corals and fishes.

Is this normal? while dosing Mg additive Ca will drop? I also have red sea Ca additive. Should I go ahead and add 5ml Ca now?

That means every day can I dose 5ml of Ca and Mg? let's say if it's above 440 and 1350 then I will stop daily dosing and monitor the levels, then hopefully I can maintain the level by using c-balance 2 part.

Any thoughts?

#reefsquad @Randy Holmes-Farley help please

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

How confident are you with your testing results. Could it be human error. Could it be a bad kit.

 

[ElitePirate]

How confident are you with your testing results. Could it be human error. Could it be a bad kit.

I'm 200% sure. I know very well how to do these tests. + Just to be sure I'm using 2 test kits. So it's not a human error

 

[jsker]

When dosing additives your parameters will move around until one gets the right amounts set. Get the KH set and adjust the Ca and Mg as needed.

Test again in 24 hrs and see were you are at.

 

[ElitePirate]

When dosing additives your parameters will move around until one gets the right amounts set. Get the KH set and adjust the Ca and Mg as needed.

Test again in 24 hrs and see were you are at.

Ok thank you. My kh is fine. It's 10 now I will dose both Ca and Mg. I will post my readings tomorrow morning.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What size is your tank?

Cal should not fall that fast.

 

[ElitePirate]

What size is your tank?

Cal should not fall that fast.

My tank is just 15G. And yeah I have no idea why it dropped so fast.

I'm dosing Ca now. Let's see

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My tank is just 15G. And yeah I have no idea why it dropped so fast.

I'm dosing Ca now. Let's see

Two 5 g water changes should reset the parameters

 

[rkpetersen]

I feel your pain. Truly. When I got back into the hobby I obsessed over numbers big time, and tried to puzzle out and respond to every single change. It's enough to drive you nuts, and not particularly helpful. Adjust one parameter at a time. Do it slowly, even more so with such a small tank. Retest numbers that seem off with a different kit, or just wait until the next day to test it again. Try to do your testing at the same time of day, with the sample taken from the same location. There really isn't any way your calcium level could have actually dropped that far from one day to the next, especially with no change in KH. Not disputing your testing technique, but the numbers aren't right so something is off. To answer your question though, dosing mag really shouldn't have much if any effect on the calcium level, at least it never has for me. In fact, a higher magnesium level actually helps more calcium carbonate stay in solution and not precipitate out.

 

[ElitePirate]

Two 5 g water changes should reset the parameters

Yeah I thought so. Tomorrow I'll do a water change.

I feel your pain. Truly. When I got back into the hobby I obsessed over numbers big time, and tried to puzzle out and respond to every single change. It's enough to drive you nuts, and not particularly helpful. Adjust one parameter at a time. Do it slowly, even more so with such a small tank. Retest numbers that seem off with a different kit, or just wait until the next day to test it again. Try to do your testing at the same time of day, with the sample taken from the same location. There really isn't any way your calcium level could have actually dropped that far from one day to the next, especially with no change in KH. Not disputing your testing technique, but the numbers aren't right so something is off. To answer your question though, dosing mag really shouldn't have much if any effect on the calcium level, at least it never has for me. In fact, a higher magnesium level actually helps more calcium carbonate stay in solution and not precipitate out.

Thank you for the detailed info. I agree it's kinda pain and I panicked when I saw my Ca levels. I think it's coz of different time etc . I'll slowly increase them one by one