Ca, Mag, and Red Sea Test kits

[Fotocha]

I sort of neglected some things for 2 weeks. Things are way out of wack.

I was testing Cal tonight to see how I was doing things didn't look too hot. (relatively new tank a 2 1/2 months old)

Well I ran Red Sea Cal pro like 4 times is disbelief. I used .28ml of reagent which based on the formula of 0.01 = 5ppm that means my tank has a cal level of 140!

Can anyone confirm if this is right?

At this time:
Ph is 8.6
Mag ?
Alk on thurs was in the high 7's to 8

The only other thing that was odd was my Salinity was off big time. I was reading 1.019 (Calibrated recently) my guess my ATO had a siphon and kept filling. Going to recheck the line and make sure it doesn't happen in future.

Maybe not the best action but I freaked out and did a 20% water change and mixed it heavy and so at the time of writing this its back at 1.026

I ran the Ca again and I got 190
Mag is at 1800

Not sure what to do at this point.

Ordered some kalkwasser but im not sure how to fix this or if that's the best solution.

 

[ylreefer]

I sort of neglected some things for 2 weeks. Things are way out of wack.

I was testing Cal tonight to see how I was doing things didn't look too hot. (relatively new tank a 2 1/2 months old)

Well I ran Red Sea Cal pro like 4 times is disbelief. I used .28ml of reagent which based on the formula of 0.01 = 5ppm that means my tank has a cal level of 140!

Can anyone confirm if this is right?

At this time:
Ph is 8.6
Mag ?
Alk on thurs was in the high 7's to 8

The only other thing that was odd was my Salinity was off big time. I was reading 1.019 (Calibrated recently) my guess my ATO had a siphon and kept filling. Going to recheck the line and make sure it doesn't happen in future.

Maybe not the best action but I freaked out and did a 20% water change and mixed it heavy and so at the time of writing this its back at 1.026

I ran the Ca again and I got 190
Mag is at 1800

Not sure what to do at this point.

Ordered some kalkwasser but im not sure how to fix this or if that's the best solution.

Hi there.

First off I'd like to say relax lol. We all go through this at some point. key is as you already know to not freak out (again).

I'd stop adding anything at the moment. Don't go bunging things in quickly in an attempt to fix a problem. Chances are you'll make it worse. Until your 100% sure what you need to add. And then do it very slowly. That raise in salinity was pretty rough but what's done is done.

With regards to the ca test, your calculations of ca at 140 are correct if you've performed the test correctly . If your ca is that low I'd expect your alk to be a bit higher actually. Redsea test kits are usually pretty good, but I'd suggest testing with another kit just to prove that one isn't faulty.

If this is your actual reading I would dose redsea foundation A which will increase your ca level independently as appose to kalk. Although this and kh are usually added at equal levels I think you're sitution Warrents such action. Albeit Slowly

I'm sure some other will chime in with some ideas to

 

[Fotocha]

@ylreefer Thanks I'm calm now lol.

I have a Salifert Ca test on order and I canceled my order for the kalkwasser.

I have never needed to Dose before. Just regular water changes and I used Aquavitro's 8.4 casually because the tank is in the basement. I don't know if I even need it any longer. Doing a little research and based on what you said I figure something like 2 part is my best option. At this point I'm not sure what brand to go with (hopefully something that is concentrated because space is a premium). Based on that last part Red Sea's ABC might be my best option.

So I'm going to wait on some more advice before I jump again lol. The salinity was stretched over 6 hours today, but I could have slowed it down over a day or 2. I know I need to be more gradual with this stuff (lesson learned) lol.

I have no idea why the Mag is so high btw. Not overly concerned just curious as to why. The Ca is also puzzling, other than a few frags, ( torch, hammer (2 heads), and a fava). Tiny birds nest frag, and some softies. I wouldn't have thought I wouldn't have needed to be dosing at this point in the first place. I do 5 gallon water change weekly (40g +20g Sump) with Red Sea Pro Salt (mixed at the time of the water change). Am I missing anything?

 

[ylreefer]

@ylreefer Thanks I'm calm now lol.

I have a Salifert Ca test on order and I canceled my order for the kalkwasser.

I have never needed to Dose before. Just regular water changes and I used Aquavitro's 8.4 casually because the tank is in the basement. I don't know if I even need it any longer. Doing a little research and based on what you said I figure something like 2 part is my best option. At this point I'm not sure what brand to go with (hopefully something that is concentrated because space is a premium). Based on that last part Red Sea's ABC might be my best option.

So I'm going to wait on some more advice before I jump again lol. The salinity was stretched over 6 hours today, but I could have slowed it down over a day or 2. I know I need to be more gradual with this stuff (lesson learned) lol.

I have no idea why the Mag is so high btw. Not overly concerned just curious as to why. The Ca is also puzzling, other than a few frags, ( torch, hammer (2 heads), and a fava). Tiny birds nest frag, and some softies. I wouldn't have thought I wouldn't have needed to be dosing at this point in the first place. I do 5 gallon water change weekly (40g +20g Sump) with Red Sea Pro Salt (mixed at the time of the water change). Am I missing anything?

Good day.

That's good to hear lol.

I actually think that with that stocking list you shouldn't need to be dosing either, especially since your doing a weekly WC.

I can't see anything wrong with what your doing but I will say that the red Sea coral Pro is very concentrated. This is great for large systems that can handle it but with smaller volume tanks I think its a bit much.

I did start off with the coral Pro in my nano but have had to switch back to instant ocean reef crystals as the swings after a wc were just to large. I've never had a problem with reef crystals I just wanted to try the coral Pro which I'll now save for my 110g.

If your into the redsea you could try changing for the blue/black bucket which ls less concentrated. My mg was up to over 1600 about 2 months in to. I didn't worry about it. it'll come down on its own, this might take a while though if your doing a weekly wc with thr coral Pro. So maybe switch salts or extend time between wc if your params allow. (No3/Po4).

Also Randy Holmes farley writes a good piece on the relationship between alk/ca which you might find interesting to read.

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

On another note, about your PH and the tank in the basement, if you have a skimmer you can try running the air intake to the outside to bring in fresh air. Most people have good results in raising pH this way. Just be aware that any pesticide or other chemicals that could be used outside may be brought in. Therefore you can make a diy carbon filter, something simple like a airtight squeezee bottle with a hole drilled in the top and a number of hols in the bottom. Fill with carbon and a bit of filter pad and your good to go.. This can also be placed under the aquarium or outside.

 

[Dilan Patel]

I think I read somewhere that the shelflife of calcium pro test kit is only a couple weeks. could that be a problem.

 

[Fotocha]

Update:

So I brought a water sample to my LFS they use API and had them run it.

Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate - 0
Alk 9.6
Ph 8.6
Ca 340

I bought a bottle of red seas foundation A, I did not jump in and start dosing. I ran the ca again on my Red Sea test and it showed up this time as CA 450

Now I don’t know what to think??? The only Explanation is that maybe I used one of the Mag bottles on the first couple of tests (same color as CA, good job Redsea!) and it was 1am lol

I’m going to wait till the Salifert
comes in.

Also lost a birds nest frag (not sure this is related) I think it was a bad frag from the start. Also my Xenias, GSP look a bit irritated.

 

[Fotocha]

Good day.

That's good to hear lol.

I actually think that with that stocking list you shouldn't need to be dosing either, especially since your doing a weekly WC.

I can't see anything wrong with what your doing but I will say that the red Sea coral Pro is very concentrated. This is great for large systems that can handle it but with smaller volume tanks I think its a bit much.

I did start off with the coral Pro in my nano but have had to switch back to instant ocean reef crystals as the swings after a wc were just to large. I've never had a problem with reef crystals I just wanted to try the coral Pro which I'll now save for my 110g.

If your into the redsea you could try changing for the blue/black bucket which ls less concentrated. My mg was up to over 1600 about 2 months in to. I didn't worry about it. it'll come down on its own, this might take a while though if your doing a weekly wc with thr coral Pro. So maybe switch salts or extend time between wc if your params allow. (No3/Po4).

Also Randy Holmes farley writes a good piece on the relationship between alk/ca which you might find interesting to read.

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

On another note, about your PH and the tank in the basement, if you have a skimmer you can try running the air intake to the outside to bring in fresh air. Most people have good results in raising pH this way. Just be aware that any pesticide or other chemicals that could be used outside may be brought in. Therefore you can make a diy carbon filter, something simple like a airtight squeezee bottle with a hole drilled in the top and a number of hols in the bottom. Fill with carbon and a bit of filter pad and your good to go.. This can also be placed under the aquarium or outside.

The skimmer is coming in tonight. But running the airtake outside isn’t possible as our basement doesn’t have windows or a door. Drilling is out because it’s in a flood plain.

 

[BestMomEver]

Hi there.

First off I'd like to say relax lol. We all go through this at some point. key is as you already know to not freak out (again).

I'd stop adding anything at the moment. Don't go bunging things in quickly in an attempt to fix a problem. Chances are you'll make it worse. Until your 100% sure what you need to add. And then do it very slowly. That raise in salinity was pretty rough but what's done is done.

With regards to the ca test, your calculations of ca at 140 are correct if you've performed the test correctly . If your ca is that low I'd expect your alk to be a bit higher actually. Redsea test kits are usually pretty good, but I'd suggest testing with another kit just to prove that one isn't faulty.

If this is your actual reading I would dose redsea foundation A which will increase your ca level independently as appose to kalk. Although this and kh are usually added at equal levels I think you're sitution Warrents such action. Albeit Slowly

I'm sure some other will chime in with some ideas to

It sounds like you’re reading the syringe upside down. Check to see if you’re measuring titrant used up or titrant remaining. I can’t remember which and I can’t look at the moment.

 

[ylreefer]

It sounds like you’re reading the syringe upside down. Check to see if you’re measuring titrant used up or titrant remaining. I can’t remember which and I can’t look at the moment.

Should be the titrant used. It would be easier to read if redsea printed the numbers the opposite way up. But if you leave the syringe in the holder and count down from the top (highest part in your hand) the number of mil's used that is the number your looking for

 

[Fotocha]

It sounds like you’re reading the syringe upside down. Check to see if you’re measuring titrant used up or titrant remaining. I can’t remember which and I can’t look at the moment.

The syringe is right. This time I used almost a entire 1ml

 

[Fotocha]

Update:

Ok I think my Red Sea Test kit is to blame. I received my salifert tonight and I got a reading of 410.

Skimmer is setup and pulling out all kinds of crap, I also changed out my carbon and a water change due to something still irritating some of the corals. I haven't dosed anything for the last week.

My Xenias are opening back up (still doesn't quite look 100% but its improved. My GSP hasn't opened for the span of 4 days. Hammer coral doesn't look as big as it normally gets. The + side my Short Goni finally opened up for the first time tonight since I bought it last month.

My latest tests

Sal 1.025
Ph 7.8
Phos 0.1
CA 410
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Am 0
Alk 9

Only thing changed was the PH and perhaps a salinity swing. I introduced a bunch of new snails and an emerald crab. The crab has had plenty of food and gone no where near the GSP. Maybe I need to let things go, or maybe nip something in the bud. Thoughts as to the cause/cure @reefsquared ?