Calc/ALK/MAG Testing?

[NanaReefer]

Hi Randy-
Me again with another question. Is there a specific time of day that is most accurate to test the big 3.

Thank You. [emoji2]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi Randy-
Me again with another question. Is there a specific time of day that is most accurate to test the big 3.

Thank You. [emoji2]

No. They all will generally only decline between additions (unless you allow salinity to change).

When you measure in relation to dosing (just before, just after, etc.) will obviously impact the values, so that should be taken into account. For many people, knowing how low alkalinity may be getting is probably most important, so I'd usually measure before dosing it if you are dosing manually.

 

[mila sheehan]

I got a question...... When you have green algae developing on the rocks and sand of the tank is it got to do mostly with high nitrate levels?

 

[mila sheehan]

or has it got to do more with turn over rate in a marine aquarium..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I got a question...... When you have green algae developing on the rocks and sand of the tank is it got to do mostly with high nitrate levels?

Green algae in excess means that there is an adequate amount of ALL of the following:

a source of nitrogen (nitrate or ammonia will do),
phosphate
various trace elements such as iron, copper, etc.
a source of carbon dioxide
light
a surface to grow on
lack of excessive herbivores

If you take away any one of these then the algae will not grow, and once you have a sufficient amount of all, having a lot more of one of them does not make algae worse because one or more of the other factors becomes limiting to further growth.

 

[NanaReefer]

Thank You [emoji2]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank You [emoji2]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.