Chemistry Question

[AydenLincoln]

I just tested my water using Salifert and I believe my levels are as follows down below. I’ll be going to the fish store tomorrow and getting it tested to verify and probably picking up some Hanna Checkers because despite looking up videos and reading directions I still feel like I’m doing the Salifert tests wrong for some reason lol. So tomorrow I’ll verify what my levels actually are.
I know if calcium and alk run on the high side it corresponds. I just did around a 25% water change…cleaned algae off the glass and then tested. So my tank is a 20 gallon nano and has been up and running for around 5 months. In terms of corals well I only have a few and I’m happy with my little frags…I think my plan is to try and grow my two GSP frags one of which is nice and fluffy and the other closed on me despite being next to each other and I plan on sticking some frags on little shelves. I’m worried about my fish…and my biscuit starfish though. Is this super detrimental? I have a mixed reef with a happy bubble coral, goni, blue ridge coral, and an alveopora and yes over the past few months some corals did die admittedly because I didn’t realize how sensitive some are and my anemone got stuck to my powerhead so for now I don’t plan on getting any more corals and I ordered an anemone guard so when I do get another anemone it won’t get sucked into the powerhead.
Calcium 500
Magnesium 1140 (I’ve been dosing really small doses for two days of Red Sea no change on magnesium yet!)
Alk 10
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[AydenLincoln]

And I do know what one of the plus sides is coralline algae grows faster. I know my tank has to find balance/equilibrium too. Waiting for the coralline algae to take over lol.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Are you making your own water yet or still using water from the fish store? Just curious. If you make your own, which salt are you using? Magnesium seems a little low, but is prob test error meaning the kit itself not necessarily you.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m worried about my fish…and my biscuit starfish though. Is this super detrimental?

I'm sorry, what are you worried about?

The calcium is fine, and I suspect the magnesium is in error. Unless you have added large amounts of alkalinity for an extended period, magnesium should match what came in with the salt mix. It never depletes more than about 1/10th of the rate of calcium depletion (say, 1-2 ppm per day max), and most salt mixes start high in magnesium.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Okay!! That’s good!!

 

[AydenLincoln]

Are you making your own water yet or still using water from the fish store? Just curious. If you make your own, which salt are you using? Magnesium seems a little low, but is prob test error meaning the kit itself not necessarily you.

Fish store!

 

[AydenLincoln]

I'm sorry, what are you worried about?

The calcium is fine, and I suspect the magnesium is in error. Unless you have added large amounts of alkalinity for an extended period, magnesium should match what came in with the salt mix. It never depletes more than about 1/10th of the rate of calcium depletion (say, 1-2 ppm per day max), and most salt mixes start high in magnesium.

Oh okay that’s good thanks!!

 

[AydenLincoln]

Here’s my test results so this was just a small sample and test results do vary I know and my Hanna Checkers are saying calcium 492 and alkalinity 9.3! Which is good! Magnesium I’m trying to get up. Nitrates are a little high because I stirred up my sandbed unintentionally during maintenance yesterday. @Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Here’s my test results so this was just a small sample and test results do vary I know and my Hanna Checkers are saying calcium 492 and alkalinity 9.3! Which is good! Magnesium I’m trying to get up. Nitrates are a little high because I stirred up my sandbed unintentionally during maintenance yesterday. @Randy Holmes-Farley

I would be worried about the phosphate. When was the last water change performed? I know you stirred your sand bed, but still. What does the water from the fish store test at? I find it hard to believe their water is that low on mag. Are you dosing something to elevate ca and Alk?

edit.. many people have issues with the Hanna calcium checker and accuracy

also, what type of filtration are you using and how often do you clean or replace it?

 

[AydenLincoln]

I would be worried about the phosphate. When was the last water change performed? I know you stirred your sand bed, but still. What does the water from the fish store test at? I find it hard to believe their water is that low on mag. Are you dosing something to elevate ca and Alk?

edit.. many people have issues with the Hanna calcium checker and accuracy

also, what type of filtration are you using and how often do you clean or replace it?

My phosphate definitely used to be lower too at 0.2 I don’t test phosphate at home
I probably should. I do take it to the fish store about once a month to be tested though and verify my results. A filter sock and once a week I know it could be replaced more but that’s my weekly maintenance. I’m dosing magnesium only because I don’t want alk/calcium to be a lot higher. This was about a day after a 25% water change, cleaning off algae I did get a lot of algae stirred around too, and changing the filter sock.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Gotcha. Filter sock weekly is probably just fine. You may be able to wash and reuse them, rotating through a couple, if you don’t want to keep replacing them. Some do, some don’t, it can be smelly! Since you’re not dosing anything except mag, I would probably up your water change schedule to get things a little more in line. That’s just me though. Everyone and their uncle has different views on nitrate and phosphate levels, but I would think that most all would agree that .7 phosphate is too high…..although someone will certainly say it’s not.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Gotcha. Filter sock weekly is probably just fine. You may be able to wash and reuse them, rotating through a couple, if you don’t want to keep replacing them. Some do, some don’t, it can be smelly! Since you’re not dosing anything except mag, I would probably up your water change schedule to get things a little more in line. That’s just me though. Everyone and their uncle has different views on nitrate and phosphate levels, but I would think that most all would agree that .7 phosphate is too high…..although someone will certainly say it’s not.

No it is especially because it used to be lower but I do think it’s just because I really stirred things up and cleaned off lots of algae lol.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

No it is especially because it used to be lower but I do think it’s just because I really stirred things up and cleaned off lots of algae lol.

Could very well be. Next time you take a test sample to the fish store maybe hold off on the maintenance until after as it doesn’t do you much good to not know for sure what the results are. Sounds like you’ve got a handle on it

 

[Lavey29]

Unstable rising numbers are not uncommon in a new tank. High nitrates and phosphate are why you are seeing your first indication of GHA also which will eventually become a jungle for a period of time but that is just the natural evolution of a tank. Cut back on pellets and flakes. Just feed frozen. Water changes are the best thing for a nano tank. These 2 things will bring your parameters back in line.

 

[vetteguy53081]

No it is especially because it used to be lower but I do think it’s just because I really stirred things up and cleaned off lots of algae lol.

If things got stirred up, may be false readings. Second test/opinion always valueable and if I recall, you just got some Hanna kits?

 

[AydenLincoln]

If things got stirred up, may be false readings. Second test/opinion always valueable and if I recall, you just got some Hanna kits?

Yup!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you measure magnesium at home?

Try the kit on some new salt water. I still don't think its accurate.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Do you measure magnesium at home?

Try the kit on some new salt water. I still don't think its accurate.

Okay! I have a Salifert one. Waiting for Hanna to come out with the new magnesium ones.