HELP first time dossing

[soter]

Please help me is my first time dossing. I resentely do some full test to my tank 8 month old, because I don’t have too much corals I decide to postpone the alk, cal and mag test. My tank had initially 5.5 alk, 1400 mag and 450 cal in the last week, so because the alk too low I decide to start dosing to my tank with aquaforest alk buffer. I dose .5dhk per day and now is 7.5dhk. My problem for today is the values for mag, it dropped to 600ppm and the calcium is still 450ppm.

Anybody knows why my mag dropped to low when I dosed alk?

 

[Mykawl]

Did you retest and confirm it’s that low? Also I’m no expert but 5.5 alkalinity (dkh) seems way too low something isn’t right. Before doing any additional changes confirm the numbers and focus on stabilizing alkalinity.

Although I believe magnesium is proportionally related to calcium / alkalinity so it might make sense when you restored alkalinity that magnesium values changed, 8 months is a long time do you do regular water changes and what brand of salt?

 

[Mykawl]

Also don’t try and increase anything alkalinity specifically too fast, slow and steady.

 

[Mykawl]

Hopefully someone else can chime in on if using aqua forest alkalinity buffer was a good idea.

 

[soter]

Did you retest and confirm it’s that low? Also I’m no expert but 5.5 alkalinity (dkh) seems way too low something isn’t right. Before doing any additional changes confirm the numbers and focus on stabilizing alkalinity.

Although I believe magnesium is proportionally related to calcium / alkalinity so it might make sense when you restored alkalinity that magnesium values changed, 8 months is a long time do you do regular water changes and what brand of salt?

Yes I reconfirmed 2 times for every of the 3 test, I tested with salifert and the expiration date is correct. I saw several videos and read the directions very carefully. What do you suggest to focus for my initial problem?

Based on your questions and looking back , I believe one of the possible causes of my low alk is the mixing time for the salt. I usually keep mixing in the container about 3 or max 4 hours before the water change.
I utilize read sea coral pro, 2 times per month and about 30 gal in each water change

 

[Mykawl]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php

Unless I’m mistaken all seems well and you are at the point in reefing in which you need to start dosing, you can continue using the alkalinity additive which is the “aquaforest alkalinity buffer” and start with small amount which will in a sense lessen the depletion rate. .5 dkh per day might be a little high to start with. Adjust as needed until you find a balance @ 7+ dkh no more than 10.

And now you can dose magnesium to get it closer to 1350 which will be a monthly thing opposed to the daily alkalinity supplementing.

Side note: when you restore magnesium levels the calcium/alkalinity consumption rate may change.

Your low alkalinity isn’t a “problem” just the consumption rate of the corals in your tank.

“In the absence of any method of supplementing alkalinity in a reef aquarium, the water can rapidly become depleted of bicarbonate.” Quoted from the above referenced article.

Lastly have you dosed magnesium yet in these 8 months?

Also not sure what your saying about the length of mixing time but alkalinity shouldn’t be effected or depleted in freshly mixed salt water even if stored over a long period of time the carbonate normally has to be consumed by a calcifying organism.

Again I’d wait for a second opinion I’m quite new here but think my answer is correct : )

 

[PatW]

Your magnesium level seems too low to be credible. My system is pretty high demand for calcium and alkalinity (I dose those daily) but my water changes are enough to keep magnesium stable. You might get the LFS to test your Mg.

 

[soter]

Thanks to everyone for your help. In summary I was made a mistake in my readings from the 1 ml syringe. It was .06 and not .6 ml ;Shamefullyembarrased


my inexperience, I had already scared with those low readings ;Dead

 

[Mykawl]

gotta double and triple check everything! Glad nothing was wrong though

 

[soter]

gotta double and triple check everything! Glad nothing was wrong though

thank you, luck I didn't add magnesium like crazy hahaha

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Coral pro should mix to an elevated alk level. Much higher than your current tank value so be conscious of that when doing water changes.
Might benefit you to watch the BRS salt mixing videos. I can recall but coral pro may have some specific mixing instructions.
I used the red sea blue bucket this past year and it mixes more in that 7.5-8 range