help please alk high

ant203 · Sep 22, 2016

Hi,eveyone ive bin testing over a month twice a week cal/alk/mag levels as of today cal-420-alk-13-mag-1500.

about a week ago i tested levels cal-410-alk9.9-mag-1500
wasnt happy with cal according to some cal should be 3times what mag is.(not really sure if thats true?)

so i deciteaded to raise cal and alk being they work together for what ive read. think i did the wrong thing now alk is high and mag is still 1500 and cal is 420

should i just add cal till i can get level rights so lost on the chemistry someone please help

thanks in advanced

AdamNC · Sep 22, 2016

Which ever is too high just quit dosing and let it fall naturally. Resume dosing when your levels are back to your norm. Every tank is different as for which elements are used up. Ideally yes it should be equal parts to dose, but even in my tank I have to dose more Ca than I do Alk.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 23, 2016

ant203 said:
wasnt happy with cal according to some cal should be 3times what mag is.(not really sure if thats true?)

It's not. There's no reason to think the optimal magnesium level rises and falls as the calcium level rises and falls.

All of those values are OK, IMO. If the magnesium value is real, I just wouldn't add any more. Same for alk. Just don't add any for a while.

Saltwater junky · Sep 23, 2016

Do a large water change to drop alk a had a similar issue my cal.and alk.was fine but I kept adding magnesium my alk shot so hi up I was freaking out I did a 50 percent water change and that help a lot everything after that went back to normal but also I didn't dose my tank for a month because I was worried of my parameters shooting back .but yes to lower alk if it's really hi I believe a really large water change will help you

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 23, 2016

Saltwater junky said:
Do a large water change to drop alk a had a similar issue my cal.and alk.was fine but I kept adding magnesium my alk shot so hi up I was freaking out I did a 50 percent water change and that help a lot everything after that went back to normal but also I didn't dose my tank for a month because I was worried of my parameters shooting back .but yes to lower alk if it's really hi I believe a really large water change will help you

Only if you use a mix with substantially lower alk than the tank. Salt mixes such as Reef Crystals or Red Sea Coral Pro won't lower the alk noticeably.

Saltwater junky · Sep 23, 2016

I agree about salt mixes that's why I use pure filter ocean water and deluded with a percentage of fresh r.o water.plus always check the perameters before changing