Help w/ Alk, Ca and Mg

[Rovert]

Now that I have a Trident, I'm watching my parameters more closely and noted that my measurements are a bit too high. The tank is fairly new - just over 2 months.

I've been slowly adding fish and a couple small LPS coral frags to get things going until measurements stabilize enough to begin with SPS. Probably won't be for another couple months, but until then, I'm wondering if I'm in a 'danger zone' with these readings:

1 Week Average:
pH: 7.8
Alk: 7.32
Ca: 468
Mg: 1553

I won't rule out that the Trident is not properly calibrated (pre-owned), but assuming it's correct, would you say this is just 'new tank syndrome' where the readings will bounce around for a while until they fall in line, or should I start considering some sort of intervention?

 

[IKD]

I don’t think this is worth adjusting as they don’t seem far out of line at all. I would watch for trending and over time.
For pH, is that the lower end or your peak? You could look at raising that closer to 8.1-8.3 range as your tank settles in. Good luck and share pictures!!

 

[Rovert]

Now that I have a Trident, I'm watching my parameters more closely and noted that my measurements are a bit too high. The tank is fairly new - just over 2 months.

I've been slowly adding fish and a couple small LPS coral frags to get things going until measurements stabilize enough to begin with SPS. Probably won't be for another couple months, but until then, I'm wondering if I'm in a 'danger zone' with these readings:

1 Week Average:
pH: 7.8
Alk: 7.32
Ca: 468
Mg: 1553

I won't rule out that the Trident is not properly calibrated (pre-owned), but assuming it's correct, would you say this is just 'new tank syndrome' where the readings will bounce around for a while until they fall in line, or should I start considering some sort of intervention?

That's the average pH. It seems overall pretty stable, just a tad low. Keep in mind I've only had the Apex for about a week, so there's not a huge amount of history, but plenty of tinkering to explain the cliff and drop in there. ;-)

 

[IKD]

Do you have lights running? I would actually expect the pH to swing up and down throughout a 24hr cycle due to CO2 exchange. Somewhere around a +-0.3 range. Is your pH probe new? Have you done a calibration on it yet?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Now that I have a Trident, I'm watching my parameters more closely and noted that my measurements are a bit too high. The tank is fairly new - just over 2 months.

I've been slowly adding fish and a couple small LPS coral frags to get things going until measurements stabilize enough to begin with SPS. Probably won't be for another couple months, but until then, I'm wondering if I'm in a 'danger zone' with these readings:

1 Week Average:
pH: 7.8
Alk: 7.32
Ca: 468
Mg: 1553

I won't rule out that the Trident is not properly calibrated (pre-owned), but assuming it's correct, would you say this is just 'new tank syndrome' where the readings will bounce around for a while until they fall in line, or should I start considering some sort of intervention?

One of those are too high except, IMO, magnesium.

 

[Rovert]

One of those are too high except, IMO, magnesium.

Recommendation? Just wait it out and see what happens?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Recommendation? Just wait it out and see what happens?

I expect it matches your new salt water, but it may not be as high as the kit suggests. I’d just ignore it.