High Calcium and Magnesium

[Rechelle Fleck]

I use Red Sea salt for my 30 gallon tank (I get it from my LFS because I don't have a RODI system at the moment). My Calcium is around 480-490 and Magnesium won't read with my Salifert test, but everything else is fine.

Salinity 1.025
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5ppm
pH 8.1
Alkalinity 7.7

I run charcoal and Purigen and have a variety of softies, zoas, 1 arcan, and gorgonians (along with 3 fish and inverts) in my reef tank. Are these levels going to harm my livestock?

 

[TexasTodd]

Yes, perfectly safe.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Magnesium won't read meaning that it's too high? What test kits are you using for calcium and alkalinity?

Either way, calcium and magnesium have wide acceptable ranges in reef aquaria. You're likely fine with the values you have. It's worth noting that alkalinity of 7.7 dKh is a little low for calcium of almost 500ppm. It might be worth supplementing that a bit.

 

[Rechelle Fleck]

Magnesium won't read meaning that it's too high? What test kits are you using for calcium and alkalinity?

Either way, calcium and magnesium have wide acceptable ranges in reef aquaria. You're likely fine with the values you have. It's worth noting that alkalinity of 7.7 dKh is a little low for calcium of almost 500ppm. It might be worth supplementing that a bit.

I use Salifert tests and the Magnesium only goes up to 1500 so it never registered because it's higher than that. What should supplement with for alkalinity?