High numbers from IO Reef Crystals

[Gwcreefer]

Been using RC for years, started a new tank 4 months ago. Ca is 500, Mg is 1950, using a red sea pro test kit. Ka is 7.6 with a Hanna. Ph is 7.9 according to GHL. I tested my salt mix , salinity is 35 and kh is 10, ca 500 and mg is 1950-2000. Is there a way to lower ca and mg besides a water change with a new salt mix? Has anybody have had their IO with these numbers? Right now I only have a few hammers in the tank and they are looking fine, been in for about a month now. What will the high mg hurt?
Thanks

 

[C. Eymann]

Was this in a bucket? Did you make sure to shake it up before using to offset separation during shipping?
RC usually tests out for me at 10.5 kh, 480 cal ,1470 mag @35ppt using salifert kits

RC is a good salt for tanks that utilize small WC for mineral replenishment as opposed to dosing, however if you are using a doser, calRX, kalk then RC is not a good salt to use as your mineral levels will gradually match the salt mix you use which are far too elevated for most reefers.

 

[Gwcreefer]

I did mix it before I use it. I have a 80 gallon tank and the ca and mg match whats in my mixing barrel. This is the 2nd bucket I've used on this tank now.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I usually roll the bucket around for a couple of minutes prior to opening and using it each time. I've done this with all my salts, I always keep in the back of my mind, all the different grains in the bucket are different weights and density so it's natural for some to raise up and some to fall to the bottom of the bucket.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Been using RC for years, started a new tank 4 months ago. Ca is 500, Mg is 1950, using a red sea pro test kit. Ka is 7.6 with a Hanna. Ph is 7.9 according to GHL. I tested my salt mix , salinity is 35 and kh is 10, ca 500 and mg is 1950-2000. Is there a way to lower ca and mg besides a water change with a new salt mix? Has anybody have had their IO with these numbers? Right now I only have a few hammers in the tank and they are looking fine, been in for about a month now. What will the high mg hurt?
Thanks

My expectation is the magnesium kit is off. Which kit?

The calcium is fine.

 

[Gwcreefer]

My expectation is the magnesium kit is off. Which kit?

The calcium is fine.

Its the foundation pro kit...I went out and bought another of the same kit and got close to the same numbers....I'm wondering if it could be my RO/Di, I have very mg at my tap to start with.

 

[Gwcreefer]

just read your other post about the ro/di...I'm really not sure whys it so high

 

[seant2h]

I just got through a bag of reef crystals that tested higher in Mag than advertised. I was getting 1700ish for Mag using the Salifert test kit but Kh and Ca were spot on. For reference I typically use the 50g bag and put it in a bucket and mix it up before making salt in a brute. I couldn’t figure out why my mag was climbing two weeks in a row and someone at the LFS asked if I tested my new saltwater, which I hadn’t, so I went home and it tested that 1700ish. Lesson learned… when making a month of salt at a time I will now test it when complete.

 

[Gwcreefer]

Im waiting on a salifert kit ...amazon tells me it will be here today...but even if it gives me a different result who should I trust??

 

[Tankkeepers]

Io salt is very inconsistent in how it mixes with alot of bad batches

This is from personal use over 10 years

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Io salt is very inconsistent in how it mixes with alot of bad batches

This is from personal use over 10 years

I see no evidence that IO caused magnesium at 1950 ppm. Kit error is very common. Proof of that is the many folks that see changes of mag up or down by large numbers in a few days.

 

[homer1475]

1500 mag I can believe, it's what my current batch of boxes is mixing up to(regular purple box IO, not RC). 1900+ I find very hard to believe.

The red sea mag kit is known to have issues with it reading high. Might want to double check with a salifert or something similar.

 

[Tankkeepers]

Been there seen this with io have had this exact thing happen could be the test kit or could be the salt mix either is possible

It was the salt mix for me

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Been there seen this with io have had this exact thing happen could be the test kit or could be the salt mix either is possible

It was the salt mix for me

What did you observe in it?