How to correct parameters

[A Toadstool Leather]

My magnesium, calcium, and alk are a bit low and I am wondering how to correct them without causing an imbalance.
alk:6.7 dkh
ca: 380ppm
mg:1170ppm

I have already used some magnesium supplement to bring mg up, and some ca supplement.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Water changes. Then dosing.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Water changes. Then dosing.

Should I just continue to bring up mg, and ca, then alk, or should I do this differently? Also I did a wc yesterday

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

I could do another one, but i only have 5 gallons of salt water in reserve

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What is your salinity? Maybe it is just low.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

What is your salinity? Maybe it is just low.

Its at 1.026 when I checked it. I used an atc refractrometer. How does salinity affect this?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

All of those parameters are directly related to salinity. So going from 33 ppt (sg = 1.0249) up to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) jumps them by a factor of 35/33 = 1.061. So 1200 ppm magnesium becomes 1200 x 1.061 = 1273 ppm.

Assuming salinity isn't the issue, you can bump those in any order you want.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

All of those parameters are directly related to salinity. So going from 33 ppt (sg = 1.0249) up to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) jumps them by a factor of 35/33 = 1.061. So 1200 ppm magnesium becomes 1200 x 1.061 = 1273 ppm.

Assuming salinity isn't the issue, you can bump those in any order you want.

ok, I will slowly increase everything. How does salinity affect all of this?

 

[tutmatt3]

When was your last water change and how frequently do you do them?

If you plan to dose, maybe do a few 20% water changes every other day to get your tank closer to the parameters of your salt mix

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

ok, I will slowly increase everything. How does salinity affect all of this?

I thought I explained that? Increasing the salinity by adding more salt mix increases everything, but your salinity sounds OK.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

I thought I explained that? Increasing the salinity by adding more salt mix increases everything, but your salinity sounds OK.

Sorry if Ibwas not being clear I was just curious about how salinity increases the concentration of these elements.

 

[JimWelsh]

Salinity is a measurement of how much salt mix is in the water. These elements come from the salt mix. Increase the total amount (concentration) of salt mix in the water (in other words, increase salinity), then you will increase the concentration (total amount) of these elements that come from the salt mix.

How is this not obvious?

 

[tutmatt3]

Sorry if Ibwas not being clear I was just curious about how salinity increases the concentration of these elements.

Just use basic math.
If the levels of your salt @ 1.026 = lets say, 1300 ppm magnesium, 420 ppm calcium, then each .01 level for your salt means 50ppm mag, ~16 calcium (1300/26, and 420/26)
So a level of 1.024 would give you 1200 mag & ~387 cal

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Salinity is a measurement of how much salt mix is in the water. These elements come from the salt mix. Increase the total amount (concentration) of salt mix in the water (in other words, increase salinity), then you will increase the concentration (total amount) of these elements that come from the salt mix.

How is this not obvious?

I tend to forget the elements come from the salt itself