Instant ocean high parameters

Acrofiend · Mar 8, 2022

Hi I just mixed up 30 gallons of instant ocean purple bucket and the parameters are high.
Tank volume: 60 gallons

Calcium: 550
Magnesium: 1700

Will this have any effect on my corals if I were change out the water?

ApoIsland · Mar 8, 2022

depends on what corals you have and what your parameters were before. If Calcium was already 500 then it shouldn't be too bad.

I use the same salt and do large % water changes as well with no ill effects. I keep mostly very easy sps and lps though. Nothing delicate.

regionreef219 · Mar 8, 2022

If you know what your parameters are in the DT, you should be able to roughly figure out how much they will change.

Based on your values I would think your Salinity is high as well. If that is the case, get the salinity in check and then remeasure Ca and Mg.

Acrofiend · Mar 8, 2022

Sorry should’ve mentioned I mixed the water to 34.5 ppt. Calibrated the same day using Hanna checker.

Acrofiend · Mar 8, 2022

Tank parameters:
Calcium 420
Magnesium 1400

How much will this raise my cal and mag?

ApoIsland · Mar 8, 2022

NJM16 said:
Tank parameters:
Calcium 420
Magnesium 1400

How much will this raise my cal and mag?

Well if you change 30 of 60 gallons of water then calcium will go to 485 and mag to 1550. I can't speak to the effects it will have as I have never monitored my changes before.

If you are worried then you could just change 15 of 60 gallons to be safe.

Acrofiend · Mar 8, 2022

ApoIsland said:
Well if you change 30 or 60 gallons of water then calcium will go to 485 and mag to 1550. I can't speak to the effects it will have as I have never monitored my changes before.

If you are worried then you could just change 15 of 60 gallons to be safe.

Ok thanks for the reply!

regionreef219 · Mar 8, 2022

If you did a full 30 gallon swap then you would end up with 485 Ca and 1550 Mg

Acrofiend · Mar 8, 2022

regionreef219 said:
If you did a full 30 gallon swap then you would end up with 485 Ca and 1550 Mg

Thanks for the reply. I’ve ran my mag that high before so shouldn’t be a problem.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 8, 2022

How large of a fraction of a bucket or bag did you make up?
How are you measuring magnesium? (many kits, especially Red Sea, seem to give inaccurate results)

Acrofiend · Mar 10, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
How large of a fraction of a bucket or bag did you make up?
How are you measuring magnesium? (many kits, especially Red Sea, seem to give inaccurate results)

I made 30 gallons of the 160 gallon purple bucket. Rolled the bucket around before I opened it.
I used all salifert to test.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 10, 2022

NJM16 said:
I made 30 gallons of the 160 gallon purple bucket. Rolled the bucket around before I opened it.
I used all salifert to test.

Might your salinity be high? IO doesn't typically vary nearly that high.

Miami Reef · Mar 10, 2022

I agree with Randy. My IO never tests that high. I’m willing to bet salinity is high, or calcium test is not being preformed correctly, or the test kit is giving faulty readings.

My IO purple tests calcium at 380ppm.

takitaj · Mar 10, 2022

IO should be allowed to mix for ~24hrs before use. If you're testing right after mixing then wait and re-test everything again after that. I've never seen it that high either.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 10, 2022

takitaj said:
IO should be allowed to mix for ~24hrs before use. If you're testing right after mixing then wait and re-test everything again after that. I've never seen it that high either.

Why do you say that?

takitaj · Mar 10, 2022

For me, and as many others have stated, it takes hours for IO mix to clear. One would assume (I know, the 'a' word) that it's not fully dissolved and could throw off testing. I haven't done before and after testing in quite some time but I do vaguely remember getting different results. @Randy Holmes-Farley - I'm no professional so if you're saying it shouldn't matter then I will have to retract my statement.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 10, 2022

takitaj said:
For me, and as many others have stated, it takes hours for IO mix to clear. One would assume (I know, the 'a' word) that it's not fully dissolved and could throw off testing. I haven't done before and after testing in quite some time but I do vaguely remember getting different results. @Randy Holmes-Farley - I'm no professional so if you're saying it shouldn't matter then I will have to retract my statement.

I usually stir overnight, but Craig Bingman suggested if you had enough power, 5 minutes is enough:

Aquarium Frontiers On-Line: September 1997: Biochemistry In The Aquarium

ApoIsland · Mar 10, 2022

Not sure about it throwing off the testing numbers but you can certainly use I/O within an hour. I came up short 30 gallons during a tank move and had to quickly mix some up. Was late and tired and after 30-45 min of mixing just combined that 30g into the other 90g already in place. No problems from that.

of course it never seems to mix clear for me unless I let it mix for 12-24 hours. Sometimes it never mixes clear even after 48 hours. Still always use it.

takitaj · Mar 10, 2022

I'm have no doubt you could use it in a pinch, I was questioning whether some parameters would change between fresh mixed and being allowed to mix completely overnight, ie Ca & Mg. I did it once but it was so long ago I can't be sure that I'm remembering the results correctly. (getting old is bugger) I changed my routine then so I'm assuming I did, but...

I'm actually filling up the water bin now so I'll have to try it again. I use the Hanna Ca, which I get very consistent results with, and I have Red Sea as well. I'll check with both. I use Aquaforrest for Mg. I'll post what I find.

arking_mark · Mar 10, 2022

Just a positive side note for high-parameter salts.

I ran a tank for many years with just water changes using high-parameter salt. As it wasn't a high-demand tank, hhe high-parameters replaced dosing anything. So simple...those were the days.