Is it bad to run higher elements?

[ScottR]

my tank is 1.026
Ca 490
Mg 1470
Alk 9.9

Question is: My numbers run a bit higher than normal. I use salifert tests. The ratios are in line. And there is room for error. They’re not dangerously high. I run a mostly LPS tank. Could it be that my corals (and inverts) aren’t drawing much from the water? I do WC 2-3 times monthly.

Tank info:
40g
Fallow
2 shrimp
Various snails
Porcelain crab
————————-
2 torch
2 hammer
1 montipora
1 birdsnest frag
3 xenia frags
1 galaxy
1 favia
1 goniopora frag
1 cup coral (pagoda)
Countless mushrooms (rics)
Lots of coralline too.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

Yeah, it's possible that your corals and/or coralline isn't growing terribly fast, which leads to lower consumption of calcium and alkalinity. The growth rate of corals is a complex interaction of available light (and spectrum), macro elements, and dissolved nutrients and/or coral foods.

I'd personally not want my alkalinity/calcium that high if the dissolved nutrients in the tank water are somewhat low (e.g., NO3 < 5 ppm, PO4 < 100 ppb). OTOH, if you run your tank somewhat "dirty" by feeding coral foods and the dissolved inorganic nutrients are relatively high, alkalinity could be maintained at relatively high levels. One thing to watch for, though, is abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate from those high levels. Whether or not this will occur depends on tank temperature, pH, levels of Ca and Alk, and the amount of dissolved organics in the water, but a clue is whether you find obviously inorganic coatings of calcium carbonate on your tank heater and/or pump impellers.

 

[ScottR]

Yeah, it's possible that your corals and/or coralline isn't growing terribly fast, which leads to lower consumption of calcium and alkalinity. The growth rate of corals is a complex interaction of available light (and spectrum), macro elements, and dissolved nutrients and/or coral foods.

I'd personally not want my alkalinity/calcium that high if the dissolved nutrients in the tank water are somewhat low (e.g., NO3 < 5 ppm, PO4 < 100 ppb). OTOH, if you run your tank somewhat "dirty" by feeding coral foods and the dissolved inorganic nutrients are relatively high, alkalinity could be maintained at relatively high levels. One thing to watch for, though, is abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate from those high levels. Whether or not this will occur depends on tank temperature, pH, levels of Ca and Alk, and the amount of dissolved organics in the water, but a clue is whether you find obviously inorganic coatings of calcium carbonate on your tank heater and/or pump impellers.

I was using Red Sea coral pro and have switched over to their blue bucket. So they promise high everything basically, which is suitable for mixed reef and SPS tanks. I think I’m into a month of the new salt but have only done a few WC. I never dose. Running fallow, I do have fewer nutrients. But feed my shrimps LRS reef frenzy and do reef roids 3x a week to keep nutrients up. PO4 is 0.03 mg/L. NO3 is 10 so not too bad I guess.

I guess, question becomes: is it a danger to my corals? Or any tank inhabitants?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

my tank is 1.026
Ca 490
Mg 1470
Alk 9.9

Question is: My numbers run a bit higher than normal. I use salifert tests. The ratios are in line. And there is room for error. They’re not dangerously high. I run a mostly LPS tank. Could it be that my corals (and inverts) aren’t drawing much from the water? I do WC 2-3 times monthly.

Tank info:
40g
Fallow
2 shrimp
Various snails
Porcelain crab
————————-
2 torch
2 hammer
1 montipora
1 birdsnest frag
3 xenia frags
1 galaxy
1 favia
1 goniopora frag
1 cup coral (pagoda)
Countless mushrooms (rics)
Lots of coralline too.

It's time for ICP test. Very accurate, comrade

 

[ScottR]

It's time for ICP test. Very accurate, comrade

What’s got me curious is the accuracy of the test kits. I have stability so I’m not chasing/changing anything other than the salt. Always wanted to do an ICP. But if I do, I also want to test my tap water out of curiosity.

 

[Dkeller_nc]

I was using Red Sea coral pro and have switched over to their blue bucket. So they promise high everything basically, which is suitable for mixed reef and SPS tanks. I think I’m into a month of the new salt but have only done a few WC. I never dose. Running fallow, I do have fewer nutrients. But feed my shrimps LRS reef frenzy and do reef roids 3x a week to keep nutrients up. PO4 is 0.03 mg/L. NO3 is 10 so not too bad I guess.

I guess, question becomes: is it a danger to my corals? Or any tank inhabitants?

Well, like I noted, high alk is generally only a problem in low nutrients. It's a guess on my part, and I personally run phosphates considerably higher than that, but with nitrates at 10ppm or higher, I wouldn't think it's a problem.

 

[ScottR]

Well, like I noted, high alk is generally only a problem in low nutrients. It's a guess on my part, and I personally run phosphates considerably higher than that, but with nitrates at 10ppm or higher, I wouldn't think it's a problem.

Just tested Ca, and it’s at 450 now. So I’m becoming least concerned I guess. Mg and alk unchanged. I guess once I add fish, things may balance out. Wanted to run fallow to avoid parasites while I qt fish. Had a breakout back in March and I swear I will never let parasites in again. Still haven’t bought fish to qt so it will be a while.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I was using Red Sea coral pro and have switched over to their blue bucket. So they promise high everything basically, which is suitable for mixed reef and SPS tanks. I think I’m into a month of the new salt but have only done a few WC. I never dose. Running fallow, I do have fewer nutrients. But feed my shrimps LRS reef frenzy and do reef roids 3x a week to keep nutrients up. PO4 is 0.03 mg/L. NO3 is 10 so not too bad I guess.

I guess, question becomes: is it a danger to my corals? Or any tank inhabitants?

I'm not one of them (I think) but some members are running NO3-, in the 80+, SPS,LPS corals, no issues, PO4, high too?

 

[ScottR]

I'm not one of them (I think) but some members are running NO3-, in the 80+, SPS,LPS corals, no issues, PO4, high too?

PO4 is at the low end.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Pull back on WC. NO3&PO4 will rise but still be fine. My thinking

 

[ScottR]

Pull back on WC. NO3&PO4 will rise but still be fine. My thinking

NO3 is ok. Isn’t low. Actually I think everything is ok. Everything in the tank is doing fine. Just being over cautious I guess.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

My take on it is,(just me) I don’t see a problem. That also may be because I don’t test because they are too confusing for me.

Everyone was right on, I am just offering a alternate universe thought. Numbers look fine. If you go to high you are risking precipitation, but as I see you are testing so that should not be an issue. As you just noted your calcium already is down. As everyone mentioned it depends on what your current residents of you tank and are and their specific needs. I would say don’t try to get an exact number, get a range.

The way I see it ( I don’t see very well) since you did not mention any issues with the corals it sounds like you are doing fine. Keep testing to calculate you consumption to get a dosing plan set up.

 

[ScottR]

My take on it is,(just me) I don’t see a problem. That also may be because I don’t test because they are too confusing for me.

Everyone was right on, I am just offering a alternate universe thought. Numbers look fine. If you go to high you are risking precipitation, but as I see you are testing so that should not be an issue. As you just noted your calcium already is down. As everyone mentioned it depends on what your current residents of you tank and are and their specific needs. I would say don’t try to get an exact number, get a range.

The way I see it ( I don’t see very well) since you did not mention any issues with the corals it sounds like you are doing fine. Keep testing to calculate you consumption to get a dosing plan set up.

Thanks for the reply. Actually the one thing I’m happy about is, I don’t need to dose!