low parameters need help

[drew350]

hey guys I just tested my parameters and came up with the following

my tank.
calcium 385ppm.
alkalinity 6.5dkh.
mag.?? haven't test

New salt mix
cal.440ppm
alk.9.5smh
mag.? haven't test


my questions is should I do more frequent water changes to get to the levels to match with my new salt mix or do I start dosing those three to match my new salt mix? using red sea pro salt.

how would you guys go about this?

would like parameters to be
alk.8-9dkh
cal. 450 ppm
mag. 1380 ppm

 

[HelloCorals]

Do you have any corals in your tank?

 

[drew350]

Do you have any corals in your tank?

yes mostly sps and a few zoas

 

[Tiki Reef Joshua]

My math doesn’t work out with water changes. My tank was 9dkh yesterday morning and I did a 15 gallon change (100 display, 35 sump) and today it’s 8.8. My water in mixing station is 10.5. I dunno. I have to dose. You may need to do the same unless doing fairly large changes. I would try a simple 2 part system. Check magnesium when you can, but stay all over your alk.

 

[HelloCorals]

yes mostly sps and a few zoas

Slowly raise your alk and calc levels weekly with 2 part. You don’t want to do it in one go and have a wild swing. .5 dkh change weekly should be okay. 2-3 swing is a lot for some sps to handle.

 

[92Miata]

Check the salinity in both while you're at it. Everything low is often that.

 

[drew350]

My math doesn’t work out with water changes. My tank was 9dkh yesterday morning and I did a 15 gallon change (100 display, 35 sump) and today it’s 8.8. My water in mixing station is 10.5. I dunno. I have to dose. You may need to do the same unless doing fairly large changes. I would try a simple 2 part system. Check magnesium when you can, but stay all over your alk.

same here I did a water change yesterday and my levels were even lower. alk. was at 5.2 dkh and cal. was at 1325ppm so with the change was a big increase

 

[drew350]

Check the salinity in both while you're at it. Everything low is often that.

salinity checks out with about 1.025 for each. in have a ato which stay at 1.025

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You should expect to have to dose calcium and alkalinity in a reef tank with SPS, or a general mixed tank.

 

[drew350]

just tested my magnesium with a salifert test kit came out to be 1200 ppm...yikes

I also pick up this salifert all in one bottle that has both calcium and alkalinity at the lfs so going to try it and see if it raises my parameters.

should I first raise my magnesium up to <1300ppm before the calcium and alkalinty?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would raise the salinity to 35 ppt, which is sg = 1.0264.

That will up your magnesium from 1200 to 1267 ppm, which is fine (ocean at 35 ppt is 1280 ppm). But if you want to raise it, that's fine too.

The Salifert All In One is an OK product, but note that you will not be able to detect the alkalinity it adds until organisms such as bacteria consume the acetate in it. I'd wait at least 24 h, maybe longer when first added, before measuring.

 

[drew350]

I would raise the salinity to 35 ppt, which is sg = 1.0264.

That will up your magnesium from 1200 to 1267 ppm, which is fine (ocean at 35 ppt is 1280 ppm). But if you want to raise it, that's fine too.

The Salifert All In One is an OK product, but note that you will not be able to detect the alkalinity it adds until organisms such as bacteria consume the acetate in it. I'd wait at least 24 h, maybe longer when first added, before measuring.

Thanks randy ill give it a shot