Magnesium dkh and Calcium fresh cycled tank

[Distracted_Nerd]

Just finished up cycling my tank and the only inhabitants is cheato and pods. The strange thing is calcium 350, dkh is 6.4 and magnesium is 1050.. im using IO so I know it doesn't have the highest of these elements but I thought it should be higher. Any thoughts?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds like low salinity.

 

[Distracted_Nerd]

Sounds like low salinity.

normally i would agree.. checked 3 times 2 from DT and 1 from sump just in case. 1.026@77*F Even checked the refractometer with the calibration solution just to be sure

 

[Distracted_Nerd]

Test kits are as follows;

Red Sea Calcium Pro
Hanna Alk
AquaForest Mag

 

[bushdoc]

If not low salinity as I also thought, second possibility is testing issues.
I had constant issues with AquaForest Mg test kit and once I switched to Salifert, results (Mg) are consistent and more in par with what freshly made saltwater should have.
Cycling lowers alkalinity, so your dKH might be low as tested, you could add baking soda to make it higher.
That leaves Ca, which I would retest, perhaps at LFS.

 

[Distracted_Nerd]

If not low salinity as I also thought, second possibility is testing issues.
I had constant issues with AquaForest Mg test kit and once I switched to Salifert, results (Mg) are consistent and more in par with what freshly made saltwater should have.
Cycling lowers alkalinity, so your dKH might be low as tested, you could add baking soda to make it higher.
That leaves Ca, which I would retest, perhaps at LFS.

Thank you for the input. Don't really have LFS here in the boonies. I will probably restest tomorrow.. It has been years since i have done a titration test and it is very possible i did it incorrectly. Since the cycle is finished i may do a 10-20% WC to hopefully replenish some of that alk.