New reef chemistry with IO salt (advice needed)

[reefofthenorth]

My tank has been set up for about three months now and I would like to begin adding coral by the beginning of next month. I currently have live rock, 2 clowns, 1 gramma, and 2 jawfish. I have been testing using Salifert for nitrate and phosphate and RedSea for alk, cal, and magnesium.


According to test from the past few weeks these are my average parameters:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate 10-20ppm (planning to add cheato reactor soon)
Calcium - 490
Alk - 7
Magnesium 1500-1600

I cannot figure out why my alk is so low and am thinking that maybe its my salt? Also, not sure why my calcium and magnesium is so high.


Can anyone give me advice for how I should proceed? What do I need to do before I add corals. I should mention that I only plan to do softies and LPS. I want to start with green star polyp.

 

[lapin]

While your alk is low for such high calcium and mag numbers its not too bad. I would raise it to 8 with some baked baking soda. Just dose the alk part. This should help corals consume the cal and mag when you get them.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

The possible reason for low alk is new tank along with IO salt mix. It takes 6 months or longer to get your tank to stabilize.

 

[SeaDweller]

While your alk is low for such high calcium and mag numbers its not too bad. I would raise it to 8 with some baked baking soda. Just dose the alk part. This should help corals consume the cal and mag when you get them.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

The possible reason for low alk is new tank along with IO salt mix. It takes 6 months or longer to get your tank to stabilize.

...or you can just dose straight baking soda, which is what I do.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What do you think the salinity is? From the high calcium and magnesium (if accurate) I would guess it is on the high side.

is this normal IO or Reef Crystals?

 

[madweazl]

For what it's worth, Instant Ocean with RO/DI usually mixes up at:

Salinity - 35ppt (refractometer with cal fluid shows 35ppt and GHL probe indicates 35.8/9)
Alk - 10.8
Ca - 445
Mg - 1380

I've never had alkalinity mix up at anything less than 10.5 dKh with Instant Ocean in the last three years.

 

[Radman73]

For what it's worth, Instant Ocean with RO/DI usually mixes up at:

Salinity - 35ppt (refractometer with cal fluid shows 35ppt and GHL probed indicates 35.8/9)
Alk - 10.8
Ca - 445
Mg - 1380

I've never had alkalinity mix up at anything less than 10.5 dKh with Instant Ocean in the last three years.

I have a box that's been mixing up at 4.something. So it does happen.

 

[reefofthenorth]

While your alk is low for such high calcium and mag numbers its not too bad. I would raise it to 8 with some baked baking soda. Just dose the alk part. This should help corals consume the cal and mag when you get them.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

The possible reason for low alk is new tank along with IO salt mix. It takes 6 months or longer to get your tank to stabilize.

Do you recommend I switch to a different salt?

 

[reefofthenorth]

I have a box that's been mixing up at 4.something. So it does happen.

Perhaps I got a bad batch, might try a fresh bag or mixing in some reef crystals.

 

[reefofthenorth]

...or you can just dose straight baking soda, which is what I do.

How much do you dose?

 

[reefofthenorth]

What do you think the salinity is? From the high calcium and magnesium (if accurate) I would guess it is on the high side.

is this normal IO or Reef Crystals?

I run at 1.025-1.026 salinity

 

[fermentedhiker]

Have you tested what your new salt water parameters are before you use it? If so what levels are you seeing?

 

[jordan10]

Idk I use instant ocean reef crystals and my dkh stays at 7.4 with dosing 22ml alk ever other day.

 

[madweazl]

I have a box that's been mixing up at 4.something. So it does happen.

I'd be awfully suspect of what you're using to test it. While issues certainly can appear, IO is extremely consistent. The only issue I ever had was one bucket mixing at 1500+ magnesium. I contacted Tetra and gave them the batch number; they sent out a replacement bucket.

 

[Phycodurus]

i use regular IO and my alkalinity typically comes in at 10-11.

prior to opening a new bag, i make sure i shake/rotate the bag to more evenly distribute the mix.

 

[Radman73]

I'd be awfully suspect of what you're using to test it. While issues certainly can appear, IO is extremely consistent. The only issue I ever had was one bucket mixing at 1500+ magnesium. I contacted Tetra and gave them the batch number; they sent out a replacement bucket.

I discovered it after a water change and my alk, as reported by my Trident, dropped 1dkh. I then tested the remainder of the fresh salt water and it tested at 4.something and has ever since. On the same box still. I then bump up alk and it tests where I want it to. Trust me, it's the salt. I mix 50 gallons at a time so it isn't "settling" in the bag either as it uses a full bag and then some.

 

[ScottB]

I use IORC and every time I have tested it mixes to 10.5.

LFS uses IO and also mixes 10-10.5

Anyway, for the OP, 7 is unusually low IME, but it does match natural sea water.

 

[Miller535]

I run at 1.025-1.026 salinity

Are you using a refractometer? And if so are you calibrating it? I only ask because when I was new to the hobby I used a hydrometer and had MANY MANY issues with my salinity. Even after I switched to a refractometer I did not calibrate nearly often enough.

 

[reefofthenorth]

Yup only refractometer, backed up my LFS tests

 

[Miller535]

If your salinity is fine, I would mix up a gallon of new saltwater, (if you don't have any already made) and test it to see what it's calcium, magnesium, alk is? It's a good thing to do whenever you open a new bucket or box.

 

[reefofthenorth]

I will do that