Parameters are weird!

BitFix · Sep 1, 2019

I've had my reef tank set up for about 3 months, I got it cycled and after 2 months I added my clownish (which were quarantined for 1 month). Apart from high calcium and magnesium levels everything seemed ok, I didn't really care about the high levels because they were stable. But today I tested all my parameters again and not only were those levels high, but my alkalinity dropped significantly from 8 to around 6. What can cause these weird parameters? I tested all the parameters with salifert test kits which expire in 2021-2023.

PS.: I will attempt to have them tested in my LFS next weekend.

Parameters:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 2
Phosphate: 0
Salinity: 1.026
PH: 8
Alkalinity: 6.1
Calcium: 550
Magnesium: 1650

trido · Sep 1, 2019

What kind of salt are you using would also be helpful.

Saltyreef · Sep 1, 2019

Im going to take a wild guess.....
Are you using a swing arm hydrometer amd not a refractometer to measure your salinity?
If so, theres a chance you are actually waaaay over on your salinity causing your macro readings to be through the roof.
Your alk test may have been a fluke, so check it again, if its still low, your alk may be precipitating out due to the high calcium.
As mentioned above, your salt mix choice should also be posted so we can deduce from there.
Also, I didnt notice if you are stocked with coral or not....

BitFix · Sep 1, 2019

trido said:
What kind of salt are you using would also be helpful.

I'm using Instant Ocean Reef crystals

BitFix · Sep 1, 2019

Saltyreef said:
Im going to take a wild guess.....
Are you using a swing arm hydrometer amd not a refractometer to measure your salinity?
If so, theres a chance you are actually waaaay over on your salinity causing your macro readings to be through the roof.
Your alk test may have been a fluke, so check it again, if its still low, your alk may be precipitating out due to the high calcium.
As mentioned above, your salt mix choice should also be posted so we can deduce from there.
Also, I didnt notice if you are stocked with coral or not....

I'm using a refractometer. I calibrated it with RO/DI water form my unit. Unfortunately I find get a specif gravity solution where I live to calibrate it more accurately (I live in South America, so reef tanks are pretty uncommon). I have not seem much precipitation at all, only around my heater, but it's pretty minimal, no corals yet, but I do have coralline algae.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 1, 2019

The salinity may be higher than you think, or the calcium and magnesium may be high, or the kits may be off (which kits? Red Sea mag is problematic for many), but likely they are not high enough to be a problem.

Are those the same values you get in freshly made salt water?

BitFix · Sep 1, 2019

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The salinity may be higher than you think, or the calcium and magnesium may be high, or the kits may be off (which kits? Red Sea mag is problematic for many), but likely they are not high enough to be a problem.

Are those the same values you get in freshly made salt water?

I'm using salifert test kits. Next water change I will test the parameters in freshly mixed saltwater.

SeaDweller · Sep 2, 2019

BitFix said:
I'm using Instant Ocean Reef crystals

IORC is known for higher levels. I’d test alk again, but for it to drop, something is consuming it. Are you having new or more coralline growth? It’s been 3 mos so I’d assume yes. May be why it’s dropping.

BitFix · Sep 2, 2019

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The salinity may be higher than you think, or the calcium and magnesium may be high, or the kits may be off (which kits? Red Sea mag is problematic for many), but likely they are not high enough to be a problem.

Are those the same values you get in freshly made salt water?

I've just mixed some new saltwater and it has the same values. Alkalinity is what's scaring me the most, it should be around 8 or so shouldn't it?

Edit: Sorry, I got the tests confused, my fresh salt water has 9.9 alkalinity while my tank has 6.1 alkalinity. What could be causing such a drop? Coralline algae hasn't exploded in growth either.

Saltyreef · Sep 2, 2019

I would do a large water change to get the numbers up. Very odd. Any photos of your tank? Lots of liverock?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 2, 2019

BitFix said:
I've just mixed some new saltwater and it has the same values. Alkalinity is what's scaring me the most, it should be around 8 or so shouldn't it?

Edit: Sorry, I got the tests confused, my fresh salt water has 9.9 alkalinity while my tank has 6.1 alkalinity. What could be causing such a drop? Coralline algae hasn't exploded in growth either.

Alk is usually around 11-13 dKH in IO Reef Crystals.

BitFix · Sep 2, 2019

Saltyreef said:
I would do a large water change to get the numbers up. Very odd. Any photos of your tank? Lots of liverock?

Right now I just have a pair of ocellaris clownfish, although I'm having a diatom bloom, I planned on letting it consume my silicates and die on its own. I've never heard of it, but could it be causing the alk consumption?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 2, 2019

BitFix said:
Right now I just have a pair of ocellaris clownfish, although I'm having a diatom bloom, I planned on letting it consume my silicates and die on its own. I've never heard of it, but could it be causing the alk consumption?

Most diatoms do not consume significant alkalinity.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 2, 2019

It’s not unusual for alk to decline. I wouldn’t spend effort worrying about why, just keep it up to 7 dKH or so.

BitFix · Sep 2, 2019

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It’s not unusual for alk to decline. I wouldn’t spend effort worrying about why, just keep it up to 7 dKH or so.

I plan on getting some snails/hermit crabs and GSP soon. Do you think the low levels would kill them?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 2, 2019

BitFix said:
I plan on getting some snails/hermit crabs and GSP soon. Do you think the low levels would kill them?

6 dKH is plenty for them.

BitFix · Sep 2, 2019

T

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
6 dKH is plenty for them.

Thank you very much!

Reefer_Rob · Sep 4, 2019

BitFix said:
T

Thank you very much!

Did you get to the root of this? I just posted a similar thread. New tank, Alk is low. Im using Tropic Marin Pro which says out of the bucket its 7.

Im floating around 5dKH with my Red Sea test kits right now. Not sure whats up. Everything else looks good... Heres a link to my parameters for ref.

Parameter check please - ALK Low? New Tank

All seems good but my Alk seems low. RS 425XL Tropic Eden Reef Flakes Carib Sea Life Rock Tropic Eden Pro Salt BRS 6 stage RODI Cycle took 35 days. Livestock added after. Livestock in for about 2 weeks. 2 Clowns 3 Cardinals 1 Lawnmower 6 small frags All livestock is doing well Im in a Diatom...

www.reef2reef.com

BitFix · Sep 5, 2019

Reefer_Rob said:
Did you get to the root of this? I just posted a similar thread. New tank, Alk is low. Im using Tropic Marin Pro which says out of the bucket its 7.

Im floating around 5dKH with my Red Sea test kits right now. Not sure whats up. Everything else looks good... Heres a link to my parameters for ref.

Unfortunately not. I will have my LFS test my parameters, just in case my tests are wrong. Other than that I'll just dose baking soda to get the levels where I want, the salt should keep it stable after that (hopefully).[/QUOTE]