Please give me opinions on my system parameter

[Bradsreeftank21]

These are my parameters, why is my calcium and magnesium crazy high? I use instant ocean salt and my tank is about 3 months old!

 

[Spare time]

That calcium isn't "bad" but that magnesium may kill your inverts. As for why it is high, I am not sure. What do you dose, if anything?

 

[Bradsreeftank21]

That calcium isn't "bad" but that magnesium may kill your inverts. As for why it is high, I am not sure. What do you dose, if anything?

That’s funny you say that, I added a cleaner shrimp and it died 10 minutes later but I’m not dosing anything yet because these numbers are already high

 

[WIReefer]

Sounds like your salt mix is high would possibly suggest switching salts.

 

[Bradsreeftank21]

Sounds like your salt mix is high would possibly suggest switching salts.

I purchased Red Sea so I’ll try it out when I get home

 

[WIReefer]

I purchased Red Sea so I’ll try it out when I get home

Just switch it over slowly

 

[Kris 2020]

What’s your salinity? How are you testing it? how often are you calibrating the device you use?

 

[Bradsreeftank21]

What’s your salinity? How are you testing it? how often are you calibrating the device you use?

Hey my salinity is 1.030,using refractor for salinity and Neptune trident for others, I am actually using calibration solution on trident right now.

 

[laverda]

Your high salinity is why your numbers are so high? Is there a reason your salinity is so high? 1.025-1.026 is where most reef tanks run. Slowly reduce your salinity and check your numbers again. Your high salinity is what probably killed your shrimp.

 

[Hemmdog]

Your high salinity is why your numbers are so high? Is there a reason your salinity is so high? 1.025-1.026 is where most reef tanks run. Slowly reduce your salinity and check your numbers again. Your high salinity is what probably killed your shrimp.

+1
Temp is also way too high

 

[Jholley565]

I always make sure to flip the bag or roll the bucket across the room a few times to mix the salt up. Sometimes the smaller particles will settle in the bottom so your first mixture on top will text different than your last one from the bottom.

 

[laverda]

+1
Temp is also way too high

I agree your temp is higher than desirable, but I know a lot of tanks run hot this time of year. If this is your normal temperature range I would definitely try to lower it some.

 

[Kris 2020]

Hey my salinity is 1.030,using refractor for salinity and Neptune trident for others, I am actually using calibration solution on trident right now.

So CA and MG, they are meant to be at acceptable levels in your newly mixed salt. Typically (and you can check on the box/bucket/bag) the salinity is 35 ppt (1.024-1.025) for acceptable parameters of other elements. So if you are at 1.030, your CA and MG, and other elements you aren’t measuring for likely, are all going to be too high because you have too much salt mix in the water you make. I hope this makes sense. You will need to bring it down slowly with many water changes over a period of time.

refractometers need to be calibrated more often than you’d think. Most of us aren’t great about that. I have gotten into the habit of calibrating mine at least once a month.

also are you topping off with salt water or plain rodi? salt doesn’t evaporate so don’t top off with it or your salinity will always be high.

 

[Bradsreeftank21]

+1
Temp is also way too high

Any tips to get my temp down without adding a chiller?

 

[Bradsreeftank21]

So CA and MG, they are meant to be at acceptable levels in your newly mixed salt. Typically (and you can check on the box/bucket/bag) the salinity is 35 ppt (1.024-1.025) for acceptable parameters of other elements. So if you are at 1.030, your CA and MG, and other elements you aren’t measuring for likely, are all going to be too high because you have too much salt mix in the water you make. I hope this makes sense. You will need to bring it down slowly with many water changes over a period of time.

refractometers need to be calibrated more often than you’d think. Most of us aren’t great about that. I have gotten into the habit of calibrating mine at least once a month.

also are you topping off with salt water or plain rodi? salt doesn’t evaporate so don’t top off with it or your salinity will always be high.

im toping with saltwater but I will switch to RO, thank you for info!

 

[Hemmdog]

Any tips to get my temp down without adding a chiller?

Fans blowing at the water and keeping your home a normal temperature like 70F

 

[NashobaTek]

Any tips to get my temp down without adding a chiller?

What's the heater set at??? Turn it down a bit.

 

[laverda]

Where is the heat coming from? Heater set to high? Inefficient pumps? Poor ventilation in your canopy trapping heat from lights. Eliminating or reducing any source of heat will help a lot. A fan will also help a lot blowing across the surface of the tank or sump.