Question about water parameters and dosing

[cvanchuck]

So my 25g nano has 5 fish cleaner shrimp some snails and hermit crabs. Rose BTA green ricordea Dunkin pulsing Xenia bird's nest green toadstool bi color frogspawn.

Water levels
Salinity 1.024
Temp 77
pH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
ALK 8.8
Calcium 460
Magnesium 1600
Phosphate .02
Using fritz salt for coral

Only dosing 2 to 3ml of ALK a day. Have never dosed calcium or magnesium. Using 5 stage BRS RODI system for top off and water changes. Doing 2.5g water changes bi weekly.

Cannot seem to get magnesium under control at all.

Feeding misys and brine rinsed in RODI water. Feed small portions twice daily. On Monday And Thursday I use 2ml each of red Sea coral nutrition a and b mixed in tank water with one scoop of BRS reef chili.

Suggestions?

 

[cvanchuck]

Early picture without bird's-nest.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Maybe salt being used and/or 5 stage BRS RODI system, all these filtration systems design to go thru water softener first not many do, so they don't last long, 3 years minimum then start to not filter properly. I'm talking about membrane mainly. Possibly

 

[cvanchuck]

Maybe salt being used and/or 5 stage BRS RODI system, all these filtration systems design to go thru water softener first not many do, so they don't last long, 3 years minimum then start to not filter properly. I'm talking about membrane mainly. Possibly

System is only 6 months old. TDS out 0

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

System is only 6 months old. TDS out 0

TDS does not tell you how much magnesium is in your freshwater, it's a separate test.

 

[cvanchuck]

TDS does not tell you how much magnesium is in your freshwater, it's a separate test.

So should do a magnesium test on my RODI water?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

In your case you have to do process of elimination, if my system I would use distilled water for a while and see if your magnesium goes down. If no change you still have issues then next would be the brand of salt.

Or start with your salt brand and see what happens

 

[BeejReef]

How are you testing your magnesium? It should come down on its own. It's hard to imagine how it got that high to begin with.
Looks like a new tank, right?

 

[cvanchuck]

Tank is 6 months old. I'm using red Sea and salifert test kits

 

[cain720]

From what I understand, you should be dosing calcium and alkalinity in equal parts. High magnesium and calcium really aren't an issue at all. Dosing in equal parts and regular water changes should stabilize everything.

Also the Red Sea magnesium test is infamous for being inconsistent/inaccurate. I get readings anywhere from 1300 to 1600.

 

[cvanchuck]

Maybe salt being used and/or 5 stage BRS RODI system, all these filtration systems design to go thru water softener first not many do, so they don't last long, 3 years minimum then start to not filter properly. I'm talking about membrane mainly. Possibly

Tested magnesium of RODI water and is blue from start which means no magnesium

 

[cvanchuck]

From what I understand, you should be dosing calcium and alkalinity in equal parts. High magnesium and calcium really aren't an issue at all. Dosing in equal parts and regular water changes should stabilize everything.

Also the Red Sea magnesium test is infamous for being inconsistent/inaccurate. I get readings anywhere from 1300 to 1600.

I'll test magnesium again with salifert

 

[cvanchuck]

Tested again with salifert and magnesium and calcium are both within 10ppm of the red Sea test