Reef Chemistry for dummies???

3pjspunky · Mar 14, 2014

I just bought Red Seas Magnesium, Calcium and Alkalinity test kit. Test parameters look bad and I would appreciate some insight on balancing them out the right way. This chemistry stuff is a new thing for me besides the ammonia nitrite etc stuff.

I have a ninety gallon reef with (could have the product name wrong here) the Eshopps wetdry filter 300. Tank has been set up since July, up graded from a 30 gallon.

I have a handful of soft corals, some zoos, an elephant ear, green button polyps, frogspawn and a few others.

Upon testing, calcium is above 500 ppm

alkalinity is approx 3.8-3.9 meq/l and magnesium is 1200 ppm

Comparing these to some standard parameters, my calcium is too high, alkalinity is high and magnesium is ok.

I've read that putting in more corals and doing water changes will help the calcium levels. But how does this affect Kh and Mg? Wouldn't those go down as well? Or should I water change and supplement Mg since that one is ok?

I have supplements:
Part A and B (not the nano version) Coral accel, zoe, iodide,and purple up. I know two of those have calcium.

SO basically, I'm sorta lost and confused and would like some tips for an amateur chemist in the reef aspect.

And I don't know how much this helps but I know living location can affect certain things. Water is from the centerville ohio area, PH is typically 8.0

"Acro Sheen" · Mar 14, 2014

I would start with a 30% water change then test your water. What type of salt are you using? I would be happy to help explain more when I get off work today feel free to send me a PM. The best piece of advice I could give anyone new to reefing is research as much as you can understanding water chemistry is the most important thing you will need to know to be successful. Oh and if you are dosing stop and make sure you are keeping a journal of your test results.

redfishbluefish · Mar 14, 2014

My first question is what salt as well? My guess is that you are using a "reef" salt when in fact you really don't have any corals that are needing that extra alkalinity and calcium. I would suggest, until such time you start with hard corals (or clams), that you use a less expensive non-reef salt, such as Instant Ocean.

To simply answer your question, hard corals, clams and coraline algae require calcium carbonate to build the hard structures. So if you have these things, you need to suppliment your tank water as they are being "consumed." This is typically done by adding alkalinity and calcium containing substances.

In the mean time, here are three good reads by Dr. Randy Holmes Farley, the preeminent aquarium chemist:

The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself

The â€œHow Toâ€ Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH

3pjspunky · Mar 14, 2014

Didn't think to put that one in. Yes, instant ocean is the salt I use. The purple, regular one. I used the reef one once and noticed the first spike in calcium and did a 25 gallon water change but I havent touched that stuff since. Ill try a water change and test again and read those links.

Along this topic, could these reasons be why my anemones arent doing too hot? I had luck with them, even had two split but had a disaster. Now the two most recently bought ones, a long tentacle and condy have bleached in a week of purchase despite feeding krill.

redfishbluefish · Mar 14, 2014

Instant Ocean salt would not bring your calc and alk that high. Are you dosing anything? If not, make sure you are using your test kits correctly.....or take a water sample to your LFS and have them verify your test results.

TrialandError · Mar 14, 2014

If you don't test for iodide I wouldn't dose it if I were you.

mcarroll · Mar 15, 2014

Sounds like you're using tap water.

If so, a bump in some of the mineral levels you see compared to most people's readings will be expected - especially if your local water's pH out of the tap is 8.0 as you indicated. (Starting with ultrapure RODI water is much more common...and not a bad idea.)

Tap water aside, those numbers for Ca and alkalinity aren't too bad. Calcium that high won't hurt anything - no worries/do nothing. Alkalinity of 3.0-4.0 meq/L is what I've always kept my reefs...and I think that range describes probably 99% of successful reefs.

However...

Magnesium of 1200 won't really hurt anything, but might be low enough to be throwing off your test numbers for Ca and alk a bit. Around 1350 is a good target.

Recommendations

Don't add (more) stony corals until you have a better feel for testing and dosing.
Lots of good advice and links in this thread. Read a ton, log all your test results with a time+date and a specific gravity reading.
Testing a batch of freshly mixed seawater to see the levels of Ca, Mg and alkalinity going into the tank would be a good idea. Maybe test more than one batch, too.
I would increase your water change rate up to at least 20%/week until you see magnesium levels where they should be.

Other than that I wouldn't do anything else.

-Matt

larangcon · Mar 15, 2014

Purple Up will bring your calcium up, I had the same problem before, how much are you dosing and how frequent. I would suggest to reduce your part A / B supplement, when using Purple Up.

Reefing Madness · Mar 15, 2014

Purple Up just raises disolved calcium levels up, not calcium itself, per say.

Singlefin · Mar 15, 2014

As stated. Stop dosing everything. Doesn't look like you have anything that consumes extra ca. And alk. Do a water change. Make sure you are mixing your salt correctly and testing correctly. It's easy to crash your system. Don't add anything you can't test for.