Should I be concerned about dkh and mag levels
- Thread starter aws2266
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SPR1968
No, it wasn’t expensive dear....
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Your dKH is very low so just increase it over a few days and a good target is around 8.5 so you have some wiggle room If it drops. You don’t really want it below 7 as a minimum
The magnesium is on the high side, although it probably won’t cause any issues, but a good general target is around 1350 or thereabouts
This is assuming you have corals etc.
The magnesium is on the high side, although it probably won’t cause any issues, but a good general target is around 1350 or thereabouts
This is assuming you have corals etc.
MnFish1
10K Club member
Yes - if they are correct.
Can you give some more information?
1. What tests are you using
2. Have you verified the results using another method?
3. Is there a reason why your dKH would be so low (it is quote odd for a reef)
4. Do you have animals (fish/coral) - are they doing ok?
5. What is your Ca and pH.
Using a nomogram, if you know the alkalinity and the pH, you can estimate the CO2 in your house, unless something is way off in your tank - or you have an extremely high CO2 level in your house your alkalinity should not be that low
MnFish1
10K Club member
PS @SPR1968 posted while I was posting - I agree with what he is saying - if indeed your numbers are correct - water changes will rectify it. But - if they are correct, you must have a very high CO2 in your house (i.e. in the air) - or poor air circulation in your tank (do you have a skimmer, a glass lid, a high bioload, etc)?
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
OP
OP
aws2266
Active Member
After testing again it looks to be more around 7ppm. I'm using a RedSea test kit. My Ca is 480ppm and Ph is 8ppm. I just added a skimmer about 4 days ago and my last water change was 7 days ago. I have a 120g with about 8 small fish. a couple zoa frags, mushroom frag, and a favia frag.
MnFish1
10K Club member
So your alkalinity is not 'bad' and you shouldn't need to dose 'much' if anything. Your pH is ok. Ca is good. I would re-do the Mg test - do you have a red-sea kit? I will say - they are somewhat 'tricky' when reading the results. I am not sure - unless you had a bad batch of salt (or a poorly mixed batch of salt - i.e. the dry powder) - how you could get a Mg of 1600.
MnFish1
10K Club member
Check this article: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/
Look at the graph in the middle under the section "Carbon Dioxide and pH". Start at the pH (x axis) - your pH is 8. Now look at the alkalinity (Yours is 7 dKH or 2.5 meq/L) if you compare on that graph - those 2 numbers - show your CO2 to be between the 'high CO2 line' and the 'normal CO2 Line - and more close to the 'high' Co2 line. (though not dangerously so). SO - I don't think I should have used the word 'quite high' - but - perhaps elevated.
