Tank levels? Advise?

[ReefOG311]

Please tell me what these tank readings mean to you ... should I change anything?
TANK info: mixed reef 34g long. 20g sump. Dose with kalk as topoff. Tank is 3 months old.

Ca 400
Alk 12.5
Mag 1410
Ph 8.2-8.3

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Your alk is a bit high, cal Mabel a bit low , both well within test error margins and likely the salt mix parameters.

I would take no action.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree they look like out of the box parameters for many mixes and I’d let alk decline before adding any.

 

[ReefOG311]

I did just do a 10% water change yesterday. But weird thing is that I usually get lower levels after a water change. Especially Mag. Maybe limewater dosing is maintaining levels a bit. When should I worry about alk?

 

[GoVols]

I agree they look like out of the box parameters for many mixes and I’d let alk decline before adding any.

If he let the alk decline (by stopping the limewater), would his calcium fall too?

 

[ReefOG311]

I will test again tomorrow night

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Mag tests are the most prone to error btw

 

[GoVols]

Mag tests are the most prone to error btw

Lol!!
I loathe the Red Sea mag kit... :mad:

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Lol!!
I loathe the Red Sea mag kit... :mad:

Me too!
That’s why I never test Mag.

 

[ReefOG311]

Is salifert any better?

 

[GoVols]

Is salifert any better?

Yes!!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My method is cost effective and scientifically based.

 

[GoVols]

My method is cost effective and scientifically based.

I'll take the bait...

What's your method?

;Wacky

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I did just do a 10% water change yesterday. But weird thing is that I usually get lower levels after a water change. Especially Mag. Maybe limewater dosing is maintaining levels a bit. When should I worry about alk?

Limewater does not dose magnesium. It is probably just testing error. Real magnesium depeltion is very slow (like 1 ppm per day, or less).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If he let the alk decline (by stopping the limewater), would his calcium fall too?

Yes, assuming no other additions, when alk falls by about 2.8 dKH, calcium will fall by about 18-20 ppm.

 

[Ashley Kekua]

dose calcium

 

[PatW]

Is salifert any better?

I find the salifert magnesium test to be consistent. When I do Red Sea, it is all over the map.

Since I started using a mix high in magnesium, reef crystals, for water changes, I have found that Mg levels stay pretty stable.