Tank Parameters

[CWalters]

Hey guys. Looking to add some hardier corals to my tank. Currently have 2 clowns and a CUC in there. Tank is 3 months after cycle. Using Red Sea blue bucket

Salinity - 1.026
Magnesium - 1500 (salifert test)
Calcium - 560 (salifert test)
pH - 8.1
Nitrates - 10
Alk - 5.36 (Red Sea)

Mag, calcium seem high, Alk is way low.

Any ideas/input?

 

[fishski13]

I would say with those parameters it would be fine to add soft corals like leathers, mushrooms, zoas, etc. Plus nitrate is right on point for these types of corals. But if you are looking to add lps or sps, you will need to increase alkalinity to a better level as 5.36 is pretty low. The calcium, mag, and alk do seem a bit off as with red sea blue bucket the parameters stock are distinctly different. Have you tried testing freshly made water to see its parameters to make sure testing is right on your actual water?

 

[CWalters]

Is there anything I can do without adding chemicals etc to raise Alk?

 

[fishski13]

Is there anything I can do without adding chemicals etc to raise Alk?

Well besides either dosing a 2 or 3 part programs or doing a kalkwasser top off system you can do a calcium reactor.

Personally I would go with something like a 2 part like the ESV one as it is the simplest and most cost effective way to do it.

 

[CWalters]

Well besides either dosing a 2 or 3 part programs or doing a kalkwasser top off system you can do a calcium reactor.

Personally I would go with something like a 2 part like the ESV one as it is the simplest and most cost effective way to do it.

Excuse my ignorance but don't alk and calc go hand in hand? My Calcium is already considered high. So if I dose alk wouldn't I have to does calcium?

Sorry... pretty new to this.

 

[fishski13]

Excuse my ignorance but don't alk and calc go hand in hand? My Calcium is already considered high. So if I dose alk wouldn't I have to does calcium?

Sorry... pretty new to this.

Yes, but for example dosing ESV two part, to raise Alkalinity by a whole number, you are only increasing calcium by a small portion to what it already is. Once you get hard coral in the calcium should drop and be fine. Thats why I mentioned to double check if those parameters are correct compared to freshly mixed salt water cause they seem a bit high for red sea blue bucket and could cause you more thinking than needed

 

[CWalters]

Yes, but for example dosing ESV two part, to raise Alkalinity by a whole number, you are only increasing calcium by a small portion to what it already is. Once you get hard coral in the calcium should drop and be fine. Thats why I mentioned to double check if those parameters are correct compared to freshly mixed salt water cause they seem a bit high for red sea blue bucket and could cause you more thinking than needed

If they are higher than fresh mixed should I just do a bigger water change to bring them down?

 

[fishski13]

If they are higher than fresh mixed should I just do a bigger water change to bring them down?

I dont know if that would be entirely necessary to do a big water change. I would probably raise your alkalinity and than add a few corals and see where it goes and see hows the levels are affected. From there if they are still high and corals dont like it, than yes a 25-50% water change should help bring them down.

 

[AKL1950]

If they are higher than fresh mixed should I just do a bigger water use change to bring them down?

Agree with the above post. Test you new salt mix. I use Reef Crystal which usually has an Alk of around 11. My Alk kept dropping and I tested my salt water reserve and the Alk was 7.0. Bad batch of reef crystals. Cleaned my reservoir, put in a new batch of salt and it tested at 11.2. Now my DT is back up to 8.3. It had dropped to 7.3 before I found the cause.

 

[flyingscampi]

I'd test the KH test kit before I changed anything.

Either try another kit or do what AKL1950 said and test a new batch of saltwater to check KH, Ca, & Mg match published parameters for salt mix.

 

[CWalters]

I'd test the KH test kit before I changed anything.

Either try another kit or do what AKL1950 said and test a new batch of saltwater to check KH, Ca, & Mg match published parameters for salt mix.

I will mix up some new water tonight and test for all of the above. Will post back later.

 

[CWalters]

Just tested some water I just mixed

Alk - 8.57
Ca - 400
Mg - 1500 still for some weird reason

 

[AKL1950]

Was that with the salt you were already using or a new box/bag you hadn’t opened?

 

[CWalters]

Was that with the salt you were already using or a new box/bag you hadn’t opened?

New bucket that I just opened

 

[AKL1950]

Did it match what the manufacturer said is in it? if not, you might suspect testing equipment error.

 

[CWalters]

Mg from red sea says it should be 1350. I tested 1500. Will get a new mg test. What brand? Red Sea again or salifert

 

[AKL1950]

Salifert. I assume the alkalinity tested good?

 

[CWalters]

Alk on salt says it should be 8. Mine was either 8,21 or 8.56. Lost count on the drops

 

[Garf]

Hey guys. Looking to add some hardier corals to my tank. Currently have 2 clowns and a CUC in there. Tank is 3 months after cycle. Using Red Sea blue bucket

Salinity - 1.026
Magnesium - 1500 (salifert test)
Calcium - 560 (salifert test)
pH - 8.1
Nitrates - 10
Alk - 5.36 (Red Sea)

Mag, calcium seem high, Alk is way low.

Any ideas/input?

You do know you can increase alkalinity with sodium bicarbonate? Your new salt looks ok, as does your testing. Test your tank again, just in case you’ve done something daft, before taking action.

 

[AKL1950]

I would say you are well within the testing error we all experience. You could probably test it 50 times and get 50 different results. As long as they are all within about 5%, I would say you are okay.

my experience is I use a 75 gallon storage tank and auto change two gallons a day. It takes 30 days before I put in new salt water in the storage tank. That’s enough time for precipitation and the alkalinity starts dropping in the stored water. If you are mixing it and immediately doing your water change, 8.5 Alk should be good. If you feel it’s not, you might consider a salt (like reef crystal) that has a much higher Alkalinity.