Testing

[Scoobydoo]

Hi i just got my red sea test kit in. What should i get my calicum alk and mag levels should be?

 

[Idoc]

Depends what type of tank you are attempting...mixed reef, lps corals, sos corals, fish only.

Typically, though, for a mixed reef... 400-450 calcium, 1280-1350 Magnesium are decent targets to maintain.

 

[lapin]

Cal 400 to 450
Alk stable at 7.5 or 8 or 8.5 At first do not try high alk until you have sucess at a lower level . (my opinion)
Mag 1200 to 1400

 

[Scoobydoo]

Depends what type of tank you are attempting...mixed reef, lps corals, sos corals, fish only.

Typically, though, for a mixed reef... 400-450 calcium, 1280-1350 Magnesium are decent targets to maintain.

Im trying to do a mix reef

 

[Scoobydoo]

Cal 400 to 450
Alk stable at 7.5 or 8 or 8.5 At first do not try high alk until you have sucess at a lower level . (my opinion)
Mag 1200 to 1400

 

[Arabyps]

Here is a good reference.

Proper Water Parameters for Home Aquariums

The water parameters that LiveAquaria® recommends for both freshwater and saltwater home aquariums

www.liveaquaria.com

 

[Scoobydoo]

My levels are alk 7.6 cal 450 ppm and mag is1440 is that ok or what do i need to do?

 

[Idoc]

My levels are alk 7.6 cal 450 ppm and mag is1440 is that ok or what do i need to do?

I'd leave them alone and work on keeping them stable within acceptable ranges listed in the responses above. You're within most ranges there...Mg is a little high, some snails don't like that so if they start dropping, then it might be good to get that lowered... if no negative noticed in the tank, then no problems.

Look up your salt and see what levels it mixes to for each parameter.

 

[Scoobydoo]

I'd leave them alone and work on keeping them stable within acceptable ranges listed in the responses above. You're within most ranges there...Mg is a little high, some snails don't like that so if they start dropping, then it might be good to get that lowered... if no negative noticed in the tank, then no problems.

Look up your salt and see what levels it mixes to for each parameter.

Im using instant ocean sea salt

 

[Idoc]

Your levels are really high for IO salt...i use IO, and my calcium mixes up to 400 pretty routinely. I forget what my new batches of water mixes for Mg, though... but it wasn't that high.

 

[Scoobydoo]

Your levels are really high for IO salt...i use IO, and my calcium mixes up to 400 pretty routinely. I forget what my new batches of water mixes for Mg, though... but it wasn't that high.

The only one is high ia mag and i think its the salt im useing

 

[Scoobydoo]

Io reef salt or what?

 

[Idoc]

IO Reef Crystals did usually test higher than regular IO salt.

 

[EakTheFreak]

Cal 400 to 450
Alk stable at 7.5 or 8 or 8.5 At first do not try high alk until you have sucess at a lower level . (my opinion)
Mag 1200 to 1400

What is your rationale behind not trying higher ALK? Due to dosing and holding that #?

 

[Scoobydoo]

What is your rationale behind not trying higher ALK? Due to dosing and holding that #?

Im new to this im trying to do a mix reef tank

 

[EakTheFreak]

Im new to this im trying to do a mix reef tank

No I get that and agree. Was asking the other guy why he doesn’t recommend higher ALK until experienced.

 

[Scoobydoo]

My alk is 7.6 and calcium 450 is that bad?

 

[Scoobydoo]

My mag is high trying to figure out how to lower it

 

[lapin]

My mag is high trying to figure out how to lower it

1440 is not that high

 

[homer1475]

1440 is not that high for mag and right around what regular purple box IO mixes up to. We used to use a specific mag product to bring mag up to over 1500 to combat bryopsis. My mag is consitentaly around 1440 also , and I use regular old purple box IO.

Your levels are fine, just try and maintain those numbers.