Little bit of an issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Choochoobb · 05/19/2016, 06:32 AM

Hello and good morning everyone. Quick question that has stumped me. Ok.. 40 gallon tank. Currently 2 clowns, 1 shrimp, 1 snail, 1 blue damsel, and a baby yellow tang. Yes I know the tank is not big enough for the tang but someone was getting rid of it so I took it for free. Anyhow. 1 pulsing Xenia, 1 Zoe, 1 mushroom coral. None of the corals are big maybe a quarter size each one. Now all levels are good expect 2. Salt 1.023, ph 7.9, nitrite 10, nitrate 0, amm 0 and here's the kicker calcium 560 and alk about 15/270. I can't seem to get the calcium and alk to stay stable. Local store said for me to dose mag for 2 weeks. I do 5 gallon water change every week using instant ocean salt. Water I use is fine no chemicals in it. I do not have a kit for mag I was told they are very inaccurate. Would dosing mag help in maintaining these and what happens if the mag gets to high. Just looking to get outside the box thinking and suggestions. Thanks.

Gary Majchrzak · 05/19/2016, 06:39 AM

Before running tests for Ca, dKH, Mg etc. get SG up to 1.025

Choochoobb · 05/19/2016, 06:44 AM

Right now it's reading 1.023 I have had up to 1.023 the only things that has changed was calcium went to 500-520 but alk has always stayed in the 240+ range. Thanks for the suggestion I will try it again u never know.

Choochoobb · 05/19/2016, 06:48 AM

Also forgot to add I have 2 hang on back filters and 3
Power heads one pointed up one running long way on top of tank and one mid level so it's getting plenty of water movement to expel co2 if that helps any.

Treasure Coast · 05/19/2016, 06:56 AM

Maybe switch your salt. I started using Red Sea Coral Pro. It's been doing great for my corals. And like above member stated your salinity is fairly low for coral.

Choochoobb · 05/19/2016, 07:07 AM

Ok yeah I'll do that. Almost out of it anyhow. Thanks for the suggestion.

tmz · 05/19/2016, 10:53 AM

Id take the sg up first to 1.026. or 1.025.;then test. The salt mix may be contributing high calcium or it could be testing noise. What salt mix are you using now? Test the newly mixed salt water to see what thwe levels are. 560ppm isn't a big worry though I'd like to see it under 500. I don't know what 15/270 for alk means?

If it means 15 dkh ;it's very high and doesn't jibe with 1.023 sg unless you added supplements.

twon8 · 05/19/2016, 11:09 AM

Nothing wrong with instant ocean. It's been my main salt for a decade+. As others above have said m, Raise you sg up to 1.026 then test.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Choochoobb · 05/19/2016, 11:52 AM

It still has the same salt I haven't gotten anything new yet. After making the water the alk is about a 9 to 10 from the container. In tank it's 15. Calcium test from container is about 480 in tank it's pushing 500 so who knows. I'm gonna try a few things and see what happens. I don't supplement with anything only coral food and the minerals needed for them that's it. Maybe it's the food. I do appreciate the help and suggestions.

nuttyd · 05/19/2016, 12:17 PM

Have you tested for Mag yet? Ultimately mag controls both alk and calcium.

reefgeezer · 05/19/2016, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Choochoobb

... I don't supplement with anything only coral food and the minerals needed for them that's it. Maybe it's the food. I do appreciate the help and suggestions.

What minerals or products are you adding?

05/19/2016, 06:32 AM	#1
Choochoobb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 8	Little bit of an issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Hello and good morning everyone. Quick question that has stumped me. Ok.. 40 gallon tank. Currently 2 clowns, 1 shrimp, 1 snail, 1 blue damsel, and a baby yellow tang. Yes I know the tank is not big enough for the tang but someone was getting rid of it so I took it for free. Anyhow. 1 pulsing Xenia, 1 Zoe, 1 mushroom coral. None of the corals are big maybe a quarter size each one. Now all levels are good expect 2. Salt 1.023, ph 7.9, nitrite 10, nitrate 0, amm 0 and here's the kicker calcium 560 and alk about 15/270. I can't seem to get the calcium and alk to stay stable. Local store said for me to dose mag for 2 weeks. I do 5 gallon water change every week using instant ocean salt. Water I use is fine no chemicals in it. I do not have a kit for mag I was told they are very inaccurate. Would dosing mag help in maintaining these and what happens if the mag gets to high. Just looking to get outside the box thinking and suggestions. Thanks.

05/19/2016, 06:39 AM	#2
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	Before running tests for Ca, dKH, Mg etc. get SG up to 1.025 __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

05/19/2016, 06:56 AM	#5
Treasure Coast Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Treasure Coast FL (Sewalls Point) Posts: 139	Maybe switch your salt. I started using Red Sea Coral Pro. It's been doing great for my corals. And like above member stated your salinity is fairly low for coral. __________________ 265 Gallon MarineLand +Red Sea S-650 + 3x Bio-cubes. Current Tank Info: 265 Gallon MarineLand +Red Sea S-650

05/19/2016, 10:53 AM	#7
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Id take the sg up first to 1.026. or 1.025.;then test. The salt mix may be contributing high calcium or it could be testing noise. What salt mix are you using now? Test the newly mixed salt water to see what thwe levels are. 560ppm isn't a big worry though I'd like to see it under 500. I don't know what 15/270 for alk means? If it means 15 dkh ;it's very high and doesn't jibe with 1.023 sg unless you added supplements. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

05/19/2016, 11:09 AM	#8
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	Nothing wrong with instant ocean. It's been my main salt for a decade+. As others above have said m, Raise you sg up to 1.026 then test. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

05/19/2016, 06:44 AM	#3
Choochoobb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 8	Right now it's reading 1.023 I have had up to 1.023 the only things that has changed was calcium went to 500-520 but alk has always stayed in the 240+ range. Thanks for the suggestion I will try it again u never know.

05/19/2016, 06:48 AM	#4
Choochoobb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 8	Also forgot to add I have 2 hang on back filters and 3 Power heads one pointed up one running long way on top of tank and one mid level so it's getting plenty of water movement to expel co2 if that helps any.

05/19/2016, 07:07 AM	#6
Choochoobb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 8	Ok yeah I'll do that. Almost out of it anyhow. Thanks for the suggestion.

05/19/2016, 11:52 AM	#9
Choochoobb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 8	It still has the same salt I haven't gotten anything new yet. After making the water the alk is about a 9 to 10 from the container. In tank it's 15. Calcium test from container is about 480 in tank it's pushing 500 so who knows. I'm gonna try a few things and see what happens. I don't supplement with anything only coral food and the minerals needed for them that's it. Maybe it's the food. I do appreciate the help and suggestions.

05/19/2016, 12:17 PM	#10
nuttyd Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Coral Gables Posts: 520	Have you tested for Mag yet? Ultimately mag controls both alk and calcium.