Question about ca, mg, kh water perimeters. Again..

One fish · 04/24/2015, 11:56 PM

Hopefully I can explain my question the right way... Is it important for calcium, magnesium, and kh to be the same all the time? Mine are low. Should I be striving to make them tip top of calcium 420 and kh 8 to 9? Or keep it steady where it is with just water changes.
I guess my main question is... Will lots of fluctuation in those three parameters make my corald unhappy?
I really really appreciate your replys and advice!

homer1475 · 04/25/2015, 04:39 AM

You should strive for all water parameters to be constant for coral, and not just the big 3, but temp, salinity, Nitrates, and phosphates also.

You didn't post exactly what your CA, KA, MG, results actually are?

CuzzA · 04/25/2015, 05:34 AM

Alkalinity and salinity are the two parameters you want as consistent as possible. As far as the others, as long as they are within NSW levels you'll be fine with a little fluctuation. Even natural reefs aren't as consistent as we think. Tides, evaporation, currents and precipitation are always changing the chemical makeup of a reef. Especially very shallow reefs or ones that are exposed during low tide.

One fish · 04/25/2015, 12:10 PM

My ca is 400 and my kh is 8. I cannot get either above that. My temp salinity and nitrates are always stable, they never change. Just wondering if I should start raising mg to raise the ca and kh or just keep it how it is.

CuzzA · 04/25/2015, 12:52 PM

Those #'s are just fine.

One fish · 04/25/2015, 01:04 PM

Thanks a lot CuzzA

gone fishin · 04/25/2015, 01:21 PM

I think you would be ok there. Just keep in mind that as you add corals those numbers may go down.

One fish · 04/25/2015, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gone fishin

I think you would be ok there. Just keep in mind that as you add corals those numbers may go down.

Yes you're right I have noticed that! I think my low ca and kh started when I added two more sps peices.

gone fishin · 04/25/2015, 03:15 PM

I went along for awhile with out much of change. Then like you added a couple more, must have found the tipping point for my tank. I started dosing 2 part and all has been good. Since adding more and the others growing I have steadily increased my dosing pump rate over the last couple of years.

04/24/2015, 11:56 PM	#1
One fish Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Springfield Va Posts: 297	Question about ca, mg, kh water perimeters. Again.. Hopefully I can explain my question the right way... Is it important for calcium, magnesium, and kh to be the same all the time? Mine are low. Should I be striving to make them tip top of calcium 420 and kh 8 to 9? Or keep it steady where it is with just water changes. I guess my main question is... Will lots of fluctuation in those three parameters make my corald unhappy? I really really appreciate your replys and advice!

04/25/2015, 04:39 AM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	You should strive for all water parameters to be constant for coral, and not just the big 3, but temp, salinity, Nitrates, and phosphates also. You didn't post exactly what your CA, KA, MG, results actually are? __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

04/25/2015, 01:21 PM	#7
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I think you would be ok there. Just keep in mind that as you add corals those numbers may go down. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

04/25/2015, 03:15 PM	#9
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I went along for awhile with out much of change. Then like you added a couple more, must have found the tipping point for my tank. I started dosing 2 part and all has been good. Since adding more and the others growing I have steadily increased my dosing pump rate over the last couple of years. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

04/25/2015, 05:34 AM	#3
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	Alkalinity and salinity are the two parameters you want as consistent as possible. As far as the others, as long as they are within NSW levels you'll be fine with a little fluctuation. Even natural reefs aren't as consistent as we think. Tides, evaporation, currents and precipitation are always changing the chemical makeup of a reef. Especially very shallow reefs or ones that are exposed during low tide.

04/25/2015, 12:10 PM	#4
One fish Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Springfield Va Posts: 297	My ca is 400 and my kh is 8. I cannot get either above that. My temp salinity and nitrates are always stable, they never change. Just wondering if I should start raising mg to raise the ca and kh or just keep it how it is.

04/25/2015, 12:52 PM	#5
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	Those #'s are just fine.

04/25/2015, 01:04 PM	#6
One fish Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Springfield Va Posts: 297	Thanks a lot CuzzA