Magnesium and calcium levels

[Metrontech]

Hey guys and gals

Hoping someone can help

My levels are barely lowering week over week

My magnesium haven't gotten under 1400 and my calcium isn't going under 450

I am not dosing, I'm using pharmaceutical grade crystals with 5/3 mix for Mag

I read about people dosing, if I dose I would overload my tank

I'm keeping lps, softies and an anemone (which is doing really well )

Using a 300w led fixture

ALK ranges from 9-10

Salinity 1.025

Thanks for any input!

[Aquattro]

You don't have anything that's really using any. The LPS will use a bit over time, but water changes would likely keep up. Those are minerals and don't evaporate, they only deplete if things are using it to grow.

[Metrontech]

So how do I get them to use more?

I mean if everyone is dosing there must be something I need to adjust

[Aquattro]

Everyone isn't dosing, only those that are and post about it. Unless you have a lot of coral using Ca for building skeletal tissue, you won't use it. If you want to use more, buy more stony coral :)
LPS use a bit, but grow slow. Softies use a tiny amount, nothing you'd notice. Anemones, nada.

[Metrontech]

So then do I need weekly water changes?

Is there a pro and con to not doing them?

I mean if my levels are food why bother?

[Aquattro]

Yes. Water changes replenish elements you don't test for and dilute the build up of nutrients. Reefing isn't just about Ca and Mg. 20% biweekly will likely cover all your needs, and you save a whack of cash not having to dose. Consider yourself fortunate!

[Madreefer]

So how do I get them to use more?

I mean if everyone is dosing there must be something I need to adjust

Hey your lucky! Your saving money. The money your saving right now could be going towards SPS frags:biggrin:

Your parameters are good other than your Ca is a tad high. I shoot for 420

[Metrontech]

So higher Calc is bad? Does it affect the lps etc?

[Aquattro]

So higher Calc is bad? Does it affect the lps etc?

Not bad per se, but not needed. Ca on a reef is about 380ish. That's all you NEED. We keep it a bit higher in tanks to account for any sudden drops that might happen, giving us some wiggle room. Aiming for 400-420 is fine and leaves you that room.
What salt are you using, and how did you get to 450?

[Metrontech]

I purchase pharmaceutical grade from a guy here in the city

Its pure calcium carbonate

Also using Reef Crystals with the MAG and CAL added

Just did a 15 GALLON water change, I will do my reg testing later

Thanks again

Not bad per se, but not needed. Ca on a reef is about 380ish. That's all you NEED. We keep it a bit higher in tanks to account for any sudden drops that might happen, giving us some wiggle room. Aiming for 400-420 is fine and leaves you that room.
What salt are you using, and how did you get to 450?

[Aquattro]

Reef Crystals on it's own is probably fine.

[Metrontech]

I was having issues getting Mag and calcium up with normal water changes

Which is why I went thus route

Since then I have beem able to keep them all up and level

Ph is good and phosphate is 0-.011

Just have to sit back and allow it to go

Tank is only 3.5 months old

I purchase pharmaceutical grade from a guy here in the city

Its pure calcium carbonate

Also using Reef Crystals with the MAG and CAL added

Just did a 15 GALLON water change, I will do my reg testing later

Thanks again

[Aquattro]

I think for your needs, the salt is enough. What levels does it mix at?

[Metrontech]

Not sure what you mean by "my needs"

I'm slowly adding more and more lps Amd eventually sps

The salt really only gets me 300-350 cal and 1050 mag

Can never get it to be over those levels

I understood from everyone I spoke to that my Mag and calcium and alk had to be up and steady

What about using salinity instead?

Mike




I think for your needs, the salt is enough. What levels does it mix at?

[Aquattro]

Reef Crystals should mix much higher than that. Regular IO mixes near 270 or so on Ca.
Your "needs" are to keep Ca around 400, which RC should do fine without adding stuff. I don't personally care much what Mg numbers are, but no harm raising if you like. The alk you posted is fine.

What test kit gives RC salt Ca of 350? Doesn't sound right at all

[Metrontech]

That's the first in have ever heard of not keeping. I your Mag level

It starts with Mag, then alk then Calc

I'm more confused now

Reef Crystals should mix much higher than that. Regular IO mixes near 270 or so on Ca.
Your "needs" are to keep Ca around 400, which RC should do fine without adding stuff. I don't personally care much what Mg numbers are, but no harm raising if you like. The alk you posted is fine.

What test kit gives RC salt Ca of 350? Doesn't sound right at all

[Aquattro]

Ya, don't worry about my opinion on Mg, I'm mostly alone in that :) But pick some numbers, say 420 Ca, Mg 1350 or whatever, bring your tank to that and each time you make new water for a water change, raise it if needed, and do a water change. Don't worry about dosing or any of that stuff for a while, probably until you have visual and noticeable growth in stony corals.

[Reef Pilot]

As Brad says, your current parameters are just fine for LPS and softies, and you may be over concerned about your attention to Mg. I agree. Even for SPS these parameters would be good.

Having said, not a bad idea to nail down the practice of testing and maintaining all your parameters at a constant level (except MG can vary from 1050 - 1500) in preparation for adding SPS. Then it becomes very important, esp your alk, which you want to keep very constant. And of course keep N03 and P04 (which is also very important for SPS) near zero.

Good luck with your tank. I think you are on the right track.