Ca/Alk/Mag Mess . . . How to fix?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Enigma

It is a new bag of salt. That makes me a bit nervous, as it could be quite different from the previous bucket.

Honestly, it's just salt. As long as it's the same brand as what you've been using, you're good. Mix it up for an hour, if it mixes clear, that's my sign that salt is good.
If you're still concerned, do a quick alk test. You don't need to knead the bag, or flip it, or mix for 24 hours. Mix it in RO, let it go clear and hit a close temp to what you need, and change water. It's just a water change.

[gregzz4]

Although I agree with most of everything said, I find that my salt does not mix to the proper Sg in an hour or so
I find it takes overnight for the Sg to stabilize, but that could be just me

It's also been pointed out to me that my testing of Ca over 500 from a bucket is not right, and I agree it was way too hi, which is why I started the thread I did

I tried my best to prove it wrong, but it came out that hi after multiple tests

I would like to think that the bucket I was just finishing, and the Elos test kit I was using at the time, were not getting along ..

But, I still get readings of 460 or higher with a brand new bucket of IO and a brand new Elos kit

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Enigma

My LPS look wonderful. My SPS aren't perfect, but okay. A couple are a little browned, but growing. I can't tell by looking at anything that the calcium is so out.
.

sounds like a typical mixed reef to me, lps doing fine and sps could be doing better:P

i

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by reefwars

sounds like a typical mixed reef to me, lps doing fine and sps could be doing better:P

i

That sums it up nicely.

The only thing I think when I look at the system is that nutrients are a bit too high, and lighting is a touch to low. Those are the two things that look "off" based on how things are doing.