water quality prob?

[FishyFarr]

so I bought some more water parameter kits
My water is at:
PH 8.4 a little high
9 DKH good maybe a little low?
ammonia 0 again yeah
nitrates 0 still (thought they would go up after ammonia spiked at 5 with new fish ??)
salinity 1.026 tested at 36 ppt (basic hydrometer says 1.026 but it reads RO water at .002-.003 ?)
phosphates at 0 (yeah )
Calcium 380 (a little low )
MG 1400 WOW thats way high
ok so do I let the corals drop my ca and mg before trying to dose to increase calcium?
I bought a Calcium supplement called "SEACHEM" Reef complete it states it raises calcium but maintains MG (since my MG is high I thought I should get some other ideas before I dose for calcium increase)

The hiatt filtration system I use instructed me to make my output produce more bubbles I am stopping that for tonite to see if and how much the PH drops. (aeration is said to increase PH a bit so I thought I would check this)

I am a little worried about the very high MG but do I need to be ?

Thanks for the help.
You guys have been great. :bigsmile:

 

[Blackhawk Fan]

Your mg is fine and so is your DKH. You need to get your Ca up around 400-450 though.

 

[ahayes13]

i kept my mag. between 1500-1600 with no ill effects. it also helps to keep down any algae

 

[Fragged_it]

Your mg is fine and so is your DKH. You need to get your Ca up around 400-450 though.

+1

I try and maintain my alkalinity between 10-11 dKh

 

[RBursek]

If you get your Mg too low it ia hard to get and keep Ca up to the levels you need.

 

[FishyFarr]

without the extra aeration My ph dropped to 8.3 I will continue to monitor.
I added the ca additive I bought and will measure it tomorrow.
thanks for the help.

 

[Amici]

What are you basing the numbers on when you say they are high or low? Your pH is just fine, you want btw 7.8-8.4 but having it stable is most important. Mag is fine where it is but the dkh and calc are a little low.

What test kit are you using? The 0 phos and 0 trates is a bit suspicious IMO.

 

[shapermike]

Having you DKH at 8 to 12 is ok but you need to keep it stable. I run my DKH in my frag system at 7.8 to 8.6. I dose BRS two part. I add 1200 ml ever 3 days on average

Now Phosphate is passably in range the standers test kits will show 0 even with a photo meeter shows .5. I finely bought a Hanna photo meter and I test about once a month to determine if I need to change my GFO. I keep my tank around .02 to .07 and the I change my GFO. I dont trust the standed PO4 test kits.

now your mag is ok, I try to keep my Mag at 1300 to 1400. It takes a lot to get it back up if you neglect it and I do some time... I have herd that keeping it up as high 1600 is ok.

Cal is on the low end but still ok, NSW I think is around 410 to 420 not sure. I keep my system around 400 to 450. the arows like it a little better but 380 to 400 is ok for most LPS corals.

I hop this helps hear is a good plave to get some good information

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com


Tank Calcium 380-420 ppm Alkalinity 7.9-11 dKH Salinity 35 ppt or sg = 1.026--
pH 7.8-8.4
Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm Phosphate 0.03 ppm


NSW Calcium 420 ppm Alkalinity 380-450 ppm Salinity 34-36 ppt sg = 1.025-1.027 pH 8.0-8.3 Magnesium 1280 ppm Phosphate 0.005 ppm about