Tank Parameters question
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URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=85328
Printed Date: May 15 2025 at 3:24am
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Topic: Tank Parameters question
Posted By: Skyward Imaging
Subject: Tank Parameters question
Date Posted: May 19 2019 at 4:14pm
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So I did some testing with the https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-reef-foundation-pro-multi-test-kit-ca-alk-mg.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw_YPnBRBREiwAIP6TJ18L4tBSkfN5XcC5eOUozO10Yt5VDtKQYbqrC1xE4UK6XBgqbWOjeBoCLAUQAvD_BwE" rel="nofollow - Red Sea Pro Test Kit and my parameters are as follows. Alk - 9.8dKH Magnesium - 1800 (It tops out at 1600 and I used a little more so if my math is correct it is 1800) Calcium - 450 Seems the Magnesium is high will this balance out over time or should I be doing something about it?
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Replies:
Posted By: WildBill
Date Posted: May 19 2019 at 7:58pm
| When’s the last time you did a water change? |
Posted By: Skyward Imaging
Date Posted: May 19 2019 at 8:00pm
| I haven’t. It’s only about 3 weeks old. |
Posted By: knowen87
Date Posted: May 20 2019 at 9:02am
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Did you retest to make sure your procedure was accurate? 2ml is not a lot of tank water and I hate my mag tests. 1 drop every 15 seconds. You need to follow the instructions the best you can. Also is you kit expired? I am assuming that you aren't dosing any magnesium. |
Posted By: Kevin
Date Posted: May 20 2019 at 9:43am
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I would recommend you test your magnesium test kit against some newly mixed salt water. Usually salt comes with the expected levels printed on the side of the bucket/bag. If that measures high I would then test the water in someone else's tank or use someone else's test kit to verify your own tank. Have you been dosing magnesium? 1800 is really high. If it really is that high I would work to bring it down. |
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: May 20 2019 at 10:32am
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Are you dosing or running a reactor? What brand of salt are you using? Do you have snails and other inverts in your tank? Are you seeing something bad going on in your tank that you are trying to solve? Do you have a target range that you are trying to hit for each of those values? Sometimes reacting to a number is more of a problem than the actual number. ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: Skyward Imaging
Date Posted: May 20 2019 at 3:13pm
Instant Ocean. No Dosing or Reactor. I have 10 hermits and 4 snails. Nothing bad going on just concerned it was high. I did a 3 gallon water change and retested it. It dropped to normal so I'm not going to overthink it. I might have did the Mag test incorrectly the first time. Calcium - 450 Alk - 9.2 Magnesium - 1600
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Krazie4Acans wrote:Posted By: knowen87
Date Posted: May 20 2019 at 3:19pm
| I'm glad it came back normal. When I get a reading that is way far off of where it should be I always retest. 90% of the time, i did something wrong with the first test. |
Posted By: Skyward Imaging
Date Posted: May 20 2019 at 5:14pm
I'm glad too.
 I am sure that I did something wrong the first go around.  |
Posted By: Krazie4Acans
Date Posted: May 21 2019 at 12:34pm
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1600ppm for Mg is still quite high. Regular instant ocean or reef crystals? What are the target numbers you would like for your tank? A 3 gallon water change would not be able to reduce mag numbers from 1800 to 1600 unless that is a 70+% water change on your tank. I would definately question the accuracy of the first test. One thing I do when I get a really weird test number is to immediately test again to see if I get the same number. That usually tells me if I need to do something or not. ------------- My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63568&title=krazies-nano-paradise" rel="nofollow - Tank Thread: |
Posted By: Skyward Imaging
Date Posted: May 21 2019 at 12:58pm
I think the test was off the first time but I did 2 other tests with a new test kit and got 1600. My tank is 13.5 gallons and I did a 3 gallon water change. I’m not dosing and yes it’s regular instant ocean. However, I did use some rock and water from a tank I tore down to help with the cycle. I’m assuming that tank was off on their levels. Today is my 50% water change day so I’m going to retest after that settles. I just want the 3 to balance out so that’s my target. |