Help with Ideal water parameters

tsdid

tsdid

Member
Im hopeing someone can help, I have been doing saltwater aquariums for about 3 months now. I am slowly working my way to a reef tank but right now its fwlr, and inverts. I have been ready that the ideal parameters depend on salinity and temp. I have got all my basic levels in check amm, nitrate,nitrite,PH, now im working on alk, calcium, and magnesium. I keep my temp at 80, and my salinity is at 1.025. My recent and first tests for calcium alk, and magnesum are
Calcium 280
Alk 3.89
Magnesium 1050
I realized my problem with calcium and mag are probably that I used regular IO, I did a water change last weekend with reef crystals, and it bumped my calcium up to 310. I did not test the mag before the reef crystals.
So i quess my question is will what should I do to get my tank to ideal parameters, I have kent liquid calcium, but am afraid to use it because i dont want to throw things off. If i did use that is my magnesium level to low, will the calcium go up or keep dropping. My other thought is i might just do water changes every week with reef crystals untill i get the levels up.
any advice would be great thx.
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Originally Posted by tsdid
Im hopeing someone can help, I have been doing saltwater aquariums for about 3 months now. I am slowly working my way to a reef tank but right now its fwlr, and inverts. I have been ready that the ideal parameters depend on salinity and temp. I have got all my basic levels in check amm, nitrate,nitrite,PH, now im working on alk, calcium, and magnesium. I keep my temp at 80, and my salinity is at 1.025. My recent and first tests for calcium alk, and magnesum are
Calcium 280
Alk 3.89
Magnesium 1050
I realized my problem with calcium and mag are probably that I used regular IO, I did a water change last weekend with reef crystals, and it bumped my calcium up to 310. I did not test the mag before the reef crystals.
So i quess my question is will what should I do to get my tank to ideal parameters, I have kent liquid calcium, but am afraid to use it because i dont want to throw things off. If i did use that is my magnesium level to low, will the calcium go up or keep dropping. My other thought is i might just do water changes every week with reef crystals untill i get the levels up.
any advice would be great thx.
If you noticed a change in your calcium with just one water change with a new salt, then stick with that method. You're not in a hurry, just want to see results...well as you know, the best results in this hobby take time and patience. I would also be hesitant to add things to my tank for results that could very easily be achieved with diligent maintenance.
Take your time to enjoy your tank.
I had the same thing with my first reef when starting out with IO salt, plus the extra added attraction of various kinds of algae. After I started doing water changes with Oceanic, my calcium came up quite nicely and the algae dissipated (with a few other environmental changes as well).
Good luck. Keep us posted on what you decide.
Lisa
 
myreef05

myreef05

Member
Originally Posted by MonaLisa
If you noticed a change in your calcium with just one water change with a new salt, then stick with that method. You're not in a hurry, just want to see results...well as you know, the best results in this hobby take time and patience. I would also be hesitant to add things to my tank for results that could very easily be achieved with diligent maintenance.
Take your time to enjoy your tank.
I had the same thing with my first reef when starting out with IO salt, plus the extra added attraction of various kinds of algae. After I started doing water changes with Oceanic, my calcium came up quite nicely and the algae dissipated (with a few other environmental changes as well).
Good luck. Keep us posted on what you decide.
Lisa
spot on advice, I did the same.
 
tsdid

tsdid

Member
Hey thanks a lot i think thats what i am going to do, I hear so many people on here haveing huge flucuations in ph, alk, and its mainly from additives buffers etc. Oceanic, is that the natural seawater, premix?
 
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