Mag/Calc

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#21
i think if cal is that high is precipitates and clouds the tank and snows on everything blah blah.. i have new tests kits if you need them james.
 
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#24
breathe man!

you're an RN, so if you were at work you would recheck this result... borrow another reefer's test kit.

then, just like with electrolyte abnormalities, correcting them too fast is as bad the abnormal value itself. you might overshoot in the other direction, then you'll see global RTN guaranteed.

consider 10-20% water changes over the next few days instead?
 
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#25
Well just ike Rayray said I redid the test and calc is still in the 900 but mag seems way lower like 800-900 (kinda border line since I am color blind so kinda hard to see the color changes.) If my mag is that low then I can undestand the high levels of calcium and KH. Ill try another test kit in the morning and thanks Rayray you know how it is for us we are never satisfied with weird suspecting lab results even though the MDs are fine with it lol!
 
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#26
yep those numbers dont make sense... I would get several water samples from the DT in at least 3 different high flow areas.

alk is THE priority. with alk that high it would be hard to get ca2+ to 900, pH would remain high (like >8.4) and not swing much at night. I have read of people who have driven their calcium reactors too high regularly have dKH>12 with out issue, seen some as high as dKH 22 and then CRASH!!!

as others mentioned, i thought ca2+ higher than 600 would likely precipitate, and the fish would die too?

with mg2+ that high your salinity would also be really high, like >1.030?
 
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#27
Definitely breathe. I'd get new test kits for sure just to be sure. But you can get mag that high--many have done it to kill bryopsis; I doubt the calcium is that high but with high mag I could see high alk/calcium for sure.
 
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#28
I redid the mag test and this time I got 800-900 ish so I am suspecting my mag test bad. I am, however, going to buy a new mag, calc, kh test kit in the morning so we shall see. You are right though there should be some form of precipitation happening unless when I was adding magnesium it kept that from happening. If mag is truely low I dont have much time as I think the tank is attempting to correct itself if my calc levels are where the test kit says. Regardless, new kits in the morning and my magnesium supplement comes in the mail as well. If mag is indeed low I will do the small changes and dose mag up to desired levels and that should allow for the alk and calc to drop and correct itself.
 
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#29
bro i got Hanna checkers at the shop for cal/alk/pos, brg some water in after 2ish and il check your water.
if you cant make it down the hill i live in hesperia and can brg them home with me and hook you up lmk.
 
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#31
Sweet thanks Jason! I'll hit you up tomorrow.
np will get some real prams, as i think you got some bad test.
if i read it right your doing the 1/2 test the one that make's your test go two times as far right?
if so try doing one with the full amount.
il pm you my ph # call me after 3-4 im going to make a fish run and will be super bizzzy till after 3-4. :victory:
 
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#32
OK did some retesting with salifert test:

KH is 12 with dKH around 220 (previous was 18/320)
Calcium is still 900+
Mag is 1100

Will stop by Jasons store on Thursday to have calcium checked with his Hannah checker. Perhaps the WC helped? Will check my new batch tonight and see what the tests give me.
 
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#33
Okay tested the mixed water from last night:

Calc 380
Mag 1200
Salinity 1.024
kH 7

Did a 5% (10 Gallons) for a water change and retsted the water.

Calc 840
Mag 1150
kH is still at 12

Ill keep doing small 5% water changes until I get my levels down. As far as mag I wont dose anything until calc is below 500. Also will kH go down as I continue to do water changes? kH is 0 if I use the water from my ro/di setup.
 

5ft24

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#35
Okay tested the mixed water from last night:

Calc 380
Mag 1200
Salinity 1.024
kH 7

Did a 5% (10 Gallons) for a water change and retsted the water.

Calc 840
Mag 1150
kH is still at 12

Ill keep doing small 5% water changes until I get my levels down. As far as mag I wont dose anything until calc is below 500. Also will kH go down as I continue to do water changes? kH is 0 if I use the water from my ro/di setup.
You can add Brightwells Phosphate-E to lower alk... a side effect as it removes Phosphates...
 
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#36
@ Smalltime: I am bringing in some sample water to Jason tomorrow afternoon before work, I bought new test kits but would be good to know that the results will hopefully be the same.

@ 5ft24: Thanks Ill give that a try. I have read that kH of 8-13 is okay and if it stays at 12 I may be contempt to not have to add anything at this point. Ironic if calcium is really that high then that explains the brown stuff I have to keep scraping off the front of my tank as it was more than likely calcium precipitation rather than coralline growing lol. Thanks for your help guys!
 

5ft24

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#37
@ Smalltime: I am bringing in some sample water to Jason tomorrow afternoon before work, I bought new test kits but would be good to know that the results will hopefully be the same.

@ 5ft24: Thanks Ill give that a try. I have read that kH of 8-13 is okay and if it stays at 12 I may be contempt to not have to add anything at this point. Ironic if calcium is really that high then that explains the brown stuff I have to keep scraping off the front of my tank as it was more than likely calcium precipitation rather than coralline growing lol. Thanks for your help guys!
As long as things aren't looking bad, and are growing good, then KH will be OK... may still want to drop it down, as there is better growth towards the 8-9 range... just make sure to do it SLOWLY... rapid changes to most any param usually cause issues...
 
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#38
sorry for stealing your thread james, but i'm in the same situation as you too my dad bought me a hydnophora a couple days ago and it started dying out already, so i tested the water everything is good except for alk which is at 12.8 and for some reason my calc was from 300 and now it's at 500
 

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