Stability issues (1 Viewer)

[mitchell77546]

So I just started trying to solve my magnesium issue and I’ve been boosting my alk trying to move my alk up to 8DKH. Tank has been doing good all this past week and I finally got it to 8 over a 4 day period. Dosing 10ml every hous one the hour 14 times a day. My calcium has been pretty high at 460-480 and hasn’t moved from there. I started adding mag to get it from 1140 up th 1300. I dosed it Thursday 14.5 oz because the calculator said I need 45ish oz. the alk started to fall of when I dosed it the first time with mag so I upped the dose to 15ml on the hour but it’s still dropping off since I added the second dose of mag. I’m assuming that I’m simply not adding enough alk to keep up because maybe my uptake has increased? There isn’t any visible precipitation anywhere. Not sure what is going on since I’ve never seen any precipitation and there is no crystalline formations. In theory I should have precipitation since my mag has always been low right? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mitchell77546]

So I just started trying to solve my magnesium issue and I’ve been boosting my alk trying to move my alk up to 8DKH. Tank has been doing good all this past week and I finally got it to 8 over a 4 day period. Dosing 10ml every hous one the hour 14 times a day. My calcium has been pretty high at 460-480 and hasn’t moved from there. I started adding mag to get it from 1140 up th 1300. I dosed it Thursday 14.5 oz because the calculator said I need 45ish oz. the alk started to fall of when I dosed it the first time with mag so I upped the dose to 15ml on the hour but it’s still dropping off since I added the second dose of mag. I’m assuming that I’m simply not adding enough alk to keep up because maybe my uptake has increased? There isn’t any visible precipitation anywhere. Not sure what is going on since I’ve never seen any precipitation and there is no crystalline formations. In theory I should have precipitation since my mag has always been low right? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mitchell77546]

Also I’m using a calculator and mixing dry materials with RODI.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

Yes I think you are probably spot on, uptake has increased as the elements get balanced properly. I'm thinking your calcium is higher than it says since you had super low mag. Mag goes up, more oversaturated calcium made available so it stays in that high range and then Alk goes down with the higher uptake of mag and calc. Think you have the right idea and your tank is just using a lot since it was basically starving for mag. It will take a couple weeks to balance but you will eventually catch up to the starving mag. A lot is used right now but it will slow down as the coral gets back to a normal level.

 

[Reefahholic]

Heavy growth coming! Mix that 2-part!!!

 

[Cody]

Yes I think you are probably spot on, uptake has increased as the elements get balanced properly. I'm thinking your calcium is higher than it says since you had super low mag. Mag goes up, more oversaturated calcium made available so it stays in that high range and then Alk goes down with the higher uptake of mag and calc. Think you have the right idea and your tank is just using a lot since it was basically starving for mag. It will take a couple weeks to balance but you will eventually catch up to the starving mag. A lot is used right now but it will slow down as the coral gets back to a normal level.

Bingo. This issue he’s having is a great problem to have. It’s a very good indicator that your corals are happy with the adjustments made.

I use the analogy of a train and a car dead even with each other not moving. For one to start moving or increase speed, the other has to increase at a similar speed or they both can’t progress. Eventually, if both increase speed at about the same rate then they can both reach a maximum speed. In this story, the train is consumption and the car is the amount you need to dose.

 

[mitchell77546]

Calcium is 500 now. Ugh I’m not even adding calcium to the tank….

 

[Reefahholic]

Calcium is 500 now. Ugh I’m not even adding calcium to the tank….

What test kits are you using? With weird numbers like this. Test at the exact same time daily and keep a log until you can understand the chemistry. Track the exact dosing and tank response the following day.

 

[mitchell77546]

Salifert, api, Red Sea pro. I’m using Red Sea alk and using salifert to manually verify from time to time. The reefbot likes the red sea from what I understand.