cloudy water

[roblarss]

No carbon dosing.
I am using instant ocean and the ph meter i used is calibrated (used at work).
Ill grab some new test kits and alot more salt on thursday and continue doing water changes.

[TimT]

I have had Instant Ocean be very high(12.8dKH) in Alk and low(1000 mg/l) in mag. Check your Magnesium before you do a water change. Also make sure the parameters are correct in the new salt water before using it in your tank.

[mikellini]

Originally Posted by TimT

I have had Instant Ocean be very high(12.8dKH) in Alk and low(1000 mg/l) in mag. Check your Magnesium before you do a water change. Also make sure the parameters are correct in the new salt water before using it in your tank.

Apparently instant ocean has changed their mix a bit with respect to mag, they've had higher mag (around 1350) for a while now from what I've read

[roblarss]

I emptied my last bucket of IO doing my last water changes and was surprised at the lack of alk drop by doing 3x 40gal changes. I havent been checking my wc water params but maybe i should. I cant get anymore io salt in the area i live. Going to head to edm on thurs to buy more salt and test kits ( anyone know who will have cal/mag kits instock in edm, seems many dont have them). My mag was at 900 once i got my alk and cal close so i may have added a bit much as i over a few weeks i tried o get it closer to proper levels.
My fish are alive but not eating that i can see 4" from the glass.
Damn foxface keeps staring at me as he sits by the tank glass and glares at me all day. Most fish i see once every few days.

[Myka]

I don't think doing waterchanges is your main concern right now. I would be getting test kits right away. Buy good ones - Salifert or Elos. The Hanna Checker for alkalinity is really good (the calcium one is terrible imo).

Step 1 - test magnesium. If it is lower than 1350, raise it up around 1300-1500 with magnesium chloride.

Step 2 - test alkalinity. Dose if needed (8-9 dKH). If high, move to step 3. Don't worry if it's 11-12 dKH, that's fine, just make just your calcium matches that (see chart below).

Step 3 - test calcium. Dose if needed (415-430 ppm). If high, wait it out.

Honestly, I think the problem is that you have high calcium and alkalinity and low magnesium. When you get magnesium up higher it should sort itself out. If it's bacteria, it will sort itself out too.

Also, test calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium of your water change water every time you open a new bucket. I haven't noticed an increase in magnesium in IO yet - maybe I have an old batch. If you're doing a bunch of water changes with saltwater low in magnesium it's not going to magically raise magnesium.

[roblarss]

Im using a hanna alk meter. I have the hanna calcium checker but never could get results that were consistant. I was using elos for my mag and calcium. Hopefully i will find a store in edmonton with the kits tomorrow. My last trip in i couldnt find any and my last order they were omited as out of stock.

I just did a group of tests
Sg 1.024
No3 10
Alk 208
Po4 1.56
Ca (hanna) 506, 454, 518

If the hanna is correct around 500 range then ca is a bit high.

[mikellini]

Originally Posted by Myka

I don't think doing waterchanges is your main concern right now. I would be getting test kits right away. Buy good ones - Salifert or Elos. The Hanna Checker for alkalinity is really good (the calcium one is terrible imo).

Step 1 - test magnesium. If it is lower than 1350, raise it up around 1300-1500 with magnesium chloride.

Step 2 - test alkalinity. Dose if needed (8-9 dKH). If high, move to step 3. Don't worry if it's 11-12 dKH, that's fine, just make just your calcium matches that (see chart below).

Step 3 - test calcium. Dose if needed (415-430 ppm). If high, wait it out.

Honestly, I think the problem is that you have high calcium and alkalinity and low magnesium. When you get magnesium up higher it should sort itself out. If it's bacteria, it will sort itself out too.

Also, test calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium of your water change water every time you open a new bucket. I haven't noticed an increase in magnesium in IO yet - maybe I have an old batch. If you're doing a bunch of water changes with saltwater low in magnesium it's not going to magically raise magnesium.

Wouldn't raise mag, but would lower calcium, especially if it's io. His sg is a bit low so maybe adding a ton of mag chloride is a good idea, but typically that would raise your sg a bit much. Plus a water change is cheap.

[roblarss]

Finally got a mg test kit. Called every store that i know of in edmonton and finally one with a kit.

mg = 1200
ca = 310
alk = 220

Guess I will take the calcium up to about 450

This still baffles me that Im getting precipitate as I have had similar readings as this except my mg was lower.