need salt info/etc

[mark]

I'm feeling a little responsible here but...

Doing right with the water changes. Also suggest if you going to be adding anything, get a good test kit so you can measure yourself. That way you can monitor changes as you slowly dose so you don't go over. Again slowly in this hobby, reason why one acclimatizes new stock is so that they're not shocked by sudden changes in parameters.

Wonder if the test kit was Hagen? Their test has the number of drops x 10 to get hardness in mg/l (PPM). I got sold the big kit from a LFS that I never got around to throw out, so was able to try hardness with it.

Though expired, just tested my water and got 11 drops so 110 ppm (within the ideal range from the Hagen pamphlet included with the kit, 105-125mg/l (ocean being 125mg/l)). Interesting thing is this afternoon tested the tank with Salifert (and yes heard of the bad batches) but got 9.6KH (~190ppm). Just with difference between the two, and I'm leaning that the Salifert is more correct, if I would start dosing based on the Hagen I would have driven my alk beyond ideal.

Guess the other thing to say if the tank was looking okay before, use that as an indicator if you should be adding anything.

[fishguyxd]

Well in the crash mode here. lost the zoo's, snails and crabs,featherduster Did another water change so see what happens, Spoke with the LFS again and they confirmed the kit they used was "PPM" reading and a hagan kit So that's the update.

[fishguyxd]

Hi Well Not a whole lot change here
the water has been changed alot
Using a new salt (reef Crystals)

At most recent tests (from display tank)
Cal is 220
Alk is 180-190 (ppm) per instruction(hagan test kit)
Salitity is at 1.022
ph is still hi at about 8.6

fish are doing well and two little green mushrooms are all that I found still going.

Anyone have idea's
should I add some Cal or look at mag level
I not sure where the cal is going there is nothing in tank to consume it.
how much calcium can a person add per day?
Well that's my update.

[mark]

Have you measured your SW mix before adding to tank?

I'm using IO and find right out of the bucket it's low Ca and Mg and on the high end for Alk, see here . Obviously if relying on the IO alone, I couldn't get the numbers I was wanting.

[fishguyxd]

ok tonight out of a new mix 5 gal mix ( from a rubbermade container not display tank)
the results are using "reef crystals salt"
Sal 1.023
ph 8.2
kh 110 meg /L or 11 drops
CaL 280 -300
mag is about 930 (salfret kit) I know it should be higher

So is this ok ?
I usually do not take "all" these tests from a new batch of water.
any imput?
I do hope by keeping all reefers updated someone new in the hobby will get a chance to read and learn.
Someone had a post & link with regards to using epson salt to boost mag
? Is this corect and how safe is it?
Well tomorrow I will test display tank and see what's taking place.

[mark]

Article on Mg with DIY supplements (Epson salts okay, not ideal).

With the low Mg, going to have a hard time getting Ca up.

Need to check your units, you don't have 110 meg/l (think you're ppm).

Here for levels (table 1).

[fishguyxd]

thanks yes that correct I was thinking in meg but it is ppm.