need salt info/etc

[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.

[fishguyxd]

ok with this new kit in hand (Salifert) KH/ALK. I took test from main diplay tank.
I did as directions said. I used 4 ml of water
and dropped in the "whole" 1 ml syringe (drop by drop) and it changed color on the "last" drop.

So I just want someone that is more familar with this test kit to tell me what the results would be so I can confirm my results.

please and thanks. according to the chart 0.98 is 0.3 dkh ( I should be up around 7-11dkh) or 0.56mls on the syringe correct ? to be in normal range.

[marie]

Originally Posted by fishguyxd

ok with this new kit in hand (Salifert) KH/ALK
I did as directions said. I used 4 ml of water
and dropped in the whole 1 ml syringe (drop by drop) and it changed color on the last drop so i just want someone that is more familar with this test kit to tell me what the results would be so I can confirm my results. please and thanks. according to the chart 0.98 is 0.3 dkh ( I should be up around 7-11dkh) or 0.56mls on the syringe.

I maybe confused but if you dripped most of the syringe in then your DKH is actually 15.7 (very high) which would explain why your calcium is so low (its all precipitating out).

When you mix up your new water do you add the salt first and then the water? Is there a white residue in the mixing bucket?

[fishguyxd]

That brand new kit I just bought which was not to be expire till 2011 was no good
I when't to lfs store and we did a few tests compared and the salfret was reading way high.

[michika]

So which test kits are you using for what? What are your parameters now?

[fishguyxd]

right now

cal is 420
mag just under 1500
Kh 8.4
Sal 1.026

my cal kit was a aqua pharmaceutical inc
my mag is a Salifert kit
kh results were a comparison between 3 kits ( and my new kh salifert kit) which was reading 12.2 kh
and salifert kit at the lfs that was open for day to day testing which was 8.6kh
and a new hagan opened there results were 8.4 kh

All test with my kits compared to tested at lfs using with there kits.