Ca/Alk/Mag Mess . . . How to fix?

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

To some extent I will agree with Denny.

I was using sachem salinity salt for over a year and could never get my alk above 6. This affected my ability to keep sps, they never did well for me. Ive switched to reef crystals and have only done 1 test for mag, still at 1250, haven't tested for anything else as my corals look like they are doing better regardless.

Oops. I thought it was the Reef Crystals that were causing your Alk problem. My bad.

[Coralgurl]

No worries it still had the same effect on the rest of the parameters.

[reefwars]

i think the overall goal is to just not have a tank riddled with algae and be able to fill it and sustain life , the rest is envy like sheena said.

most people buy a calcium test first...why , because its the easiest one for them to remember when at the store, all 3 need to be gotten right from the start or none are anygood to you except to see where you are, you couldnt add anything because you dont know what the others are.

but most people dont do that, they will buy a calcium test kit and add calcium or some other suppliment at the same time. it goes like that for a bit then the person realizes they need the alk test too .

so they test alk.....this is where most people freak out now, so they start changing salts as its the easiest way for a new person to chaange alk(alk is tricky to understand) .

once this keeps up they start reading that there relationships between the 3 and start back tracking over things theyve already added.....


you can see this is getting a bit crowded and confusing on whats going in and out right??


my opionion is if your goal is for a nice reef , stick to the basic instructions, but if your really want to do the chemistry part you need to log and journal everything, you have to eliminate yourself from alot of the variables, so get good testers, good dosers and good equipment all around, its hard to learn something when the equipment you use is not accurrate.

[rhody605]

A log is a very useful tool. No everyone has a perfect memory. And it will show trends or mistakes.

[Enigma]

I do log everything. It helps a lot. Well, I don't log when I feed. That's just habit by now.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by LeanneP

I will vouch for Greg on the high calcium in the IO salt as I have the same problem too. My calcium was measuring over 500 from the IO salt and I was also getting really high alk as well around 17 at Christmas time.
Leanne

I'm on my second set of the big 3 test kits with the same results
I've seen lots on the web and a few here mention the IO was out of whack going back as far as X-mas

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Enigma

Well, if it happened to two of you . . . I'll cut Greg some slack.

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Ok, maybe Greg isn't crazy, but something is still wrong. IO should not read that high in Ca..

I wish my tests were off
Hopefully the next bucket will be better and, if not, I'll be buying some other test kits for reference

[Enigma]

The Seachem test kits have a reference sample in them. Maybe someone close to you has some? If not, I could try mailing you some: if I can figure out how best to package it.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Enigma

The Seachem test kits have a reference sample in them. Maybe someone close to you has some? If not, I could try mailing you some: if I can figure out how best to package it.

Thanks for the offer
I'll buy the Seachem kits if my next bucket is out of whack and then will be sending the Elos kits off for analysis

[daplatapus]

You guys had me totally curious as I've never tested my NSW. Checked it this afternoon and my Ca was 330 with an Elos kit.