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View Full Version : cal. high alk normal help needed plz

diablo30xp
12/12/2011, 02:41 PM
Well just like the title says, my calcium is at 500 for the last 2 weeks and my alk has only droppped 1dkh in the same time frame. My mag has been at around 750 from what the test says. I need some help as to what i need to be doing right... As for corals i only have fist size pink milli and 2 frags from that. I have 3 pink birds nest frags as well no more than half and inch long. 4 frags of grn toadstool. 4 grn mushrooms. 1 regular size ric. and a sm. ric that started to grow next to it. Some pulsing xenia 2 sm. kenya trees... 2 50 cent sized orange caps....2 good size colonies of zoas and a couple of small ones on a few rocks here and there....2 rbtas hand palm size...so i would greatly appreciate the feed back to what i might need to do to get things back to normal...oh b4 i forget i do 15 gal water changes once a month..:confused:
m2434
12/12/2011, 03:28 PM
How and what are you testing with? What is your specific gravity? Are you testing with a calibrated refractometer (or equivalent)? What salt are you using.

Those numbers just don't seem believable, especially considering the mg.
m2434
12/12/2011, 03:29 PM
duplicate
diablo30xp
12/12/2011, 03:36 PM
my specific gravity is at 1.028 on the high side and i use a hydrometer....my alk and cal test kit is api....my salt is reef crystals i have been useing for 1 and half yrs....my mag test kit is by red sea...i have tested twice just incase it was an error on my part....
Randy Holmes-Farley
12/12/2011, 04:05 PM
I expect the magnesium number is testing error, the calcium is ok, and you did not mention what the alkalinity actually is. :)
diablo30xp
12/12/2011, 04:08 PM
yes that would help wouldn't it lol sry about that... its at 8 which i usually keep at 9....
Randy Holmes-Farley
12/12/2011, 04:12 PM
I wouldn't worry then, as the magnesium is so low it isn't likely accurate, and the others are fine.

What salt mix and did you ever use that kit on it?
diablo30xp
12/12/2011, 04:17 PM
i use reef crystals but have never tested the water i mix up...which i think i need to do though.....
Randy Holmes-Farley
12/12/2011, 04:42 PM
Yes, but realize this is more likely a test of the kit operation, not the salt mix. :)

I have much more confidence in RC having reasonable magnesium than in most kit readings when a result is that far off of expectation. :)