High Calcium and Mag levels?

lilmonster · 12/12/2008, 12:08 AM

Are these calcium and mag levels High?
i've been doing 10gal water changes a week, but it's not going down.

My levels are
ph 8.2
Amonia 0
KH 7
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
phosphate 0
salinity 1.023
Calcium 560
Mg 1400

Most of my corals are doing great except for 2 and today my mandarians head looks very pale and she hasn't moved much all day.
I also have a red alge growing in a couple spots.

My system has about 55gl tank, 20gal fuge, and 15gal sump.
I use RODI water and Oceanic Salt.

What do you Think?

Billybeau1 · 12/12/2008, 12:13 AM

The salt mix you are using certainly answers your numbers question.

Oceanic is extremely high in calcium and magnesium and low (by comparison) in alkalinity.

It is the most unbalanced salt out there.

I would first change to another salt mix. Next, if you have microalgae, you may have excessive nutrients. Possibly phosphates and nitrates.

You may want to test for that.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 12/12/2008, 07:06 AM

FWIW, I don't think the elevated calcium and magnesium are causing any of the issues that you note. I would bring them down, but i'd also look for other causes of the problems you are having.

lilmonster · 12/12/2008, 05:35 PM

I found the list for the salt mixes and Yep, Oceanic has about the most of those two items.
My LFS has Oceanic, Instant Ocean, and Coralife.
the Instant Ocean has much less Calcium and Mag, and the alkalinity is 12 compared to 8.5 in oceanic, so I was going to change to Instant Ocean.

12/12/2008, 12:08 AM	#1
lilmonster Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 326	High Calcium and Mag levels? Are these calcium and mag levels High? i've been doing 10gal water changes a week, but it's not going down. My levels are ph 8.2 Amonia 0 KH 7 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 phosphate 0 salinity 1.023 Calcium 560 Mg 1400 Most of my corals are doing great except for 2 and today my mandarians head looks very pale and she hasn't moved much all day. I also have a red alge growing in a couple spots. My system has about 55gl tank, 20gal fuge, and 15gal sump. I use RODI water and Oceanic Salt. What do you Think?

12/12/2008, 07:06 AM	#3
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 81,937	FWIW, I don't think the elevated calcium and magnesium are causing any of the issues that you note. I would bring them down, but i'd also look for other causes of the problems you are having. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Club 65535 Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

12/12/2008, 12:13 AM	#2
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,164	The salt mix you are using certainly answers your numbers question. Oceanic is extremely high in calcium and magnesium and low (by comparison) in alkalinity. It is the most unbalanced salt out there. I would first change to another salt mix. Next, if you have microalgae, you may have excessive nutrients. Possibly phosphates and nitrates. You may want to test for that.

12/12/2008, 05:35 PM	#4
lilmonster Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 326	I found the list for the salt mixes and Yep, Oceanic has about the most of those two items. My LFS has Oceanic, Instant Ocean, and Coralife. the Instant Ocean has much less Calcium and Mag, and the alkalinity is 12 compared to 8.5 in oceanic, so I was going to change to Instant Ocean.