Water Params..

Howdy all - just got done doing my weekly water change, maintenance, etc. Picked myself up a Red Sea MG test kit today too. Here's my params:

SG - 1.022 (low, I know - will need to raise)
PH - 8.4
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 15
NH4 - 0
PO4 - 1 (down from 2.5 )
CA - 380 (up from 260)
MG - 1280

Now here's the part that sucks. My Alkalinity has been steadily going down, but for some reason is still incredibly high. Right now, using the chart from API, 12 drops equates to a dkh of 12. I have to put in 18 drops (dkh - 18 ) to make the change. Last week, I had to put in around 26 drops to make the change, and taking the water to the LFS, who used a Hagen kit, agreed that my test kit wasn't in fact broken, but my Alk was high. My CA has come up from 260 since I first tested, and I've been dosing Seachem Ions to raise the MG, and it looks like it's working.

Looks like if I continue to change with RO and slowly rid myself of the crappy tap water I started with, everything will come together.

Now for my question: are the DT's Reef Elements a good daily supplement? They have a 3 part supplement - CA, Alk, and MG. I use Seachem Ions for MG, Seachem Calcium, and so far, I am only trying to lower the Alk - should I continue what I'm using now or change- what does everyone here use for daily supplements?

Thanks all- hope everyone had a great weekend.

 

A lot of people, including myself buy our supplements, Ca, Mg, and Alk. from bulkreefsupply.com. I have bought from them several times and love their service and products, You can buy a two part kit for about $11 and you get a full gallon of Ca, gallon of Alk and 20oz of Mg. (I also buy an extra gallon of Mg). It's really cheap and works great. I used to buy the stuff in stores, but it costs a lot more for a lot less.

 

That's a heck of a deal. Way cheaper than the stuff in stores - thanks man!

 

I just backing soda for my ALK
the rest bulk reef supply is a good place to get it from

 

I use Reef Builder for my bicarb, Reef Advantage Calcium for Ca and Epsom salt for my Mg. I also dose once weekly with Red Sea Calcium +3 to replenish iodine, molydenum and stronium.

And a dKh of 18 is no problem, especially if you have corals. They will use it up quickly. I have seen people on the forums that keep their dKh at around 25. I have been aiming for 12 to 15 myself when I dose.

 

Thanks John! That makes me a bit more comfortable, I figured that was much too high and may be bad for corals. Hopefully I get a nice piece of Hammer coral this week ...