Ca too hight Mg to low. how to correct this?

just do some water changes with a salt with lower ca and get some mag suppliments and use a reef calculator and dose like it says and you can go pretty high at 1 time i have several times

 

Hello, first, I would say to try a couple samples taken from different areas of the aquarium if you get a reading you are not sure of, one from a low flow area and one from a high flow area. That is what I do. This past week when doing my Calc test it came up 320 ppm when I keep it at 400-420 ppm (sea water). I took the two other re-tests and it came up 400 ppm. False readings can happen so make sure before you start radically adjusting water parameters. Secondly; when adjusting any water parameter never do it abruptly! Parameters should be done (whether up or down) incrementally over a span of days to give your denizens of the deep a chance to acclimate to the change and allow other parameters to "fall in line" with the change made. I would be skeptical of the reading since you aren't adding calc, or are you? What is the calc content of your water change water? Mix a batch up and check the calc content in there. Are you a frequent water changer (every week or every other week)? I agree you should raise your Mag level to 1250-1380. Most Magnesium products (I use Kent Marine, Tech M) will, if directions are followed, raise Mag about 18 ppm a day when added. This is certainly incremental enough to have the desired effect and done in a safe manner. The ratio we are looking at for stability is; Mag must be at 3 times calc. If you keep your tank at 400 ppm calc, mag should be 1200 ppm. So, for now, bring the mag up to at least 1280-1350 ppm and watch your calc levels, but go slow. I hope this helps.

 

I just have one question for you... Wheres all the coraline in your tank?

 

Uncle Jed,
I take it you and geekdafied have crossed paths before? Lol.
His advice will be the same here .
Anyways, if you even had one speck coralline in your tank, and your water parameters were good, that stuff would be growing uncontrollably.
Where's your coralline?

 

Hello bogie, what you say isn't accurate. I have talked to many aquarists about the Coraline and there are a myriad of factors involved. Some (LFS friend) said it took 2 years for his to take off. In another forum a person had theirs take off in 2 weeks. My water parameters are; Alk = 11 dKH, Calc = 400 ppm, Mag = 1380, Nitrate = 0, Phosphate = 0, Temp = 80 degrees and SG = .025. Parameters are fine and so are all the denizens of the deep but thanks for your concern.

 

Coraline not growing is a sign there is a problem. Coraline is actually a primitive form of stony coral. If your param's are what you say they are, then you shouldnt be having a problem unless your dosing things you shouldnt be dosing that you're not testing for.

 

Come on geek, you know me better than that. I am not worried, my tank is awesome and healthy. Should we look for a problem? If so we would be doctors!

 

Get your alk a bit higher, I would say 11 or 12 dkh. That should help bring you calcium down to about 450, which is about perfect for the both. To do that add about 2 tablespoons of baking soda with your top up, if you could do this in 2 separate occassions would be best, that will keep the ph flux lower. Check you ph prior and make sure your ph is at least 8.2, the baking soda is going to lower the ph a bit, for a short period of time. If you already have ph lower than 8.2 its a bad idea to use regular baking soda. You should first BAKE your baking soda in the oven (if your ph is lower than 8.2 give it a search, "randy's 2 part calcium" and you will come up with how exactly to bake). For mag, its all part of the balance, the good part is once you dose this stuff and get the level you want, you won't have to do it much at all anymore. So you could use epsons salts to raise the mag, but I recommend a product for reef aquariums specific to raising mag. Don't get a tiny bottle either, it barely does anything...Depending on which product you use, you will have different results as far as quantities so I can't recommend anything specific. Use the "calculators" page, and go to "additives" and there you can figure exactly how much product you need, and exactly how to dose it. I would say, whatever the total amount to dose the calculator says, Spread that over 3 days. Then check mag again and see where you are.