Ideal Levels of Ca, Mg, and Alk

I've read around, and have some basic ideas, but would like to get some opinions of what should ideally be the levels of these 3 items.

I've received my 2 part kit from Bulk Reef Supply today, and will be making the RO/DI water to mix my solutions for these 3 things. Bulk Reef Supply's site has a calculator which will tell me exactly how much should be added of each solution to achieve the levels I desire. That's where you come in.

I'll be taking my tank's numbers again (last time I took them the Ca was 420, Alk was 11.8 and Mg was about 1200 I believe).

At what level do you maintain your levels of Ca, Mg, and Alk? My tank contains only softies (mushrooms, GSP, yellow polyps, a trumpet, a small xenia, and some zoas). I don't plan on getting SPS any time soon.

 

I run mine here at home and at the shop at these numbers . I add strontium chloride at from a stock solution of 5 tbls to 10 oz of water and add about 4 Oz's a week Its damn near impossible to test strontium as its so close to Calcium, But it will make sps and Lps grow like weeds I have tried 3 different test kits for stront they all where so whacked I just add it every few days . as I said about 1.Oz per 100 gallons twice a week
12- 14 DKH
Ca 450 to 500
Mag at 1400 to 1500 ppm

 

Tangster,
I'll be picking up some strontium chloride from you next time you're here or I stop up there. Is there enough strontium being replaced by the salt mix (I.O.) if I'm doing 15-20% water change every 2 weeks?

 

+1 on what tangster said, Mg.at 1200ppm it is definitely low and gets depleted rather quick, 1400 to 1500ppm will give you a good margin for keep sakes, and will also stabilize your Ca. and Dkhº as well.

 

My parameters (as of yesterday):

10 dKH (I try to keep it 10-12 dKH)
Calcium 460 (I try to keep it 450-500)
Mg 1360ppm (as long as it's above 1320 I don't fret about it)

 

Sounds like you have a good handle on things!!

I've got my 3 solutions mixed. In the morning, I'll take readings on everything once more, and move the three parameters to 11 dKH, 440, and 1300 in the tank.

I wonder if I'll see coralline once these 3 params are consistently maintained.

 

Thanks.

I have a feeling you will.

I'm seeing red coralline growing for the first time in 7 1/2 years. Pretty strange, as I re-did my tank in June (threw out the crushed coral gravel and replaced with Carib Sea Argonite sand), but haven't added anything else new. Had pink and purple before, now have those plus red. Go figure.

 

Well, I've measured, calculated and added the 3 solutions. My new current levels are 500 for Ca, 1390 for Mag, and Alk is 11.9.

I was shooting for 440 cal, 11 dKH, and 1300 for Mg. Using Bulk Reef Supply's calculator I used 100 gals, and maybe should have used about 95, since I have a 90G tank with a 2/3 full 20 gal sump/'fuge. I think I didn't take out enough for LR and sand.

I won't worry about it, I think we'll be ok with these levels until the next water change.

Just to give a thumbs up to Bulk Reef Supply, the 2 part kit was $10.99 and came to $19.80 shipped. That beats buying B Ionic or Kent 2 Part Solution a few times a year for $10 each time. The kit contains a pouch to mix a gallon of Alk and Calcium solution, and also one bottle of Magnesium solution. The site contains video instructions for mixing properly (Utube videos, no less), and a calculator to determine how much of each solution to add to achieve your desired result. It also contains a calculator to determine how much solution to add regularly to maintain those levels.

It's a very easy undertaking. I'm ready to see my corals thrive, and maybe see some coralline for the first time!

 

The many tanks over the many yrs I have been setting them up I find the reason most ever have a problem with coralline algae is people use the wrong bottom cover and or skim or apply the wrong lighting at first.

Always us a Good aragonite sand and never rinse it.. Thats always the first thing they want to do , They wash it totally clean Then buy that very same dust back as Purple up or agraamilk..

Never skim until the alga gets a good solid start and is showing growth

And always use good actinic only . This algae likes low blue 420 Nm range of light .

 

Tangst.. . are you referring to protein skimming?