Little Help

Ok I have tested all of my parameters.
Temperature: 78
PH: 8.3
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Salinity: 1.024
dKH: 6.4
Alkalinity: 2.29
Magnesium: 960-990
Calcium: 440
Phosphate: 0
copper: 0


So it looks like I need to rise a few of them. I have not added anything in the tank yet. I was going to wait to see what you think I should do or get. Everything in the tank looks ok though. The yellow (cup or millipora or montipora) looks like it is growing. Anyways I do want to get the parameters up and consistent. I am going to try to make a auto top off system today. I have 15 gallon clear plastic container and a float valve. How would I be able to make one with those tools?
What I was thinking is attaching the float valve to a piece of acrylic and placing it inside of the sump where my return pump is so when the water level goes down, the water from the plastic container would feed by gravity. I know this would require me to have to check the level every once in a while, and filling it up but that would be ok with me. If you think that I should get another float valve and hook that up so there is 2 in the plastic one from the rodi and one in the sump.

 

You method for ATO is quite common and works quite well. I don't think you need a second Float valve unless you have a shut off solenoid on your RODI

J

 

Ok thanks for the quick reply. but i think my water prameters are a little off

 

Yes your Alk, CA and Mg is out of balance. Your best bet would be to get your Mag up to 1300 and your Alk up to 3.4ish meq/l

But your not that far off

J

 

ok well to try to fix them what should i do? i have just switched salts from Instant Ocean to tropic Marin pro reef. i have yet to do a water change with new salt have about 1 change to do to finish the IS salt. i know that will help a bunch. but untill a water change what am i able to do to keep these consistent? my calcium is fine right?

 

Ca is fine but like Jason stated take the alk up( I use dkH) to about 8-12( I like to sit at about 10, right in the middle) some like to go higher but studies have shown alk above 14dkH can lead to browning of SPS...

Mag is low and would shoot for closer to NSW levels.... like 1290ish or so... but I have seen people go as high as 1600... BUT too high of Mg will tend to cause alk to drop, Mg too low will cause Ca levels to stay consistently low.

Taking alk and Mg up are fairly easy.. Many commercial buffers will help for alk as will baking soda(BAKED baking soda is preferred as it will help bring up pH as well)

Mg can be increase via magnesium chloride salts(MgCl2) or epsom salts (MgSO4) with a mixture of them being preferred. 5:3 MgCl2:MgSO4 is the ratio that will keep you ionic sulfate and chloride ions balanced... Will your tank tank(pun intended) if you use epsom longterm..? doubtful.. I use a 2 part for alk, Ca and Mg and my Mg portion is 5cups of MgCl2 to 3 cups of Epsom in a gallon of RO water... I add 20oz for every 1 gallon of 2 part I use...
This might help...
http://www.3reef.com/forums/water-chemistry/3reefs-diy-2-part-57444.html

Good luck