MG Ca kh and alk all off

I know ive posted about my tests before so im sorry to repost but im still fighting the same old fight. My mg is stuck at 1550 my calcium is 520 the kh is 7-8 depending on the day the alk is bordering low but still ok. My salinity is 1.023 right now so I dont want to try a water change I fear it will get worse. What are you thoughts here I am not soing something right or not understanding something. I have corals in the tank so I thought the calcium would drop but these numbers are stuck. If i try to raise the alk or kh within days its right back. The ph also stays close to 8.0 rarly it reads true 8.2 With such a big tank it should be easier to balance these but are just stuck. Even after the crash they went right back to this.

 

Have you cross verified your readings with your LFS or a second/different test kit? Maybe your tests have expired and that's why they appear 'stuck'?

 

Hi, I don't see the problem. Calk is a little high and mag is a touch over but Alk is good and SG and PH are in range. How often are you doing water changes? Leave your tank alone for a month (if you have done a change in the last week or two) and those two iffy params should fall off. After they fall to 1200-1280 (Mag) and 400-450 (Calc) then do a water change and see where they go up to.

 

I'm under the impression that these test results have been the same for some length of time. That the results are not falling off. And that after a crash of some sort, you still tested the same numbers after, I presume, you did some major stuff after the crash.

If these readings haven't been stuck for a length of time, I agree, wait and watch. They should drop. If you've already waited a month as suggested, then I would cross verify your results. Do you know what caused the crash you mentioned? Maybe that could have been avoided if (assumption here) your tests weren't bad/expired. That's a big assumption on my part - sorry I'm not familiar with your crash thread that I'm sure you have around here somewhere

I'm just basing those thoughts on this one post of info... so I might be barking up the wrong tree. Or swimming through the wrong tunnel, I guess would be better.

 

I have updated the kits even buying better kits and cross referenced with the lfs. I havent done a w/c in well over a month. The only thing that has fluctuated is everything literally other then the mag and calk levels. I have tested with 3 kits and my lfs with his master kit. So hear I am wondering why its stuck. Oh well ill play the old game of hurry up and wait to see if this changes/drop. Thanks for the imput friends

 

Your Alk is a little low for my taste, but thats b/c your Cal is a little high. Luna

 

Right That is what im thinking too. I just get any number to shift around.

 

I think I am having Dejavu, did we discuss this some time ago? If not I will say there is an occurrence that does happen from time to time where the substrate starts breaking down and releasing the Calc and Mag (mostly Calc). It happened to me some years ago. Just a possibility.

 

Yes we did discuss this a time ago. I appoloigize for the repost that is what I was saing im confused to why this is happening after so long. My sand is fiji pink. I added some a while ago tring to get a bit deeper but its been a while. Does this mean I have to remove the sand? How would I know if this is the case unclejed?

 

Well.....It is difficult to know with 100% certainty, however, the game plan of leaving the tank alone for awhile (no water changes) for a good 4 weeks which you say you have done is a good indicator here. What I am thinking now is that something is throwing off the tests. I had a situation where my Calc kept coming up as 700 ppm in both tanks I have. Now, that is almost impossible so I took samples to LFS and they also came up with 700 ppm. We concluded there must be something in the water throwing the tests off. Never did find out what and so after not checking Calc for months (why waste money) one day tested out of curiosity and one tank read 380 and one I think 400 and testing has been fine ever since. Some times things happen that we just never figure out. I hate those!!
On an up note, you never need additives if the tests are correct but the down side is, how will know? Have you done any test on the water change water before adding it to get the levels there? I wouldn't change the sand, that will start a whole new set of issues with cycling and algae. Like I said, your levels aren't excessive or dangerous.