Water Parameter Help Pls

[phyto]

Hi , I've recently added a alkalinity test kit to my array of salifert boxes and i think i've found my first problem 5.9 DKH, i've done some research and magnesium was mentioned so i got test kit for that and it measures 1186 PPM

The instructions in the salifert kits say natural sea water has a DKH 0f 8 and Magnesium levels of 1300 - 1500 PPM

Maybe a little about my tank will help any answers, its a 50g tank from aqua medic, its been running for 10 mths now and as far as fish go fully stocked with a pair of clowns, 3 chromis and a royal gramma. I have a few softies and 1 lps, i've never dosed anything to the tank i just perform 10% water changes weekly and top off daily. All the usual parameters are undetectable with salifert , calcium is constantly at 440PPM and the PH is always 8.2 no matter what time of the day i check ( i use a redsea kit for PH) I run the tank at a Sg of 1.026

What i'm asking is do you think my Mg levels are low? should i up that level first then the Alk?
I've bought some epsom salts and bicarbonate of soda and i've also bought a tub of kent super buffer, theres instructions on the kent buffer but the only instructions on the salt and bicarb are for either cooking cakes or relieving constipation
I have found an online calculator for dosages but i can not find any info on how to add to the tank

Any advice will be welcomed

 

[steelhealr]

Excellent questions and an area that is usually the undoing of many healthy stable tanks. For the most part, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it". If you hadn't tested your magnesium, would you have thought there was something wrong with your tank?

One of the most common mistakes made in our hobby is the need by many people to 'make' their tank numbers normal when everything in their tank is fine. They start to get some mileage under their belt and then start buying esoteric lab testing kits, find a number that is not 'within normal limits' and then starting throwing chemicals into their tanks to correct it.

DON'T!

Regular consistent water changes should be all that you need. There should be NO reason to dose your tank unless you find a problem, pursuee it, determine the etiology of the problem and correct it.....and...if you do take action...be sure you are testing the parameter you are trying to change/correct. A classic booboo is the people who read the bottom of the liveaquaria.com paragraphs that say "would benefit from the regular addition of iodine and trace elements, yada yada yada" and then purchase chemicals and starting dumping it in their tank and slowly poisoning it. Many of these newcomers don't even know, eg, that you must test three components of iodine to determine what your true levels are.

Back to your question....have you researched magnesium and know how it participates in your aquarium One of the signs of magnesium deficiency problems is unstable buffering capacity, pH swings, etc...which you don't have. Don't destroy everything you've worked on and just focus on keeping your calcium levels in good shape. SH

 

[phyto]

Excellent questions and an area that is usually the undoing of many healthy stable tanks. For the most part, " if it ain't broke, don't fix it". If you hadn't tested your magnesium, would you have thought there was something wrong with your tank?

One of the most common mistakes made in our hobby is the need by many people to 'make' their tank numbers normal when everything in their tank is fine. They start to get some mileage under their belt and then start buying esoteric lab testing kits, find a number that is not 'within normal limits' and then starting throwing chemicals into their tanks to correct it.

DON'T!

Regular consistent water changes should be all that you need. There should be NO reason to dose your tank unless you find a problem, pursuee it, determine the etiology of the problem and correct it.....and...if you do take action...be sure you are testing the parameter you are trying to change/correct. A classic booboo is the people who read the bottom of the liveaquaria.com paragraphs that say "would benefit from the regular addition of iodine and trace elements, yada yada yada" and then purchase chemicals and starting dumping it in their tank and slowly poisoning it. Many of these newcomers don't even know, eg, that you must test three components of iodine to determine what your true levels are.

Back to your question....have you researched magnesium and know how it participates in your aquarium One of the signs of magnesium deficiency problems is unstable buffering capacity, pH swings, etc...which you don't have. Don't destroy everything you've worked on and just focus on keeping your calcium levels in good shape. SH

Thanks for the reply SH, it's an eye opener for me
I've been reluctant to add anything apart from new mixed water to my tank thats why i've tried my hardest to find out if i should add these chemicals or not

My tanks running perfectly, i cannot even get a reading of NO3
all fish are the healthiest i've seen and my corals are growing at quite an alarming rate. Exactly like you said i went out and bought a Alk kit while in my LFS for no reason and now think i've got serious problems

I'll obviously keep an eye on the levels but until they are a problem for me i'll just carry on with my Wc's

Really appreciate the response as it completly makes sense

 

[steelhealr]

No problem...the only real parameter to be concerned about is calcium. When your tank is 1 year old an filled with corals, perhaps, that might be time to look into things. However, again, most is unnecessary. Salifert makes the most appropriate iodine test out there BTW...tests for all three components of iodine. Anyway, water changes, water changes. SH

 

[phyto]

No problem...the only real parameter to be concerned about is calcium. When your tank is 1 year old an filled with corals, perhaps, that might be time to look into things. However, again, most is unnecessary. Salifert makes the most appropriate iodine test out there BTW...tests for all three components of iodine. Anyway, water changes, water changes. SH

Thats the second time you've mentioned the iodine kit I did buy one when i was thinking of getting my blood shrimps as i read they needed iodine to moult properly, from memory the first test was easy but it was either the second or third that lost me and i've never used it since even though its twice as £££ as normal kits !

I've just dug the test kit out and i've lost the instructions!?!? Damn!! They are not on saliferts web site either

Anyone kind enough to copy theirs and send them to me? I feel like a challenge

TIA

 

[SkiFletch]

What are the exact kits, manufacturer, and model instructions you need? I'm a little confused

 

[steelhealr]

http/www.hobbyoutletsales.com/Salifert/from2004/iodine.pdf

SH