Current Levels! Need Advice!

[sergiotami]

Need some advice. I estimated my reef to be at 90 gallons water volume w all the live rock, sand and coral... Last Monday my levels where:

dkh-6.4
Ca-330
Mag-1320

This morning:

dkh- 6.0
Ca-210
Mag-640

I'm getting ready to do a water change tomorrow, this should raise mag levels, but according to BRS calculator I need to dose Alk w 192 mls, Calcium w 1842 mls, and Alk w w 192 mls.. Does this sound right???

[Mr Cob]

On systems of this size, I've never had trouble keeping elements up with regular weekly water changes of 10-20%.

[LuckySingh]

dkh-6.4 is not bad only if u r super low nutrient system i mean nitrates low as 5ppt or even 0
cal-330 too low need it to be around 400 or little up
mag -1320 is perfect

ur mag dosnt seems to be right 640 ??
i suggest use different test kit or test again

[rrasco]

I was trying to figure out how the mag could have dropped so quickly...? My mag never seems to change.

The dosing sounds about right, so long as you punch in the numbers right, the BRS calculators are pretty accurate. I have yet to start dosing my 105 (new system, corals still adjusting) but they worked great to get the levels on my 29 on par. Just make sure you read the guidelines on the maximum dosing levels per day. Don't want to raise levels too quickly.

[alton]

Nothing can eat calcium that fast can it? Mix up a bucket of new saltwater, test it, and post results

[grouch]

Water change to start, Kent superbuffer DKH will bring up DKH. Kalwaser drip will help calcium short term, watch your PH doesn't go up to much. Seachem reef complete and mag suppliment will raise calcium the quickest I have found. Or do your 2 part calcium and buffer to bring it up slowly but I've never seen ca drop so fast.

[rrasco]

I would also re-test just to see if that changes any of the numbers.

[sergiotami]

Did water change this morning 15 gallons out of my 90 gallon tank at 8am, will run test tomorrow morning or can I check later this afternoon?:) Thanks for all the Great Advice....:)

[sergiotami]

Update! Current levels to day....

DKH-7.0 To bring it up to 7.5 need to ad 32ml
Calcium- 380 To bring up to 410 need to add 399 ml
Mag-1200 To bring to 1250 to add 400 ml

Using BRS solution 1, question is if I do this how do I figure out what I need daily???

Last 7/24 Levels:
DKH 5.9 dosed daily w 54 mls
Ca- .76 dosed daily w 40 mls
Mag-1360, Didn't dose....

Might be an easy solution, just not seeing it...Would appreciate the help or advice....:)

[Troy Valentine]

Do you have a sponge attached to the return pump, or are you using a sponge to filter detritus in the sump or overflow? I had a similar situation on a 135 where the sponge that was attached to the mag18 return pump turned in to a solid block of calcium carbonate. It was sucking out all of my major trace elements. It could even be your sand bed has solidified, might be worth checking as well. I would definitely check the accuracy of your kits with a fresh batch of saltwater, like Alton suggested.....

[sergiotami]

I'm changing water tomorrow, should I test after I do water change... I have no sponge but about one inch of sand in tank...

[Troy Valentine]

Do you have any clams, if so what size? First I would check the test kit validity. Test a fresh batch of SW, Tell us what brand salt you are using so we can get a consensus.

[sergiotami]

I use Instant Ocean and have two clams. I use Red Sea Test kit....