Hi. For the first time I tested the tank on magnesium and calcium. I’m planning to get corals soon. However I looked at the test readings and saw that the Mg is at 1600 also the calcium is at like 110. Is that to high? If yes can you please tell me how to lower them? Thank you :D

Hello All, It has been years since I have posted so bear with me. Before we get to the problem, let’s tell you about my tank. I have 80 gallon total water volume and have about 8 corals most of frag size and one 3-4inch derasa clam. My tank has been running over 1.5 years now and for the last 6...

Hi Everyone, I'm a Wildlife Keeper at my local science museum and nature center, and am currently in charge of our 100 gal. recirculating North Atlantic Tidepool exhibit (cold saltwater, no reef). We have been using Aqueon's Water Conditioner so far to condition water used in water changes...

Hi! I decided it was time to pull the trigger and create an account finally! I am currently a med student in Indianapolis, and I have been a reef enthusiast since birth. I set up my first salt tank a couple years ago now, and after moving to start medical school a year ago (and tearing down my...

What is wrong with my water parameters? I started checking my water about a year and a few months ago from around this time. I haven't checked my water in over a year from this time last year. Even when I was testing my water weekly the numbers seemed to be all over. As of today my water...

My anti cat water chemistry and water change fortress. Whatcha think!? Haha. I even stapled the directions as reference for water testing. I know... But there's a madness to my method! Gravity is your friend when changing water using your siphon this way. Did a 10% change today. Worked flawless.

Hey TRT, I just started mixing my own salt. I am using Reef Crystals due to their reputation. I have an 8 gallon IM Nano that was started about 3 months ago. My questions is: I have dKH of 6 and calcium of around 360-380 in my tank right now. I have only done a 1 gallon water change with the...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18619142 Thoughts? This would make me think that once anaerobic zones are setup inside a limestone rock, then phosphates stay binded to their source? (and skimmed out, vs becoming free floating?) Reading more into it now...

I have a 40 breeder mixed reef that has been up and running for two years now. I just tested my water with the API test kit and here are the results: Salinity - 1.025, right around 35PPT Nitrite - 0 Ammonia - 0 Nitrate - ~10 PH - 8.2 dKH - 7 Calcium ~400 Phosphates ~ .25 but mind you I'm...

So today I was testing my water. Nitrates, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate all at 0. Alkalinity 9 calcium 920! I used to dose calcium a few months ago and now only 5mgs of trace elements once a week.how could it be this high? how can I lower it? Do I need to lower it?

i have a 10g nano reef with a hammer , sun coral, ricordia and zoas, and lots of inverts like 6 hermits and nassarius everywhere, and i plan to get some cleaner shrimp. ive been having the worst luck with fish in the setup idk why, i had 2 clowns and 1 killed the other then the other 1 jumped...

Soooo every time I take my water to the LFS to be checked, LFS guy mentions how low my Alk is. I buffed Alk off and on, and last month it was 6 dKH. LFS guy said it was about half what it should be. After buffing Seachem Reef carbonate weekly(ish) for a month, I went back yesterday and it's at 7...

Does anyone know where the thread on reef chemistry is? I tried doing a search and it yielded nothing. I remember seeing it at one time or another and the reason I need it is because I want to condense all of the articles on trt into a guide for everyone to use. I want the threads these come...

Im looking to upgrade my tank to a bigger one and I feel like I have the basics down pretty well. As I expand my coral and fish collection, I really want to make sure I understand what I'm doing, from water chemistry to fish compatibility to lighting and equipment. Im looking for a blog site or...

I've been testing my water once or twice a week for about a month now. My ammonia and nitrates have gone down to 0, but my nitrites has been stuck at .25ppm for about a week and a half now. Do i just need to give it more time, or is this low enough to start adding fish?

Edit: Hydroxynaphthol blue is appropriate with a Calcium test NOT Eriochrome Black T. Hi all, This may be helpful to some here. Recently my Salifert test kit gave me incorrect readings consistently, possibly due to evaporation concentrating one or more reagents. Hence I (partially) made my...

I am new to the saltwater community and I have a likely newbie question. I recently started my tank (75 gallon, corner overflow) and I purchased all my equipment and rock, sand, water from someone getting out of the hobby. Basically, I bought an established tank with acclimated rock and sand...

Hey guys! I was wondering if I could spark up a debate on water changes. I've been reading up on them and are curious to know what everybody thinks. 1. Are they really necessary? 2. If so how often is really necessary? I've heard people doing them once a week, once a month, or not at all...

I looked for a section dealing with water chemistry but did not see one. Here are my readings: NO3-0 ;NO2-0; Alk-240ppm 13.44dkh; Ph-7.9; Ca 360ppm; Mg;1410ppm. What would be the best way to lower Alk and raise ph and calcium. Could the high Mg be effecting the Ph and Ca?

So there seems to be allot of confusion on the particular rolls certain elements play in our systems. Thought it would be a good topic for some. Wanted to discuss one in particular but you cant discuss it without others.. Magnesium, it dictates much of the chemistry in our tanks. And does have...