jaypladook
New Member
Hi, this is Jay from Thailand. English is not my first language, so please bear with me 
My reef tank started since late September 2023, it is around 4 months old now. And have been gathering knowledge/information from R2R since then (I cannot thank you all enough). I began this hobby by ordering a custom tank of 48" * 20" * 30" (tall).
It took me 3 weeks to complete the cycle with real live rocks purchased from a local fish market, added fish and beginner friendly corals at 1 month mark. The first 3 months I was using some local salt brand from low grade (cause I had to perform large WC at the end of cycle right?) to higher grade after completed the cycle (still a local brand).
At the end of month 3, I was sure that I could at least keep all of my coral alive then started noticing that their color is somewhat fading. That is when I decided to use RS Coral Pro salt. Here is my parameters before changing salt brand. (had not tested Potassium yet).
Until today, there has been 3 water changes of RS Coral Pro at about 80 litres (13%) per time. I notice right away on the drastic increase in major elements from test results but hoping that things will change overtime. Then, kindly look at the latest result after one month.
My worry is with the CA and MG that seem to be higher than what most people recommend. I have been thinking that this must be the salt itself that has too much elements in it. Therefore, this morning I decided to mix a small amount of the RS Coral Pro in a 500 ml. container with salinity 35 ppt this morning. The result is the main reason why I am writing this post.
Calcium: 290
Magnesium: 570
KH: 8.6
This seem very low while my original issue was the high number in test readings, so I am lost here!
All parameters are tested with Salifert kits at least twice or thrice as I could not believe the result myself, but they showed the same result anyway.
I also worried if I had not mix the salt well enough so I kept testing the salinity every time before each tests, still remain at 35 ppt. throughout.
I spent the whole morning thinking of a reason to support these results and decided to not blame the salt. And finally here are my three questions based on random assumption:
1. Is it possible that the test results are affected by the RO water that I am using? I could not find RO/DI at the nearby store. And yes, I know I will be able to find one if I try hard enough.
2. Is it because my tank is too new, resulting in all kinds of unpredictable water parameters?
3. Is there any suggestion on what I should do to reduce CA & MG or any of you had similar experience on this?
So far all corals (still a bit faded, but I guess that must be low Potassium which has been resolved) and fish are fine.
Tank capacity: 580 Litres / approx. 150 USG (including sump)
Temp: 26 degree Celsius / 78.8 Fahrenheit
Fish population: 15 (Clowns, Tangs, Chromis, Damsel, and Foxface)
Coral population: more than 50 of small to medium sized ones, mixture of soft + LPS + SPS
Rocks: started with lots of real live rock
Substrate: none
Source of water: RO (NOT DI)
Equipment: Return pump at x10 per hour, 5 power heads, 2 Noo-Psyche 150w lights set at more blue, 3 after market lights set as more white for viewing reasons, refugium & macro algae reactor, C7 skimmer, and Zeovit reactor (dose with ZeoStart3 once in a while, this used to be for bio pellets but since Nitrate is low, I removed bio pellets a few weeks ago).
Test kits: all Saliferts
Daily dosing: Phyto and Zoo plankton from bottle, Red Sea AB+, and Potassium+ trying to keep at 400
Food: mixture of pellets and frozen
Here is a picture of my tank.
Apologies if this is too much information and Thank you very much in advance
My reef tank started since late September 2023, it is around 4 months old now. And have been gathering knowledge/information from R2R since then (I cannot thank you all enough). I began this hobby by ordering a custom tank of 48" * 20" * 30" (tall).
It took me 3 weeks to complete the cycle with real live rocks purchased from a local fish market, added fish and beginner friendly corals at 1 month mark. The first 3 months I was using some local salt brand from low grade (cause I had to perform large WC at the end of cycle right?) to higher grade after completed the cycle (still a local brand).
At the end of month 3, I was sure that I could at least keep all of my coral alive then started noticing that their color is somewhat fading. That is when I decided to use RS Coral Pro salt. Here is my parameters before changing salt brand. (had not tested Potassium yet).
Until today, there has been 3 water changes of RS Coral Pro at about 80 litres (13%) per time. I notice right away on the drastic increase in major elements from test results but hoping that things will change overtime. Then, kindly look at the latest result after one month.
My worry is with the CA and MG that seem to be higher than what most people recommend. I have been thinking that this must be the salt itself that has too much elements in it. Therefore, this morning I decided to mix a small amount of the RS Coral Pro in a 500 ml. container with salinity 35 ppt this morning. The result is the main reason why I am writing this post.
Calcium: 290
Magnesium: 570
KH: 8.6
This seem very low while my original issue was the high number in test readings, so I am lost here!
All parameters are tested with Salifert kits at least twice or thrice as I could not believe the result myself, but they showed the same result anyway.
I also worried if I had not mix the salt well enough so I kept testing the salinity every time before each tests, still remain at 35 ppt. throughout.
I spent the whole morning thinking of a reason to support these results and decided to not blame the salt. And finally here are my three questions based on random assumption:
1. Is it possible that the test results are affected by the RO water that I am using? I could not find RO/DI at the nearby store. And yes, I know I will be able to find one if I try hard enough.
2. Is it because my tank is too new, resulting in all kinds of unpredictable water parameters?
3. Is there any suggestion on what I should do to reduce CA & MG or any of you had similar experience on this?
So far all corals (still a bit faded, but I guess that must be low Potassium which has been resolved) and fish are fine.
Tank capacity: 580 Litres / approx. 150 USG (including sump)
Temp: 26 degree Celsius / 78.8 Fahrenheit
Fish population: 15 (Clowns, Tangs, Chromis, Damsel, and Foxface)
Coral population: more than 50 of small to medium sized ones, mixture of soft + LPS + SPS
Rocks: started with lots of real live rock
Substrate: none
Source of water: RO (NOT DI)
Equipment: Return pump at x10 per hour, 5 power heads, 2 Noo-Psyche 150w lights set at more blue, 3 after market lights set as more white for viewing reasons, refugium & macro algae reactor, C7 skimmer, and Zeovit reactor (dose with ZeoStart3 once in a while, this used to be for bio pellets but since Nitrate is low, I removed bio pellets a few weeks ago).
Test kits: all Saliferts
Daily dosing: Phyto and Zoo plankton from bottle, Red Sea AB+, and Potassium+ trying to keep at 400
Food: mixture of pellets and frozen
Here is a picture of my tank.
Apologies if this is too much information and Thank you very much in advance
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