Reef Discussion

[Gordon]

So does anyone else have this situation?
I recently purchased a dosing pump to automate my additives so I wouldn't fall behind due to my work commitments. So as a result I've been keeping really close tabs on the parameters. Tonight's results:

Alk 189
Cal 558
Temp 27
Gravity 1.024

I didn't test my magnesium but it was really high last time I tested it as well!

The only dosing of done is bi carb as the alk was a little low. I'm just trying to understand how the other perimeters could be so high given it's been months since I've added anything else to the tank. I do normal water changes every week.

 

[Sarg]

What water do you use? What sort of stock do you have in your tank?

Maybe if your using asw and your stock doesn't have a high demand for the alk and cal they aren't being used up as quick.

Could be your test kits aren't all that accurate too, what brand are they.

 

[Sam Parker]

^^^ what sarge said, couldn't think of anything further to add other than what constitutes a "normal" water change every week?

Sam

 

[Gordon]

Thanks @Sarg and @Sam Parker

I have a mixture between SPS (few small frags) a number of different LPS different sizes, and a number of different softies. Also have some crabs and a couple of shrimp. Fish I have 7 chromis, 5 anthias, 2 clowns, 1yellow tang, 1 sail fin tang, 1 humbug.

Not sure what the water is but I get it from "Get Tanked". I change about 20% per week.

I think that covers everything.

 

[Sam Parker]

20% per week of decent NSW explains it, that's a good sized change. All sounds good!

 

[Gordon]

Yeah wow. Looks like I wasted my money on the dosing pump.

Oh we'll I'm sure there are bigger problems to have.

 

[Sarg]

Wait till your sps grow! If you plan on keeping sps you will be thankfull for the doser in time! ;-)

My sps are still small but I'm dosing 55ml of alk and 75 of cal every day. I know of other tanks dosing over 300ml of each a day!

 

[Gordon]

Wow! Ok I plan on getting more so that's ok then. Cheers