Low Ca, Mg, dKH. What to add first??

[limsc]

Hi Guys,

I just measure my tank 3 times over the last 3 months. My Ca,Mg,dKH level still very low.

Currently using NSW for WC. Adding distilled water and IWARNA top-up to counter evaporation.

Ca: ~350 ppm

Mg: ~1050 ppm

dKH: ~5.5

Yesterday just got some additives MgCl2, CaCl, NaHCO3 from Gary bulk order.. Thanks to dreamlover..

Thus was thinking to add these additives slowly to boost up.

But the question is what element to boost up first?

Also, can I boost up 1 element to the required level (eg, dKH to 7) before targetting on another element?

Thanks for any advice.

[dreamlover]

U're welcome bro, got alot extra additives cos I lazy to do wc so dosing not much at the moment.

For the boosting of elements, I'm also not very sure, shall let the senior reefers do the advise.

Gd luck bro and happy reefing.

[Gouldian]

Since you are dosing in 3 parts, you may want to try dosing using Randy Holmes method:

"To initiate dosing, first adjust calcium and alkalinity to roughly their correct ranges. This may require a substantial dose of just the calcium part if calcium is low (e.g., below 380 ppm). I would suggest targeting calcium between 380 and 450 ppm, and alkalinity between 2.5 and 4 meq/L (7-11 dKH; 125-200 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents)."

See source below more more details.

Source:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

[divinesloth]

Personally, my calcium and alkalinity seem to stabilize better after bumping up my magnesium

[limsc]

Thanks Gouldian, divinesloth.

I tried reading up a little bit, seems to suggest dKH and Calcium 1st but then IF without enough Mg, Ca will precipitate out.

Not sure if the precipitation occurs when only high Ca(>420ppm) meet with low Mg

Or that Ca will precipitate in general without enough Mg.

If the second case is true, that means I can't increase Ca to the required level without adding Mg??

Dreamlover, thanks for the additives..

If needed more, maybe got to buy some from you if you got spare?

My main and sump tanks volume is ~160gallons without rocks. Got a lot of water to boost up the elements.

[dreamlover]

No problem bro, just sms me when u need it. I do not have weighing machine, kind of hard to sell to u, give it to u will be better. Anyway it's not very ex.

[yooyoo99]

It is cheaper n easier to do massive water change with good salt water ( good parameters) than to add the additives with constant monitoring.

NSW tend to have lower levels of the parameters, why don't u measure them and check the levels.

hth

[FuEl]

It is cheaper n easier to do massive water change with good salt water ( good parameters) than to add the additives with constant monitoring.

NSW tend to have lower levels of the parameters, why don't u measure them and check the levels.

hth

Second that. Do water change with good quality salt mix. All your levels will slowly increase and you do not need to worry about chemical imbalances.