water chemistry

[ereefic]

A pH of 7.4 is pretty suspect. What kit are you using? Is it old? Something has got to be seriously wrong if you pH was really that low IMO.

When you get your Alk. and Cal. balanced and still have a problem with them, might want to check your Magnesium as well. I use IO salt as well and it has tested out to only 1100 ppm of Magnesium. Low Magnesium can make it hard to keep you Alk. and Cal. in balance.

[Reptoreef]

True... keep your mag near 1300-1350.

[condiman]

I had a similar problem when I used IO but when I switched to Red Sea everything went back to where it should be except that there magnesium level seems a bit low.

[Reptoreef]

do a search on the use of ebsom salt for mag dosing.

[davejnz]

I've been using IO and never test for mag,been having the hardest times keeping alk at 8dKH and calc 400,guess its time to get a mag test kit and some epsom salts

[ereefic]

If I remember correctly, epsom salts should not be used on a regular basis because of high sulfate content. Apperently ok if used is small quantities, which you usually need alot of Magnesium to raise it even a little.

I'd do some research before using the epsom salts.

[dakar]

Guess we should break down and order in a Mg test kit with our next drygoods order.. Got me curious now.

[Reptoreef]

Ereefic, good point... thanks for adding that. Dakar, I only test pretty much quarterly(every 3-6 months).

[ereefic]

IO is horrible on Magnesium, all it takes is a couple of bigger water changes and your levels are crap again. I'm looking into running Dolomite in the calcium reactor also to help out with keeping Mag. up where it needs to be.

[dakar]

IO is horrible on Magnesium, all it takes is a couple of bigger water changes and your levels are crap again. I'm looking into running Dolomite in the calcium reactor also to help out with keeping Mag. up where it needs to be.

Run any tests on the Mg content of Oceanic salt?

Angie, what'd you figure out with your Alk?