Calcium and Magnesium, how low is TOO low?

[Leopard Man]

My CA is 300 on an API Test kit, Mag 1140 on a Salifert Kit. Are these too low for sps and clams in the long term?

The rest of my parameters are:

9 dkh (API)
8-8.2 pH (API)
1.026 SG
0.2 Nitrate (Salifert)
0 Phosphate (Salifert)
Temp 80 - 82F

Cheers

 

[91YOTA]

yes... you should bring Mg and Ca up... if nothing else, you wont see much growth if any at all with the levels that low... what salt are you using?

 

[Leopard Man]

RC, but I got a bad batch. Tested it 320 Cal, 8 Alk, 1050 Mag. Shame. I need to get Mag and CA up with additives.

 

[dnjan]

A bad batch, or just in need of stirring. Bouncing around in the back of a delivery truck can cause salt mixes to segregate a bit. Perhaps a good stirring of your salt bucket will yield a batch of water that tests out better.

 

[DonW]

A bad batch, or just in need of stirring. Bouncing around in the back of a delivery truck can cause salt mixes to segregate a bit. Perhaps a good stirring of your salt bucket will yield a batch of water that tests out better.

RC has had issues lately with low ca, not sure if they have been resolved.

Don

 

[returnofsid]

I'd agree that your Ca should be closer to 400-420 and Mg 1200-1260. Mg should be 3X your Ca.

 

[Leopard Man]

I use at least one seio 620 to stir my RC in my 10g bucket for water changes, so it's definitely a bad batch.

Thanks guys.

 

[dnjan]

No - I meant that the dry salt may need stirring before you take out the amount necessary for the saltwater you are mixing up.

 

[Leopard Man]

Yup, I do that too. Thanks. I'm switching to Coral life.

 

[Skeptic9962]

most salts you have to supplement something i know i use IO and it seems to run low on mag/calc. has pretty high alk dont know if thats normal for IO but never need to supplement that.