Natural dosing?

My sg is always 1.026

I have no idea at this point. I have a hard time believing that the next test after water change my mag was the same as well as the alk lower? I think I need to replace my alk tester.

With saliferts mag test, do you read the lines to where the liquid ends or the black stopper? I find the test confusing to read results.
I tested the mag and the liquid left was up to 15 on the marker yet the black stopper was at 30....big difference in results. Sorry explaining is confusing. Lol

throwing out 2 bags of salt is against my personal beliefs on wasting money and products.

I got the reef crystals because so many highly recommended it. I switched from reg io for this reason.

Theres not even enough in my tank to deplete in my opinion.
1 frogspawn frag, 1 brain frag, a small patch of zoas and a mushrm. Not really much of coralline or algae in general.

I am stumped.

Ro water always with reef crystals
Sg 1.026 (refractometer reading)
Weekly water change of 1.2 gallons(did a 3g this week)

 

coral pro user here too, love that salt

 

I'm still looking for a picture

 

Ok did the mag test again today.

I have attached a pic of the end results.
If someone could help me determine it, I'd be ao very greatful.

 

is that red sea or salifert.

If red sea it looks to be about .68 usage or about 1360 MAG
Red Sea you read what you put in.

If that is salifert then you looks like to be about .31 -.32
you read what you have left.
0.30 1050
0.32 1020

Do you have a local saltwater LFS near you?
I would have them cross reference your #'s
just have them test alk and mag for you.

 

Thats what I thought. So I was reading results correctly(salifert)

Yup, our local pet store will test the basics ammonia, nitrite, nitrate

I have 2 tanks. Results are almost the same.

I'm going to say I need to start dosing because this issue isn't new. Its why I changed my salt.

Few mnths back I started noticing my numbers dropped. I switched to io reef crystals. I can't say I don't recommend it as research has determined that every user has different results with different salts.

It just makes no sense to me in a small tank with few corals to be so low in alk and mag!

Now its time to find a dosing product thats easy to use

 

you need someone to test your alk and MAG and make sure those are right

Do you buy bucket or bag of salt?

if bags do you mix a couple together?

Do you shake the salt container before you use it?


Reason I ask and I am not sure how big a difference it makes but over the years multiple time I have read about salt issues and there are always people saying to do the above. I do give my salt bucket a few turns I must admit.

I leave the dosing suggestions up to the pros .

 

I use bags because the buckets are really big, I don't want to risk the salt going hard or bad before I ever use it

You don't go through as much with small tanks

I do stir my salt before use, none of its hard and I just got 2 big bags in dec.

There is no one to test the mag or alk. I just got the mag test 2 mnths ago, its not near expiry but I will be replacing the alk tester

I don't think its the testers, i have different results on made up water, 10g tank and 15g

The numbers have continued to drop since nov. Water changes didn't change anything.

I should have started dosing 2 mnths ago when this started, now my corals in my 10g aren't doing good.

 

That looks like a Salifert, and if so, it's LOW Mag.

When the mag is low, the Ca, and Alk are usually thrown off too.

I use Kent Marine Salt- always seems to keep the Mag up there, and I also do dose may in my system. I like to keep it at least 1500!

Good luck

 

There shouldn't be an air bubble? You want to draw the liquid to the top of the syringe then push the plunger down to the 1ml mark. Start the test then once the end color is reached just flip the syringe up and read from the end of the plunger. With that air bubble I don't think that reading is accurate??