DanS180
Aquarium Advice Addict
Nobody?? Okay ill take my own advice then and just do larger WC
Is it possible to do a pwc and not have your Mag, Calc and kH rise afterwards?? I did a 3-4 gallon wc 2 days ago and I just tested and got the same exact results. In fact, my kH has dropped a degree
Mag 1200ppm
Calc 380ppm
kH 9°
Hey Dan sorry no one answered but that sounds normal. Usually levels will rise after a water change. This is how the levels are replenished. Measuring the level after a water change and then measuring again right before the next water change will tell you how much alk, mag, and calcium your tank has consumed in that time period. As for your alk falling, well its likely your tank is using more alk than is being replentished. This might mean that after a while you will need to dose alk to get it back where it needs to be, that is if water changes cant correct it.
Hope that helps.
Yes that does help! Thank you! I'm gonna test my water again tonight and then do a 5gallon WC then retest tomorrow.. hope I don't have to dose.. can't that get expensive??
Might not have to and if you do it probably wont be often or much so wont get very pricey. For people who have to dose on a daily basis thats another story.
Water changes alone will replenish most, depends on how many hard corals you have sucking out mag, alk, and calcium.
You can easily make your own DIY alkalinity or two part mix. I like Arm and Hammer personally. lol Google DIY two part solution. You'll be shocked. I always used pickling lime for kalkwasser as it's the exact same thing. $20 vs $2 and the difference is the label. All the major aquarium service companies use this stuff.
Lps build skeletons also meaning they suck up your alk and calcium. You can also dose with cheap stuff to save money like calcium chloride and baking soda. Not 100% sure if those are exactly right but along the right lines
Try testing newly mixed saltwater before you do the water change to see where the levels are there. It's good info to have.
Keep in mind having more salt mix in it will raise the other elements too so when you switch back to 1.025 mixes the other levels should also be slightly lower.
Yep yep, but I guess I fudged up on my last WC and didn't have enough salt in the water which is why its at 1.023. Soooo maybe that's why my numbers didn't raise too much??
If your numbers are at 1.023 I would just add the 1.028 to it and it will raise your tank some. It won't go up to 1.028 but will go up from the 1.023. It's what I do when mine gets a little low.
Just a thought on the salinity too. How long was it mixing for? I noticed a little difference in mine when I tested it after a couple hours of mixing and then ended up not being able to do a change die to work so it kept mixing with the pump in the bucket for three days and it was a little lower.
22engine said:Just a thought on the salinity too. How long was it mixing for? I noticed a little difference in mine when I tested it after a couple hours of mixing and then ended up not being able to do a change die to work so it kept mixing with the pump in the bucket for three days and it was a little lower.
DanS180 said:How long do u guys wait to retest after a WC?