Calcium levels

[Tang23]

My Calcium levels are 440 but Magnesium seems way above 1425. How critical is that & how do I rectify (when should the levels be)? I have a mushroom coral & a bubble tip anenome, along w/fish in a 40g. tank

 

[Andy Sager]

My Calcium levels are 440 but Magnesium seems way above 1425. How critical is that & how do I rectify (when should the levels be)? I have a mushroom coral & a bubble tip anenome, along w/fish in a 40g. tank

Your calcium level is within the " acceptable/desired" range so no worries there. Check your brand of sea salt for it's magnesium level because you don't appear to have anything in the tank to consume the magnesium. Magnesium levels can vary depending on what you have in the tank. Stony corals will consume magnesium so you want to have a level at least 1400 ppm for them ( if you had them). In your case, without stonies, I'd look into sea salt brands that have a lower magnesium level than what you are using and slowly reduce the magnesium through smaller water changes. You are aiming for levels between 1300- 1350. A little higher or a little lower is not an issue. YOU don't want to go too low however as there can be effects on your calcium and alkalinity levels.

 

[Tang23]

Is alkalinity important for my bubble tip anenome & mushroom coral? If so, where should it be?

 

[Andy Sager]

Is alkalinity important for my bubble tip anenome & mushroom coral? If so, where should it be?

Alkalinity is important to all marine tanks ( and freshwater tanks ) because it's the buffer that keeps the pH higher making the stability of the water parameters better as well. For reef tanks, you want the alkalinity in the 150-200 PPM range. Both the anemone and the mushrooms should respond well in that range proving you have the right lighting and other parameters met for them.

 

[Tang23]

Thanks, again! I never checked for Alkalinity but will now. If high, what besides water changes will lower it?

 

[Andy Sager]

Thanks, again! I never checked for Alkalinity but will now. If high, what besides water changes will lower it?

Highly unlikely it will be too high. The buffering can also come from the calcium level so you want consistency more than major fluctuation. Check the saltwater you use for water changes for it's alkalinity and see how much it differs from your test result in the tank currently.

 

[Tang23]

Thanks again. Reason I asking all this is because my bubble tip anenome has moved up my intake tube towards the light and has shrunk significantly. The lighting hasn't changed (it's a "Coral Growth" light). Safe to assume it's stressed?

 

[Andy Sager]

Thanks again. Reason I asking all this is because my bubble tip anenome has moved up my intake tube towards the light and has shrunk significantly. The lighting hasn't changed (it's a "Coral Growth" light). Safe to assume it's stressed?

Or more so undernourished. Bubbles need light for the the photosynthetic zooxanthellae in them which feeds them the sugars they need to optimal growth. Keep in mind that just because a lamp is lit does not mean it's sending out the same light frequency it did when it was first installed. Depending on the type/style of light bulb you have, you may need to replace it as often as yearly. I suggest you get a par meter so that you can tell when the lights need replacing. Bubbletips seem to do best at about 250 par but some need as high as 350 par.

 

[Tang23]

Mine light going on 1 year, think it lost its power?

 

[Andy Sager]

Mine light going on 1 year, think it lost its power?

Without a par reading to confirm it, all I can say is : Your anemone is acting like it has.

 

[Tang23]

My tank is a 40g, 25" deep, 31.5" wide. Can u recommend a light?

 

[Andy Sager]

My tank is a 40g, 25" deep, 31.5" wide. Can u recommend a light?

If your anemone was doing fine and now is shrinking, there's no need to get a totally different light bulb, just get a replacement one of the one you have. All light bulbs are going to need to be replaced at some point. Case in point, the average T5 fluorescent needs to be changed every year. Metal halides have been known to last a few years. LEDs can last 5 years + but your eyes are not going to see the change in light wavelength as the bulb gets tired which is why for reefers, a par meter is a good thing to have because you can test periodically and see by the meter reading when the bulb is weakening or if you have animals like corals and anemones and they are not looking good, confirming the lightbulb is or isn't the issue can help diagnose the problem.