Recently added calcium and magnesium to my tank because it was in bad shape and I had tried everything else I could think of. Now the plants look much better, especially the wisteria, and there is less algae. Now if calcium and magnesium are being used by the plants, shouldn't my testing show a gradual decrease in these elements? My GH has stayed at 14 dkh, Ca at 100 ppm, and Mg at 35 ppm for over a week now (I know this is a lot, but so far all is well). Should I expect these values to decrease with time? Thanks.
GH, Ca and Mg
- Thread starter tackful
- Start date
You get the water from the lakes on Mt Tam and Russian river water. Gh is fine. It has plenty of Ca++ but is a little low on the Mg.
I lived in SR, Novato, Larkspur, SA for about 15 years, I'm not sure they pie the Russian river water down that far, I sort of doubt it, you can call MMWD and ask.
IME, Marin has awesome tap water, magic as some called it from SF.
It is extremely improbable that the GH is almost entirely Mg and no Ca++, I think there's a testing error
Here's the annual report:
http://www.marinwater.org/documents/awqr2010.pdf
You can call and ask their lab what the average for Ca++ and Mg++ are.
They will tell you.
The effect you saw was more likely due to Mg++ limitation and you took care of it.
regards,
Tom Barr
Thanks very much, Tom. Will check on the Ca++ and Mg++. Had talked with them about a year ago when I found 0.5 phosphate level in the tap water, and was told that Russian River water is piped in during summertime.
Had been adjusting light, N,P,K, CO2 for over a year to get the plants up and the algae down. Spent hours on tank maintenance, but never thought about either Ca or Mg. Very satisfying to see lots of green again.
Had been adjusting light, N,P,K, CO2 for over a year to get the plants up and the algae down. Spent hours on tank maintenance, but never thought about either Ca or Mg. Very satisfying to see lots of green again.
Sounds like it was mostly a Mg++ issue if they greened up again.
I've long used GH booster which takes care of Mg, Ca and K+, kills 3 birds with one stone.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Will probably go to GH Booster after using up all my epsom salt and gypsum. Tried Seachem Equilibium a while back, but somehow it caused a lot of algae. Gave it another try two weeks later, same thing. Unable to even begin to figure that one out.