Ca/Alkalinity Saga continues - it's snowing???

[Bill S]

OK, my saga on my 215 continues. Ca is still around 360, alkalinity at 3-4. I've been dripping 15 teaspoons of 6:1 bicarb & carbonate most days (based on the online calculator, and doing less than 1/2 of the dose). As well, I've been dripping 15 teaspoons of Dow Flake (CaCl) most days. This has been going on about 2 weeks. Tonight I started the CaCl drip, and about 1/2 the way thru I notice the tank is VERY cloudy - I'm guessing precipitation? Anyway, the Seachem tests show I'm not really making any progress - and I've added TONS of chemicals. Any thoughts? Oh yeah - pH is 8.3.

[gjuarez]

Definately precipitation, might be adding too fast too. Where is your magnesium, thats very important to be able to keep higher amounts of alk and cal. ALso, try to add the stuff into a higg flow area.

[gjuarez]

for reference try this link, a little bit of info on alk, cal and mag.
http://www.acro-rgv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22

[Bill S]

I think I found the (temporary) problem. I'd thought the gallon of bicarb/carb had completely dripped - and it hadn't. There was a little left in there, and when I put the CaCl gallon over the sump, I must have jiggled the other container, and for a short time, both were dripping into the sump===> very high alk & very high Ca at the same time, all being pushed thru a return pump under pressure! All seems well this am, but I'm still concerned that I can't get the Ca & Alk up. In any case, I need to check my Mg, and I don't have a kit for it. I'll call around this pm and see if anyone has one. Thanks AGAIN, for everyone's advice & moral support.

[hobogato]

bill, i have one that you can borrow.

[Bill S]

Thanks for the offer, Ace. I should probably have one, so I'll just buy it. I AM concerned that my Ca and Alk don't see to go up. Maybe I'll carry a sample with me and have them tested.

[Bill S]

OK, this is nuts. I also have a Salifert Alkalinity test kit that came from mikeyboy. Here's what I have:

Salifert (full test, 4 ml sample, took 1.25ml of reagent to change): 7.1
Seachem: 7 drops of reagent (0.5 per drop): 3.5

What's up with THIS??? Notice that one is twice the other. It took a BUNCH of reagent for the the Salifert test - 1-1/4 syringes.

[Bill S]

Uh oh. Louis reminded me that the Seachem kit has reference samples in it. So, I tested a sample, which is supposed to be 4.0 meq/l. It tested to 2.0... So, this new test kit is WRONG! And, the year old Salifert is RIGHT. So, now my alk is 7.1 meq/l... Gary suggested that I up the Mg, and then I can increase the Ca with it. No wonder my Ca won't go up!

[gjuarez]

Yup, you need to up the Mag to about 1450. 1300 hundred is acceptable but in your case I think you will do better with higher mag. Where does your mag measure lately?

[Bill S]

Oh, well that's another problem. Seems like the 2 LFSs I've called don't have an Mg test kit in stock. I've asked Louis to order me one. Richard probably has one, but I wasn't heading up that way any time in the next couple of days.

[hobogato]

bill, i have one that you can borrow.

until ya get one ;)

[hobogato]

actually, it is the one i bought from mikeyboy for $15 or so, so if you just want to buy it from me, that would work - havent used it and probably wont.

[Bill S]

Thanks, Ace, since I've asked Louis to order it, I kind of feel obligated. BTW, when you bought that kit from mikeyboy, when was that?

[hobogato]

the day we moved your tank. i dont know what the date was - they say the memory is the first thing to go :blink :D

[Bill S]

That's what I thought... Let's just say it was one of those things I expected to be in a box...