Tank parameters

[Jasonb]

so i havent tested my tank since i moved down here and i finally tested.
Calcium seem high to me, i dont dose and havent done a water change in about 3-4 weeks
red sea kit
nirtates 0.75
phosphates 0.03
calcium 500+
alk 7
mag 1400
salinity 0.24
temp83
ph 8.07

how do these look specifically cal, alk, mag?

[Dkray944]

You need to raise your alk to lower your calcium. Calcium is definitly high in my opinion. I usually keep my calcium around 420 and Alk at 9.8.

[Bill S]

Before you do anything, how old are your kits, and what brand are they. If they aren't recent, take a water sample to a LFS, and your kits, and check your kits against theirs.

[Jasonb]

Before you do anything, how old are your kits, and what brand are they. If they aren't recent, take a water sample to a LFS, and your kits, and check your kits against theirs.

Red Sea kits, they are new just for them in. Expires 2017.
Since everything in the tank is fine I was going to test a few more times before starting to add anything.

[alton]

Not sure what salt you are using next water change check the calcium levels in the new water. And I have to ask why are you keeping your temp at 83?

[Jasonb]

Not sure what salt you are using next water change check the calcium levels in the new water. And I have to ask why are you keeping your temp at 83?

Red Sea salt (black bucket)

No specific reason on the temp, I ran it a little high when I read somewhere that the ich life cycle speeds up in warmer temps, I have my heater turned down but the temp doesn't fall much at all when it's off, I have some computer fans to bring it down just haven't got around to installing the.m yet

[Dean]

It would be best to keep that temp in the upper 70's (78 being prime in my experience) and maintain your alk between 9-10. As Bill stated make sure your test kits are accurate BEFORE you dose anything to correct the alk. One of the keys to success in a reef tank is stability. Most importantly in temparature, salinity, and especially alkalinity.

[Jasonb]

was the best way to just raise the alk? i have some buffer here. I'm afraid dosing kalk would raise my calcium up even more?

[Jasonb]

So I tested again today 1week since the last test

Calcium 450
Alkalinity 6.4
Magnesium stayed at 1400
Salinity .24
Ph 7.95
Temp75.3 (lowered my heater dial)

so would kalk or 2 part be better to dose?

[alton]

I have always felt that most salt manufactures add more Calcium and everything else to there mix so when you do water changes it replenishes everything. But if you are dosing you do not need all the extra calcium and other items. If you really like Red Sea, try using on your next water change the regular instead of the Pro. I did this a couple times on a tank while using Oceanic brand salt my calcium levels were off the charts and Alk was super low, so I used regular instant ocean salt to bring the calcium down, and alk back up. Remember your levels if you change them need to happen slowly. For me I have always relied on large water changes and not dosing. Too many times dosing equipment has gone crazy.

[Jasonb]

OK going to test one more time this week and pull the trigger on solution (kalk, 2 part)

[Frogman]

OK going to test one more time this week and pull the trigger on solution (kalk, 2 part)

The reef builders works great for that as well... I run my Alk at 7-9. I dose very irregularly and not much at all when I do. I usually keep my things balanced through salt water changes. However, I know as my SPS grow, I will probably need to start dosing these more. But I agree with everyone on here, and don't react.. The only thing I put in my tank regularly are Reef Plus (for essential elements and Vits), Iodide (a little each water change to help my Coral Banded molting process) and selcon to the food to boost its nutritional value. If I have to dose alk, mag, calc... I use the Red Sea Parts A,B,C all in one mix. but I only dose it when I cant do my 20% (30 Gal) bi weekly water change.

One thing you can do, test the Alk in your top off water. Mine drops really low due to my water softener, but the Reef Crystals has a high enough alk level at 1.025 to keep my levels at a pretty steady Dkh of 8-9.

[Jasonb]

Bring back a old thread.

Tested alk,calc and mag for the first time since this thread.

Alk 5.6
Calcium 400
Mag 1520

Thoughts?

Did a 20g water change last weekend.

Nitrate .25 or less
Phosphates .04 (added a reactors gfo and carbon about a month ago, got it down from .36)



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[Dkray944]

Your Alk is scary low. I would add some Alk but be sure to watch your calcium as you do. Your best bet is to do this in conjunction with a large water change. Just be sure to do it very slowly.

[Jasonb]

Calibrayed my ph probe and ph wss 7.77 started dripping KH buffer.

I also got to fix my ATO so i can start kalk

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[Jasonb]

Tested this morning, lights have been off for over 18 hrs so far (doing s lights out to try and kill off some remaining algae).
I started kalk dosing last week started slow tho at only 1/2 tsp for my 2.5 gallons ato contanier going to up that on the next batch.

Tank parameters
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[Jasonb]

Using kalk in a ato does the ato need to be covered? Does the kalk mix change any exposed to air?
I know being covered will keep dist, trash etc out of the water tho

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[klwheat]

You're going to want to keep the ATO water covered if using kalk..yes.
However, kalk might not be the best way to get your alk and calc back up to proper levels. It works well for maintenance...not so much for "dosing."
Get a good 2-part solution, calculate how much you need to raise it properly (no more than 1dkh/day for the alk). Test daily until you're where you want to be.
Then the kalk should be able to keep you there.

[Jasonb]

You're going to want to keep the ATO water covered if using kalk..yes.
However, kalk might not be the best way to get your alk and calc back up to proper levels. It works well for maintenance...not so much for "dosing."
Get a good 2-part solution, calculate how much you need to raise it properly (no more than 1dkh/day for the alk). Test daily until you're where you want to be.
Then the kalk should be able to keep you there.
I got alk and calcium i have dosed the alk buffer to slowly raise it.

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[klwheat]

Awesome! Test it daily. Remember, sloooow!
Let us know how it goes.


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