KH question

[kkiel02]

So my KH is low at 7.1 but my calcium is 420. Isn't KH just a buffer for my calcium? Should I add alk or am I good as long as my calcium is good? My mag was 1250 FWIW.

[uriah]

What is in your tank? It really depends on your livestock needs...

[CoryDude]

Have you tested for total alk yet? I gave up on dkh and only test for total alk now.

Always looked at it as a see-saw type thing between alk and calcium. If you bump up the alk, you may see your calcium drop a little. Uriah's right, I wouldn't worry about it too much if everything is healthy. I've even had my tank drop to around that level and the sps were doing fine.

Can't remember from your tank's thread, but how are you dosing calcium/alk right now? Two part, kalkwasser, ca reactor, water changes, etc? Personally, I use kalkwasser a few times a week and throw in a little baking soda too to help with hardness (huh, huh, huh, I said hardness).

[LuckySingh]

Believe me or not but mag plays a very important role in maintaing cal alk and kh... Ur Mag is way too low... I will worry about mag 1st than other..


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[Squiers007]

Lsingh is correct Mg does play a large role in the balance between calcium and alkalinity, but I wouldn't say your Mg is that low. Natural seawater runs between 1300 and 1350, so your 1250 is not terrible, but bringing it up wouldn't hurt.

Have you verified any of your chems with other test kits?

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[kkiel02]

What is in your tank? It really depends on your livestock needs...

Really just Lps. Hammers, chalices etc.

Cory- I tested with the red sea coral pro kit so I am not sure of that is total alk or not.

Lucky- I may have missed typed the number as I think the mag was good. I'll test again tomorrow though.

[CoryDude]

Total alk will give you numbers like 2.75 meq/L.

I had the same issue with alk a few years with low dkh and went the route of boosting mag and it didn't help at all. I've noticed when I had nitrate levels above 20 mg/L, I had issues with low alk. Here's an excellent article from Randy Holmes Farley that mentions this. Basically any time an ammonia molecule is converted to nitrate a positive hydrogen ion is produced. If your nitrates are accumulating, then acid is being produced. This acid can cause a good size drop in dkh. Fish heavy systems that rely on water changes for nutrient export see this problem a lot.

There's a lot of info in this article that may help.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php

[kkiel02]

Ill have to read that article this weekend. I am not sure if the test kit tests for total alk or not. The corals arent stressed but after the testing results I thought I would ask. I have been known to mess up a test so I will retest this weekend and see what I get.

[BSJF]

First thing I would do is retest with a different test kit.
If the test is correct, personally, I would add alk and mag.
What is your pH?

[LuckySingh]

1250 mag is only right if ur nitrates r down to nill.... And than every thing else will maintain on it's own too with just a regular dosing Like alk and cal.... If ur nutrients r way too low than only u can adjust ur reef water similar to natural sea water.... Again if ur nutrients r low and ur alk and cal is over 8dkh and 420 than it's gone start stressing ur live stock slow by slow...


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