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How can my Ca be high and my Alk be fine?
- Thread starter wienerdog
- Start date
falconut
NJRC Member
I've had that several times. It always seams like my alk gets depleted quicker. I wouldn't worry about either number as long as the calcium isn't precipitating, which shouldn't happen at 480. If you want to maintain the alk without causing the calcium to go up, you'll just need to use a 1 part. I use baking soda, which will just raise the alk. I check both levels and only add what's needed. I used to think they had to be maintained at an exact balance, but later learned that as long as they're within the individual acceptable range they're fine.
Since you've started to add some "stoney" corals and are thinking about clams, it's become more important that you start to monitor your Ca, Mg and Alk, since they'll be taken up more quickly and need to be kept at acceptable levels. Like Craig said as long as they are within a certain range you should be OK. So you should keep your tank within these ranges: Ca is 380 to 420, Mg is 1300 to 1500 and Alk 7dKH to 11 dKH. A reasonably good test kit is a good investment. Magnesium is important because that's what will keep your Ca and Alk from attaching to each other as calcium carbonate and precipitating out of your tank before your animals have a chance to use them.
Here is a good read on Ca, Mg, Alk and pH:
[url]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php
PS If you're using a decent grade of reef type salt mix, and are doing periodic WC's you probably won't have to do too much dosing right now since your bio load is still relatively small.
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OK..thanks. I tend to make mountains out of mole hills because I am stiil a noob.
I am not dosing anything. Not yet. I probably will start when I see my parameters reacting to the SPS.