Param help

[Classklown90]

Doser went out of wack and onky dosed calcium for a day. So my calcium is at 500ish and my alk is low around 7. Corals are fine. Should I turn off the calcium pump or both and for.how long?

Sent from my galaxy s4

 

[redfishbluefish]

Yes, turn off the pump to Calc only. Let Alk "catch up." Let's see, you have a 40B with a heavy load of sticks, so I'd test again in two days and see where you're at. Adjust pump appropriately at that point.

 

[Classklown90]

Thanks alot paul. Hopefully its all in check before the swap

Sent from my galaxy s4

 

[Classklown90]

Calcium is still high it will not.drop. been dosing alk as normal and it is back where it should be. Corals appear fine

Sent from my galaxy s4

 

[downbeach]

How much Alk are you using? The normal uptake in a reef tank is about 7ppm Ca to every 1 dKH Alk, given the margin of error in these test kits, it may be hard to notice that small of a change. Have you gotten a second opinion on the Ca reading?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Also, which salt are you using, how frequently do you do water changes, and what volume of water do you change.


One of the reasons I’m switching from RC to IO is because of high calc. I went two months with only dosing alk. And this was with a weekly water change of 15 gallons on a 90 gallon DT.

 

[Classklown90]

Im using RC and doing 4 gallons weekly. I think I.dose 40 ml of alk a day and that keeps me at 8.3ish. I have tonsss of sps and two.clams. im due for a waterchange today, should I wait? Ive tested cal with a brand new api, old api kit and a salifert I borrowed

Sent from my galaxy s4

 

[MatteZ]

Test the fresh 4 gallons saltwater before you change it and see what is at.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I’m assuming all three test kits were within reasonable error, and agreeing with each other.


Measure the calc of freshly prepared RC water. If it was like the lot I had, it was well over 500.


However, with a 10% water change per week, and you have all those sticks, and now hearing you have two clams, I’m surprised you still don’t’ need to suppliment. Clams are calcium suckers!


But the chemistry doesn’t lie. So keep testing and add (or don’t add) as is needed to get the numbers in the ballpark.


FYI, in my switch to IO, I’m doing it slowly, now mixing ca 6 cups RC to 3 cups IO for 15 gallons of water. With this mix, I then had to start dosing calc again.

 

[Classklown90]

Thanks for all the help Paul and everyone.else. So if I test my waterchange water and its over 500, should I still change it? My tank is testing at around 540 on all 3 tests

Sent from my galaxy s4

 

[redfishbluefish]

I suggest that you still do water changes….but first a few more questions. What is your target salt concentration? Do you use a swing arm or refractometer to measure salt concentration? And if it is a refractometer, do you calibrate with RO/DI or with calibration fluid (1.026)?


This is the exact “problem” I was having with RC….very high calc. I don’t know if it was just a lot problem or if it is acroos the board with every batch of salt. Since I’ve cut my salt mix to two parts RC to one part IO, my calc numbers came down.

 

[Classklown90]

I suggest that you still do water changes….but first a few more questions. What is your target salt concentration? Do you use a swing arm or refractometer to measure salt concentration? And if it is a refractometer, do you calibrate with RO/DI or with calibration fluid (1.026)?


This is the exact “problem” I was having with RC….very high calc. I don’t know if it was just a lot problem or if it is acroos the board with every batch of salt. Since I’ve cut my salt mix to two parts RC to one part IO, my calc numbers came down.

I target 1.025-6 and I use a swing arm. I have been since I started and its treated me well. I clean it once a month. I will make up some water and test

Sent from my galaxy s4

 

[magic]

With what you have invested do yourself a favor and get a refractometer. To many things can affect the hydrometer's accuracy.

Bob

 

[Classklown90]

I have heard bad stories with the refractometers and while I appreciate your concern, im sticking with my swing arm. Even if its off, my tanks salinity is still stable.

The new RC water tested at 420 cal. Didnt check alk as.that is not the issue.

Sent from my galaxy s4

 

[Xavier613]

Check magnesium as well since all 3 go hand in hand. My mag was low, calc high, alk low. Raised the mag level and the calcium dropped to normal while the alk raised to where it should be.

 

[Xavier613]

I was using reef crystals at that time and switched to oceanic after. Which I think is supposed to have a higher mag level. Didn't have the issue again after.

 

[Classklown90]

Ill check mag, thats always been in check but it could of been thrown off. Thanks

Sent from my galaxy s4

 

[jgraz]

I'd be interested in you mag number as well. I had the same problem as Xavier. When I tested mag I realized it was about 1100. Once I brought it up the calcium came down. As I understand it, it's mag that allows us to keep the elevated cal and Alk where we want them.

 

[Classklown90]

Mag id at 1440 tested with salifert. Test is onky months old. Calcium has not.come down still. Very confused. All other levels are in check and corals are great

Sent from my galaxy s4

 

[Classklown90]

Finally seeing a slight drop

Sent from my galaxy s4