cal/alk question????

[brady816]

what the bad thing is i have never checked my ph before the lights have come on. Its always been when the lights have been on for a few hours and i would always get the 8.2... Now i checked it before the lights were on and there was a big drop i got scared and then thats when this thread started Now i know that the ph drops off over night so it should be ok now...

 

[mmkeeper]

Once you get your ca/alk up where you want drip kalk at night and you will limit the ph swings.

 

[brady816]

day 3 test

1st day

ph 8.2

alk 6.7

cal 310



2nd day

ph 7.8

alk 7.0dkh

cal 350ppm

3rd day

ph 7.8

alk 8.0 dkh

cal 360

Im going to does with just the cal tomorrow morning and hope it will get to 400 or around there...

 

[Slickdonkey]

Im going to does with just the cal tomorrow morning and hope it will get to 400 or around there...

I would try to get your alk a little higher before trying that... it's likely to drop if you just dose calcium.

In the meantime, check this out: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[brady816]

well i tested again and here are the numbers

ph 7.8

alk 8.0dkh

cal 380 ppm

this is before the lights come on. I added 1 cap full and a half of cal today to get the cal up to 400...looks like i will be on my way i hope...Is 380 good enough for the cal or does it need to be 400-450???

 

[DonW]

well i tested again and here are the numbers

ph 7.8

alk 8.0dkh

cal 380 ppm

this is before the lights come on. I added 1 cap full and a half of cal today to get the cal up to 400...looks like i will be on my way i hope...Is 380 good enough for the cal or does it need to be 400-450???

Id go all the way up to 400 this will leave you room for error.

Don

 

[brady816]

Finally i got the stuff where it needs to be .. Now the fun thing is to keep it there... Here is a question really fast..What if the cal drops and the alk stays the same and the ph stays the same. Its ok to just dose the tank for cal right??? I know it may sound like a dumb question but i had to ask..

ph 8.2
cal 410ppm
alk 8.0dkh

 

[DonW]

Finally i got the stuff where it needs to be .. Now the fun thing is to keep it there... Here is a question really fast..What if the cal drops and the alk stays the same and the ph stays the same. Its ok to just dose the tank for cal right??? I know it may sound like a dumb question but i had to ask..

ph 8.2
cal 410ppm
alk 8.0dkh

Dose whatever it takes to keep it in balance. Wether its just ca or just alk it doesnt matter. Keep tracking it for awhile. Ph has nothing to do with dosing two part, just keep an eye on.

Don

 

[brady816]

Don W

Thank you very much for your help and your tips. Oh you have a very nice looking tank there...

 

[brady816]

well its been about 2 weeks and im dosing cal 2 times a week. im dosing the alk 1 time a week. Here is my question my ph gets down to 7.8 every night and then it goes back to 8.2. I know there is a drop during the night is that a big drop off?

 

[DonW]

well its been about 2 weeks and im dosing cal 2 times a week. im dosing the alk 1 time a week. Here is my question my ph gets down to 7.8 every night and then it goes back to 8.2. I know there is a drop during the night is that a big drop off?

Less is better but your fine.

Don