I just tested my levels and my calcium is 580 and ph is a little above 7.5. I have not added any supplements so far but I purchased B Ionic 2 part buffer yesterday. How should I use it to get my PH up? The directions are just to maintain a balance but not how to correct issues. any advice?
calcium/ PH ?
- Thread starter jwoirhaye
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Your calcium is way out of whack. What salt are you using? everybody's Ph suffers in the winter because of to much CO2 in the house and not being able to open windows. What is your alkalinity? What test kits are you using too? There are some great articles on Ph on this site in Boomer's forum here, check them out 
. I don't want to offer to much on the Ph until I know what your alk. is.
. I don't want to offer to much on the Ph until I know what your alk. is.
OK, for what you have in there, I would just let the alk and ca drop naturally for a while. NSW calcium is around 400, and I am a big proponent of trying, and I emphasize trying, to keep my levels around NSW. The soft corals you have do not require the calcium, but it is awful good practice for when you get into the stony corals. I haven't used a 2 part in a long time, so I am not to much help here on that. Hopefully someone else who has had some will chip in and give us a hand. If I find the need to boost the Ph, I just use regular old washing soda, about a teaspoon per a quart of water.
No it isn't. I used to do 6 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp washing soda for a 2 part buffer.
do not get the scented!!!!! Arm and hammer makes it, it is in the laundry aisle at my grocery store. Let me know when you find it and we can work from there, OK?
Oh, and one more thing, what is your name............................lol
Oh, and one more thing, what is your name............................lol
Nice to meet you jen, my name is Charlie .
No problem, that is what we do around here. Everybody that is on our little forum is extremely helpful and has a bunch of knowledge
.No problem, that is what we do around here. Everybody that is on our little forum is extremely helpful and has a bunch of knowledge
Hi Jen - Kevin here (aka: LostCreekReefer). I think everybody does something a bit different based on their readings and experience. Charlie is the *MOST* experienced of us all! :heh:
I have lots of large SPS colonies growing in my tank and they can suck (literally...) the Ca, Alk and Magnesium (Mg) out of the water really quickly. So does Charlie and so does Devon.
To keep the Ca, Alk & Mg levels up where they should be, near natural salt water = NSW, like Charlie mentioned, I do water changes, and drip Kalkwasser (Calcium hydroxide solution) all day to help keep my pH up and add calcium. I also drip the BRS 2- part; Calcium Chloride for Ca, Soda Ash for Alk with their Magnesium supplement (Mg Chloride and Mg Sulfate) every morning (all day with pumps might be better, not there yet) which you will need if you add many SPS corals as they pull that out of the water as well when they get acclimated and really start growing in your tank. See:
BRS 2 Part Calcium & Alkalinity Total Package - Bulk - Bulk Reef Supply
BRS also has a calculator on their web-site:
Reef Calculator - Bulk Reef Supply
This helps you figure out what to do/what to add. As I learned from Charlie, you need to measure where you are (look at your Ca, Alk and Mg), make a plan on what to do, then do it...over time (not a day). I am a slothful sluggard on the measuring part; sometimes that bites me in the @$$, but I try to keep up on things. Hope it helps
I have lots of large SPS colonies growing in my tank and they can suck (literally...) the Ca, Alk and Magnesium (Mg) out of the water really quickly. So does Charlie and so does Devon.
To keep the Ca, Alk & Mg levels up where they should be, near natural salt water = NSW, like Charlie mentioned, I do water changes, and drip Kalkwasser (Calcium hydroxide solution) all day to help keep my pH up and add calcium. I also drip the BRS 2- part; Calcium Chloride for Ca, Soda Ash for Alk with their Magnesium supplement (Mg Chloride and Mg Sulfate) every morning (all day with pumps might be better, not there yet) which you will need if you add many SPS corals as they pull that out of the water as well when they get acclimated and really start growing in your tank. See:
BRS 2 Part Calcium & Alkalinity Total Package - Bulk - Bulk Reef Supply
BRS also has a calculator on their web-site:
Reef Calculator - Bulk Reef Supply
This helps you figure out what to do/what to add. As I learned from Charlie, you need to measure where you are (look at your Ca, Alk and Mg), make a plan on what to do, then do it...over time (not a day). I am a slothful sluggard on the measuring part; sometimes that bites me in the @$$, but I try to keep up on things. Hope it helps
Slothful sluggard???????????????
kpiotrowski
Kevin
careful using brs calcualtor for a diferent brand of supplement. could be difernet concentrations. the brs stuff is very affordable and is what I have been using via dosing pumps.
= kinda slow, resistant to obvious things....
so I picked up some washing soda today, but now i am wondering how accurate my test kits are. would I be ok with my levels if i wait till this weekend to have them double checked? I'm afraid of trying to correct something when it might be my test kit.
kpiotrowski
Kevin
Yep, wouldn't worry too much. the alk isnt't actualy high ( 8-12dkh) and the calcium isn't going to kill anything. some run 500 all day long, but its overkill. ( no pun intended)
Yep, go ahead and wait, where do you get your water tested at?
