Help with tank chemistry

[str8juizy]

OK, so I have set up my 92 gallon corner. Used mostly new water & some water from my old tank. Used mostly new live sand with just a couple cups of my old sand to seed. Used all the LR from my old tank. Got a sump w/skimmer, LR in the sump & sand & chaeto. It was up & running without livestock for 1 week before I moved over the stuff from my old tank. Going on the 4th week now... I have been testing my levels & cannot seem to get them right. As of now my Nitrates are 0, my Phosphates are 0, my KH is too high & my Calcium is too low. I think I had to add like 16 drops to get my KH test to turn from blue to yellow & it only took 12 drops to get to the end color for my Calcium Test showing it to read 240. I have always had a tank that did not take much work, never really tested much & had crazy growth of softies. Now I am going to SPS & am really worried that I am in over my head. How do I raise my Calcium & lower my KH? I need the simple way because I do not have fancy monitors or drip machines... any help/advice would be great!

Thanks!

Rachel

 

[minhvu]

have u check magnesium?

 

[roblou]

Hi Rachel: first of all, how is your livestock doing? Sounds like it's been in your new tank for about 3 weeks...fish, coral?

In regards to your test results, 16 drops to get dKh test doesn't translate to anything without knowing which brand & what each drop equates to. I use Elos, and 16 drops would put Alk at 8 dKh, which isn't bad at all. But depending on what brand you're using, 16 drops can mean something totally different.

If your Ca is only 240ppm, then it is low. But, before you do anything, I would suggest getting a confirmation test of Ca & Alk (Mg also if you haven't already done so). Maybe take a water sample to your LFS and ask them to test.

In direct answer to your questions, there are retail and DIY products you can use to raise Ca. You can also set up a calcium reactor to keep Ca elevated. Usually Alk will drop on its own over time if you don't dose something to keep it elevated. Water changes can also help when Alk is too high. Kalkwasser or a kalk reactor can also be used to help keep both Ca and Alk elevated.

But, assuming you're not dosing any Alk or Ca supplements currently, I'd be surprised if your Alk is truly too high, especially if your livestock seem happy.

HTH & good luck,

Rob

 

[cdbdis]

Agree w/ roblou - 240 is insanely low for Ca and I would suspect a bad test kit. Not sure how heavily loaded your tank is w/ SPS and relative Ca uptake. However, past history has shown me that Alk problems tend to raise their ugly head in my tank w/ Ca uptake is very high. Would also recommend checking Mg - around 1300 is what you should be shooting for. Mg depletion tends to be one of the biggest causes of putting your Ca / Alk balance out of whack since it affects the solubility of the free Ca+ ions.

 

[str8juizy]

LOL, it is like everyone is speaking a foreign language. I will take my water to a fish store for testing. I have been dosing with calcium sups. At first I was dosing with C-balance until I realized it raises Alk too, then I switched to one that only raises the calcium. My fish are happy, fat & healthy as usual & my anemones are doing good & loveing the new halide set up. Everything seems great but the test results really scare me. I am going to pick up some new lights on Thursday so I will have my water tested then. Thanks!

 

[returnofsid]

In my signature, you'll find some links. 1 is a link to Randy's DIY supplement recipes. Another link is to a Reef Chemistry Calculator. This calculator will help you determine how to get your Calcium, Alk and Magnesium balanced. If you're out of balance, this calculator will also help you figure out how you got there and, more importantly, how to fix it!!

You'll find these links invaluable, as I, and many others have!!

 

[lvsuckerfish]

I will bring my test kits over thursday and test the water it is possible the test kits are off what kits are you using? I have to look at that ballast anyways. I would tomorrow but I have coral being shipped in that i will have to acclimate to my 29 tomorrow all afternoon.