WaterLogged Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Hello everyone. I guess in order to answer my question im going to have to give you a bit of info, so here we go. 90 gal. 40 lbs. live rock 4" dsb prizm pro deluxe skimmer fluval 404 (mainly for flow) - got some phosphate sponge in there though 3 maxi jet 1200's 2 blue damsel 1 yellow tail wrasse no corals yet Last weeks Ph 8.3 calcium- 220 Alk 7.3 dkh This weeks Ph 8.1 calcium 240 Alk 7.0 dkh My problem is I need to get my calcium up to atleast 360ppm. Ever since I started I was using a Ph buffer whenever I added top off water, or changed water. I kept adding and adding calcium supplement without seeing any changes. I was told to not use the buffer anymore and keep adding calcium until you get to the desired level, then start using a 2 part additive. Because I dont have a kalk reactor or anything. I have been doing that and have not really seen any changes. There is nothing in the tank that really uses the calcium so I can't understand where it is all going. And now with my Alk and Ph dropping I am afraid it's going to get to low for comfort. Should I just keep doing what I'm doing and add the calcium. Or is there something I am missing here?? I am using RO water since 2 weeks ago for top offs and WC now. Any comments or suggestions are very, very welcome!! Thanks all sorry it was so long. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunl Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Long post? You must be new here... I can't help you with this one, but eventually one of our more experienced salt keepers will come on and give you a hand. If not, try sending a PM to BlkWolfe, muck, Michael Roth, midgetwaiter, to name a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterLogged Posted May 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Haha okay.. it sure felt long typing it. I am all thumbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muck Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Which test kits are you using to get your measurements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterLogged Posted May 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Hagen master test kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muck Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Try to get a second opinion with a buddies test kit. Perferablely Salifert as they seem to be the most reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterLogged Posted May 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 You think those values could be off by that much? Not doubting you or anything. But I paid alot of money for that test kit. hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muck Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 I don't know yet. I am hoping to know by getting a second opinion. How old is the Hagen Master Kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finaddict Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 what type of salt r u using? brand? I use hagen test kits and my calcium is 380 hardness 9 how long has the 90g been running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterLogged Posted May 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 The hagen test kit is about a year and a half old. I use Instant Ocean marine salt. And the tank has only been up for 6 months. Thanks for helping me out Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finaddict Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 test the new water before your next water change.. maybe the salt mix was formulated wrong??? just a thought!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midgetwaiter Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 The pH buffer is what caused this. Your calcium has been precipitated out of the water as Ca03 by the alkalinity buffer. The 2 part additive isn't fixing things because you are increasing alk along with the calcium, then having calcium precipitate out as Ca03, and so on. This link explains the issue better than I can: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm In the article the author has a zone graph that shows common issues, your problem is Zone 3. There are some good recommendations there. I would probably do a few partial water changes before I did anything else and then try an correct the problem, if you have trouble finding the calcium chloride I can probably get my hands on some Turbo Calcium for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterLogged Posted May 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 I actually have only been dosing straight calcium. On the bottle it says it will raise calcium and keep magnesium levels. Do I need to get calcium chloride? I asked the guy at gold's(lfs) and that is what he gave me? That article you posted is very good though. Explains everything very well. Maybe I just have to wait longer before things change. I hate waiting !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midgetwaiter Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 I actually have only been dosing straight calcium. On the bottle it says it will raise calcium and keep magnesium levels. Do I need to get calcium chloride? I asked the guy at gold's(lfs) and that is what he gave me? That article you posted is very good though. Explains everything very well. Maybe I just have to wait longer before things change. I hate waiting !!! That should work okay. You will prbably just have to wait it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterLogged Posted May 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2006 Well turns out I mis calculated my dosing procedures. I wasn't adding enough. I finally got my calcium levels to 340 ppm which is way better. But now my alk reading is 80 ?? the hagen test confuses me though, with all the dkh's and meq/l I don't know what 80 is refering to but I'm pretty sure thats way low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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