its been a week

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by new2salt2, Mar 12, 2004.

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  1. new2salt2

    new2salt2 Fire Shrimp

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    well i have been buying the cheap coral right now until i can get it right. i have been doing the water changes as suggested, but it puts calcium right back into the water.

    i do have some coaline alge growing but slowly i was hoping they would be using up the calcium and that is why i didnt touch tank for a week. but ill do another water change and see what happens. so far though my nitrates are still 0
     
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  3. tdevil

    tdevil Feather Duster

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    [quote author=new2salt2 link=board=General;num=1079115741;start=15#20 date=03/13/04 at 12:51:24]i have been doing the water changes as suggested, but it puts calcium right back into the water.  [/quote]

    well, kinda, think this way, you are pulling out 500+ calc and putting back in 100 so eventually it will come down ;), this might take a few weeks

    td
     
  4. new2salt2

    new2salt2 Fire Shrimp

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    natulis thanks i got your PM. and i agree that it should be ok to start coral, but for some reason they just dont like my water i guess. i just did water change and am adding some alk to increase slightly.

    also for everyone would my skimmer produce enought oxygen for my tank? or should i have a bubbler in the tank as well? do coral need high oxegen water or no?
     
  5. Boomer

    Boomer Feather Duster

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    Well, if the tap water is high in calcium, which seems to be the issue, there is only one answer, as suggested by the post by Nautilus

    Based on the values that your showed, I wouldn't recommend anything except only using an alkalinity supplement until the calcium came down. So only the alkalinity part of the C-Balance, or use baking or washing soda. Once the calcium drop to 450 ppm

    When you add a Alk sup to water with a high Calcium level, this is what happens;


    Ca ++ + CO3-- --------> Ca(CO3)

    So some of the alk added combines with the excess Calcium and lowers the Calcium level. Since you are also adding buffer and pulling out calcium to do this the addition of the buffer, baking soda or the Alk component of the two-part sup., won't really increase the Alk much at all. Once the Ca is down to 450, then stop and go back to the two-part sup..

    Also I would check your kit at the LFS to make sure it is reading correctly.

    However, you say you are using a DI for your city water, so if it is working right there will be no calcium of 100 ppm, the DI will take it out.

    I think your real problem is the test kit is bad, as far as calcium goes.

    The only other issue is something going into solution, raising the calcium and Alk( which is almost twice that of NSW) or in most fresh salt mixes. Do you have any home made live rock in the tank ? Initial use of some crushed coral can raise the Ca and Alk somewhat, as the dust particles go into solution easier.

    Only two things can go on here to create this problem,, bad kit or something going into solution and 99 % of the time it is a bad kit or not reading the instructions right and making calculation or procedure errors
     
  6. new2salt2

    new2salt2 Fire Shrimp

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    well i tested my kit with the LFS water and it was at 440PPM so i dont think it is the test kit. I am not too worried right now about the level of calc since i have been told by a rliable source that it would be fine. So i just have to find a way i think to nurture the coral a bit better in my water and such.

    i will continue to add Alk supplement to lower my ca and keep you all informed. I have noticed that the button polyp in my tank has opened a bit more since supplementing my Alk last night.

    just keeping my fingers crossed and adding a bit more oxygen to tank as well.
     
  7. Craig Manoukian

    Craig Manoukian Giant Squid

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    What are cheap corals, Soft, LPS, SPS corals? Did I miss the type of lighting you have?

    Thanks everyone for all your help!
     
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  9. new2salt2

    new2salt2 Fire Shrimp

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    i bought buttons first time a rock with about 15-20 cost me $16. this time i bough a rock with one on it for $3 to test it out.

    i have a 48" PC light with 2 65W 50/50 bulbs. by 2 i mean each bulb is 24" long. but coral are near top of water.

    i attatched a air hose to a power head and am putting more oxygen into water and actually it seems to be doing the trick with this coral so far. i wont hold my breath until it makes it at least a week, but seems to be opening more and more as time going by today. only thing i did was another water change and added air to water.
     
  10. Land_Fish

    Land_Fish Guest

    What are the readings now?

    Boomer is right about the DI filter taking out all the calcium so if this is reading 100 then your DI filter may need replacing.

    I think I heard somewhere that air bubble neither help or hinder corals? anyone ever hear this?
     
  11. Craig Manoukian

    Craig Manoukian Giant Squid

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    PC lighting is sufficient for low light soft corals and polyps are in that category.

    You need a complete chemistry panel on your water as there is something that is just not right. Did you use copper to medicate your tank at any time?
     
  12. Land_Fish

    Land_Fish Guest

    When you tested the water at the LFS and got 460 on the calcium what test kit did they use and what was that reading?
    It really seems that your test kit could be wrong as boomer said most of the time it is the test kit that is wrong. But you have to use 2 tests kits to find out if one if wrong.

    Do keep adding alk and let us know. But I trust Randy and you should be ok soon.