effect of high calcium

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by nicodim55, Dec 16, 2010.

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  1. EasyMac

    EasyMac Fire Worm

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    how big is your tank? isn't a 40 gal change a little too much at once?
     
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  3. nicodim55

    nicodim55 Coral Banded Shrimp

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    It's 150 total water volume
     
  4. EasyMac

    EasyMac Fire Worm

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    I would say you are fine for now and don't need to worry about it unless your alk drops.
     
  5. nicodim55

    nicodim55 Coral Banded Shrimp

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    So do you think it would be a good idea to do another 40gal next weekend?
     
  6. EasyMac

    EasyMac Fire Worm

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    I don't think a water change would hurt if u do it. So it's not that I'm saying it's a bad idea I'm just saying if the only thing u have going on is the the calc being high then ull be fine cuz that's not a big deal.
     
  7. nicodim55

    nicodim55 Coral Banded Shrimp

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    What other methods can I use to keep alk at 8-12 besides baking soda? can i use a buffer?
     
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  9. EasyMac

    EasyMac Fire Worm

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    I dont have experience with buffers, but go to ur LFS see what solutions there are for calc hardness specifically

    Btw If u run ur heater in ur home a lot for the winter it can lower ur alk. Alk can drop from poor oxygenation a lot of times.

    Do u have a skimmer? That should help in addition an airstone can be helpful it's a more natural way of increasing alk.
     
  10. nicodim55

    nicodim55 Coral Banded Shrimp

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    Yes I have a skimmer, airstone? can i put it in the sump or does it have to be in the display tank? How does it increase alk naturally?
     
  11. EasyMac

    EasyMac Fire Worm

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    The airstone will shoot in oxygen helping to help increase alk. The sump placement should be fine. Try it out I don't have experience with it but my LFS has suggested it it to me many times.

    If u have the finance capabilities u can look into calc reactors which will help u maintain ur alk levels.

    This is a good article u can read to get more info.

    http://www.wetwebmedia.com/alkalinity.htm

    Honestly though ur alk is good for now. If u see and bad changes I would just do another simple water change just like u did.

    If u have the availability to buy natural filtered sea water rather than mixing ur own water do that. I use natural sea water that I buy from my LFS and I have never had any pH or alk problems.

    Hope I'm helping u out a bit :)
     
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  12. nicodim55

    nicodim55 Coral Banded Shrimp

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    yes you are thank you for all the input. I do buy real ocean water and I also buy RO water for top off at those water stores. I really don't know how my alk got really low and I don't know why it's not keeping it balanced when I use real ocean water like you said. I have plenty of surface agitation to keep PH stable. What puzzles me is why some of my SPS RTN'd and some are not affected. My montis are growing out really fast.