Low alk / high calcium problem solved!

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by Matt Rogers, Nov 2, 2003.

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  1. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    For several months since I started my hex I have had problems with low alk and high calcium readings (alk 2 meq/L and Calcium over 600!). I think this was from using DIY rock and natural sea water.

    For the last couple months I slowly dosed Seachem Reef Builder through an IV mixed with my evap water to raise carbonate alkalinity.

    I started with 3 teaspoons / gallon. Steadily increasing the dosage per gallon to 6 teaspoons currently.

    I finally got it in a good range. [smiley=beer.gif]

    Check out my results below:

    8) 8) 8)

    If you have a similar problem, I hope this helps!
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. Jason McKenzie

    Jason McKenzie Super Moderator

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    Hey Matt, Glad to hear of your success.
    I have been going through a similar problem with Low Alk and High CA.
    Solution was very similar to yours but I really found evaporation was not high enough to use your method.

    I was dosing 4 teaspoons daily raising Alk by 1 meq/L per day. It seems when you have a very high CA alk consumption (if you can call it that) is very high
    I was finding my alk would drop about 0.4 to 0.7meq/L per Day until I was able to get my alk to 3.6 and my CA to 370 then my daily consumption was a lot less. I now does CA 3 teaspoons every other day and 3 teaspoons of Buffer every other day. Seems to be working

    J
     
  4. david

    david Peppermint Shrimp

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    I use reef buffer instead of reef builder but I only dose 2 teaspoons twice a week. My alk. never drops below 3.5 meg./l but, my calcium fluctuates beetween 375-410mg/l. Depending on what day I test. I just read in marine fish and reef 2003 that if your S.G. is not 1.025 than every calcium and alk test is skewed.
          I have seen my tests come out better and better as I'm slowly raising my S.G.  It was at 1.023, now its at 1.024, soon to reside at 1.025. <--(natural seawater) YES??
    My P.H. always seems to be low sometimes it hits 8.0 or lower. When I try to add the buffer to correct this, I have to watch my alk. Once it even got up to 5.0 witch was a little scary but nothing bad happened.
     
  5. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    Good info guys. Thanks for sharing. [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

    (David with the natural sea water thing, I think it depends, where I get it, it's closer to 1.022.)
     
  6. david

    david Peppermint Shrimp

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    Wow!, I don't know if it's my S.G. being raised or what but when I came home today my LTA was huge. Twice as big as he ever has been! I did move some rock around (bad idea but now I'm glad I did it). So the spot he choose to stay gets more light than it did before but I moved the rock around days ago and today well It's way bigger! ;D CRAZY!
     
  7. Craig Manoukian

    Craig Manoukian Giant Squid

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    Great news David!  Post a picture of that LTA, please!
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. david

    david Peppermint Shrimp

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    I snapped a pic as soon as I saw this post he wasn't as big as before kinda picture it without the curl to it's tentacles so they would lie flat thats more like he was earlier today
     

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  10. Land_Fish

    Land_Fish Guest

    I only wish Boomer was here to set you SeaChem users straight.
     
  11. Land_Fish

    Land_Fish Guest

    You guys need to use a 2 part ionic additive like B-Ionic to keep your tank balanced.
    You keep using SeaChem stuff and it will never will balance out.
     
  12. david

    david Peppermint Shrimp

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    I actually started using b-ionic and could never get the cal. levels I wanted and I was addind 2 full caps a day of each sea chem has worked way better for me ( just my opinion) ;D