Alkalinity Levels are high

Oh, if only more people followed that advice. You can't correct an inbalance overnight, yet so many will dump in massive amounts of supplements (whether it's Ca, Mg, or any other supplement of your choice) and try to correct a problem quickly. It got out of whack over time, so it will take time to get it back to the correct levels.

 

sometimes thats not the case. when someone doesnt know what there doing and adds way to much of one element at one time that can throw the system off. but, yea, PATIENCE.

 

As mentioned by other reefers here, as you raise your Cal, that will lower your Alk. When you raise your Alk, that will lower your Cal. Mag helps to "balance" out the two. If you keep your Mag between 1400-1500ppm, it will be easier to maintain Alk and Cal. WC will lower your Alk, but not by much, it would just be easier to raise your Cal(slowly) and watch your Alk go down. I hope this has helped you. Luna

 

To all:
Thank you very much for your advice!!! I am ordering a magnesium test kit from drsfostersmith because the LFS doesn't have a test for it. I have switched to RO water, and hopefully, this will work itsself out slowly. i will attempt to maintain calcium at 300ppm (until i can get the alkalinity fixed), and then try to keep it at 400ppm. I won't any other additives (other than ca) to the water until I get the magnesium test kit, then I will determine whether I need to use some epsom salt. BTW, is there a proper dosing procedure for epsom salts? Also, what sort of side effects can epsom salt have on water params? Thanks again!! All of the corals (I have a colony of GSP's, brown button polyps, and two pulsing xenia- that have never pulsed) look good for now, and hopefully they will all be fine until I get this straightened out.