robojet
04/30/2008, 07:29 PM
Before I start this thread... let me just say I've been an idiot, should have known better, yada, yada, yada...
This is what I had done: I have a 34 gallon all-in-one tank. I normally test with test strips, and supplement that testing with test kits when I think it's necessary. I had SeaChem test kits for Calcium, Mag, and Alk. I have minimal SPS, mostly LPS and softies, 2 Chromis, 2 Clowns, inverts, 2 croceas. I hadn't really liked the SeaChem test kits, as the results always seemed questionable to me either because I thought the results were ridiculous, or did the color really change or whatever. Anyways, I had a small bottle of Kent Calcium and Kent Strontium/Molybdenum laying around, and started dosing my tank (i.e., didn't have a good reason to do this, and wasn't at least using a 2 part balanced solution). I had gotten lazy about testing, but had noticed the test strips were showing undesirable pH and Alk - I chose to be lazy about the results also, blaming the test strips.
Recently one of my clams wasn't looking so good... so I went researching on the web and found "clamsdirect.com" and did a little forum reading. It seems that Alk is a big part of there health. So, I decided to go find some better test kits... I now have Elos test kits for Alk and Calcium. Turns out my Calcium was 425 and Alk was 6. So, again I did my research an followed instructions I found on Reefkeeping for raising Alk. I slowly increased Alk to 7 using Washing Soda. The clam is actually looking better - that really may have been it. Calcium has remained the same.
But here's the question (sorry for all the background):
Because the test kit lacks some precision (results in dKH, not meq/L), I wanted it to achieve an Alk of 8... so I was clearly in a safe range. I've added additional Washing soda trying to raise the Alk (not a lot, just a little more than what was prescribed for the size tank and how much I wanted to raise it based on the article on reefkeeping), and it just doesn't seem to be going up. My understanding is that Calcium and Alk can impact each other... I'm just wondering if there is a chemical balancing reason for the Alk not going any higher (at least without extreme measures)?
This is what I had done: I have a 34 gallon all-in-one tank. I normally test with test strips, and supplement that testing with test kits when I think it's necessary. I had SeaChem test kits for Calcium, Mag, and Alk. I have minimal SPS, mostly LPS and softies, 2 Chromis, 2 Clowns, inverts, 2 croceas. I hadn't really liked the SeaChem test kits, as the results always seemed questionable to me either because I thought the results were ridiculous, or did the color really change or whatever. Anyways, I had a small bottle of Kent Calcium and Kent Strontium/Molybdenum laying around, and started dosing my tank (i.e., didn't have a good reason to do this, and wasn't at least using a 2 part balanced solution). I had gotten lazy about testing, but had noticed the test strips were showing undesirable pH and Alk - I chose to be lazy about the results also, blaming the test strips.
Recently one of my clams wasn't looking so good... so I went researching on the web and found "clamsdirect.com" and did a little forum reading. It seems that Alk is a big part of there health. So, I decided to go find some better test kits... I now have Elos test kits for Alk and Calcium. Turns out my Calcium was 425 and Alk was 6. So, again I did my research an followed instructions I found on Reefkeeping for raising Alk. I slowly increased Alk to 7 using Washing Soda. The clam is actually looking better - that really may have been it. Calcium has remained the same.
But here's the question (sorry for all the background):
Because the test kit lacks some precision (results in dKH, not meq/L), I wanted it to achieve an Alk of 8... so I was clearly in a safe range. I've added additional Washing soda trying to raise the Alk (not a lot, just a little more than what was prescribed for the size tank and how much I wanted to raise it based on the article on reefkeeping), and it just doesn't seem to be going up. My understanding is that Calcium and Alk can impact each other... I'm just wondering if there is a chemical balancing reason for the Alk not going any higher (at least without extreme measures)?