ca and kh levels off

[ecomdesign]

I tested my water today and I'm concerned about my kh and calcium levels.
My calcium levels have always been around 320ppm. In order to bring these up, I have been adding Seachem's Reef Complete as per the instructions on the bottle. I have dosed twice now and they still haven't changed at all. Am I just not giving it enough time or should I increase the dose?

Also, normally my Kh levels have been normal, but tonight they have jumped up to 13degrees dh. I've been adding Seachem Marine Buffer to my ro top up water a few times a week. The bottle says that it will raise and maintain a ph of 8.3, but hasn't yet. The only thing being raised is my Kh level.

Here are the results of the water test:
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate:10ppm
Ca:320
Ph:8
Kh:13degrees dh
SG: 1.023

Should I discontinue adding any of these products? Any advice is appreciated as I am a newbie to this stuff!!!

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Forget the claims about pH as they are misleading. Do not use it at all in a reef tank (it has excessive borate for a reef tank and is even intended for fish tanks by Seachem), and in general buffers are not the best way to maintain pH. They just end up with excessive alkalinity. Limewater or a high ph two part additive, along with more aeration with fresh air are the best ways.

Boost the calcium with calcium chloride, then try to select a balanced calcium and alkalinity additive method (two part, limewater, or CaCO3/CO2 reactor, for example). ;)

These have more:

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm


How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php

[ecomdesign]

I will have a look through those threads. Its my daughters 1st b-day today so I'm too busy today.

I will stop adding the buffer right away. The ingredents in my calcium are Calcium Chloride, with trace amounts of Magnesium Chloride and Stontium Chloride, so I will continue using it. If my calcium levels dont increase soon I will increase the dose frequency.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, sounds good.

Happy reefing. :)