perfectly confused I think (ph alc calc)

[ilv4xn]

after reading the info on here (the science 11pg thread)
I took h2o to my lfs for testing
my calc was 500 (have been dosing purple up)
my ph will not move over 8.0-8.1
my alc is half way between 1.7 and 2.8 (thats all the chart I have)
I don't appear to have any calc percip.
my tank has only been running about 7 weeks. live rock came from an established system I have noticed corline growth. I have a damsel a blenny a pepermint shrimp a emerald crab one small leather and two wavey trees. its a 46 gal dt and about 6-8 gal in my sump. I am also running lime stone rock in my sump for a natural buffer. all seames well but the guy at the lfs says I need to raise my ph. but if I do that then won't my calc percip. and well don't I want calc in my h2o??????

[Playa-1]

What's your Magnesium and your Salinity?

How and why have you been trying to increase the PH?

Calcium is too high.

I'm not sure what your referring to by alc. If this is for Alkalinity? How are you measuring Alk? What are the specific readings?

When you say your running limestone in the sump, How much limestone do you have in the sump and is it the only rock in the tank?

Your water parameters are out of whack. The PH is the least of your worries. It's not in your interest to try and control ph unless it falls outside of the 7.8 to 8.4 range at any time throughout the day. If that ever happens, then seek advice before dosing anything and I'm not talking about advice from Goober at the LFS.

In the mean time stop dosing before you crash and burn.

[reefworm]

Listen to Playa, and here's some reading for you that should help. Proceed carefully, methodically, and DON'T PANIC :D

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php
http://web.archive.org/web/20021127040526/http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php
and bookmark this one as the general resource for most all your chemistry issues:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605

and don't forget the chemistry forum for specifics. Randy and others will help you out there. Best of luck