Please explain for me. Dosing.

[lilredwuck]

Ok, first let me say I bought a ton of corals from a guy for less than $100. So much it has filled my tank. Mushrooms, zoas, lps, and sps. So I figured I'd quit being lazy and see what my parameters are. I am concerned I don't have enough of something that I need. So here is the parameters as of midnight before I did a water change.

Ammonia:0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:20
Phosphate:0
Ph:8.4
Calcium:370
Alkalinity:7.4

I tested the calcium of my water change water and it was at 420. Don't know much about chemicals and how they effect things, so I figured I could ask and get some answers, or point me in the direction I should be looking.
I am unclear on how the ph alk and calcium interact with each other, fairly new (tank rebuild) so I don't have any coraline algea except for what I got off the corals from the guy.

[CliftonArbogast]

No fast solution, learn about the additives and how to control. Sorry thats not what you want to hear. Calcium and Alk look too low start with kalk or 2 part dose and keep measuring. Read lots, make slow, small changes unless your corals are dying.


Here are some links from Randy.

Solving Common Problems

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://web.archive.org/web/200211270...v2002/chem.htm

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

High pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm

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

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...t2003/chem.htm

[bertoni]

Those numbers are all reasonable. Most tanks require supplementation of calcium and alkalinity, usually daily. A 2-part like B-Ionic is an easy way to get started. This article might help:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

If you like reading, all the links shown above have good information in them.

[Laith]

And don't forget salinity!

[lilredwuck]

Salinity always stays at 1.025, I will have to see what things are at since I did a water change. Things look much better though. I sort of overloaded the tank quickly, but for the price who can argue? Just had the one diatom bloom. But I have no coraline yet, so I should dose some sugar based calcium for that. Plus the tank isn't that old, so it hasn't had time to grow yet either.

[bertoni]

Coralline algae doesn't require or particularly benefit from the polygluconate-based calcium products, IME. Cyanobacteria did, though. :( I'd just wait. If the tank has any coralline at all, you'll likely have more than you want in short order. :)

[lilredwuck]

It all started as base rock, but a couple frags I got had some coraline on it, plus the florida rock has some orange red and purple on it, just need to put it in the tank somewhere.

[bertoni]

Okay, I think the tank will have a good starter culture, then.