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Critical1
04/14/2012, 09:39 AM
This is my first SW tank. It is a 125 with 40 sump and is 60 days old. I use Instant Ocean salt. I use and ro/di unit putting out zero tds.

My alkalinity and ph drop daily.
I understand that if alkalinity drops ph will most likely drop also. My alkalinity drop from 8dkh down to 6dkh daily. Ph drop from about 8.2 down to 7.8-8. I know that is not a completely horrible ph but would like to maintain it at 8.3 and maintain alkalinity at 9-10.

My parameters:
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-10 to 20
Phosphates-.25
Magnesium-1350
Calcium-around 1000 (yes extremely high and have tested numerous times) i have no idead how the calcium got that high

Stock: some dead and live rock. 1 ocellaris and 1 coral beauty.

The only way ive been maintaining alk, ph and magnesium is using Randy Holmes-Farleys recipes.

Also, thoughts on Vodka dosing? Is it to soon. I thought about doing this but starting at half the recommended dose.

Randy Holmes-Farley
04/14/2012, 10:22 AM
How long has the tank been set up??

You may be testing calcium with a kit that reads in ppm calcium carbonate, not calcium ion.

Maintaining alk with a two part recipe is a perfect way to go.

I wouldn't try to change pH values yet, but using limewater instead of the two part will help keep it higher.

You may have already read these:

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

Critical1
04/14/2012, 12:06 PM
Tank has been set up for 60 days. Test kit is Red Sea foundation kit with Mag, Calcium and KH.

Should I be purchasing more inhabitants that use calcium so that i could bring the calcium level down to a good range. Or should I do a massive water change like 50%.

I have read I think pretty much everything of yours. But I will go back and re-read them again, it couldn't hurt.

I appreciate all the help through this.

bnumair
04/14/2012, 12:18 PM
r u sure cal is 1000? how did u check it? what test? i suggest taking a sample to lfs let them test for second opinion. if for some reason it is that high do 25% water changes. also check ur new saltwater for cal levels.
also can u list exactly what products are u dosing? list everything u have like cal reactor kalk reactor or anything like that.

Randy Holmes-Farley
04/14/2012, 12:30 PM
Tank has been set up for 60 days. Test kit is Red Sea foundation kit with Mag, Calcium and KH.

Should I be purchasing more inhabitants that use calcium so that i could bring the calcium level down to a good range. Or should I do a massive water change like 50%.
.

No, the calcium is not high unless you added massive amounts of a calcium supplement. It cannot rise on its own.

You added nearly two full syringes of fluid in that calcium test?

Critical1
04/14/2012, 01:46 PM
Yes 2 full syringes before the color change. The test kit is brand new just purchased 2-3 weeks ago.

Breadman03
04/14/2012, 01:55 PM
My pH was doing the same thing. I mixed it to 8.4, but it would drop to 7.8 within a few hours to a day. I just didn't have enough surface agitation. As soon as I pulled my spray bar and put on a powerhead, my pH stabilized at 8.4.

I only test for pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate, so I don't know how my tank compares.

Randy Holmes-Farley
04/14/2012, 03:21 PM
Yes 2 full syringes before the color change. The test kit is brand new just purchased 2-3 weeks ago.

Try measuring some new salt water. What salt mix are you using?

Critical1
04/14/2012, 03:49 PM
Instant Ocean Salt mix. I will mix up about 40 gallons and test it. Any other things i can do, try and check while a new batch of saltwater is mixing?

Randy Holmes-Farley
04/14/2012, 04:20 PM
Relax. 99.999% chance your calcium is not high. :)

Critical1
04/15/2012, 11:05 AM
I mixed up a new batch of salt water and the calcium level is 450. So, i retested my tank and calcium level is 1075.

Randy Holmes-Farley
04/15/2012, 04:07 PM
And you did not add large amounts of calcium? If not the only way that could be real is if you got a seriously bad batch of salt. What salt are you using?

I'm still skeptical for several reasons, but assuming it is that high, water changes will bring it down.

Critical1
04/15/2012, 04:32 PM
Instant ocean salt mix. I never added any calcium, magnesium or alkalinity cause til about 2-3 weeks ago i did not have a test kit for it so i never supplemented for it. And i have NEVER added any calcium.

I just did a 30 gallon water change. Now just waiting for everything to settle in the tank so i can run all my test again.

Thanks for the help. I will post my parameters later.

bertoni
04/15/2012, 04:34 PM
Also, I don't think I've ever seen a case where high calcium by itself killed anything. I'm not sure what the level in your tank is, but I'd get a second opinion from a different test kit. It's very strange that the reading from the freshly-mixed saltwater is so different. Maybe there was some differential settling in your salt.

Critical1
04/15/2012, 06:00 PM
After 30 gallon water change everything is good.
ph-8
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
nitrate-0
dkh-7
phosphates-0
calcium-550
magnesium-1440

Thanks everyone for all the help. I will always come here with my problems.

bnumair
04/15/2012, 06:48 PM
something dont add up here. 125 gal+40gal sump=165g, 30 gal water change is under 20% change in parameters by that rule cal should have only gone down to (1075x20%)=860 minus the difference in the begin cal(1075) and replacement(450) percentile. tank should come out to be 624.

that only means ur test of 1075 was wrong.
but i am glad to see ur tanks parameters are in much closer to acceptable range except cal being a bit high.

Critical1
04/15/2012, 07:34 PM
Net volume of tank is 125 cause of all the rock and equipment. Sorry it was supposed to say 30% water change not 30 gallons. I changed almost 40 gallons.

bertoni
04/15/2012, 11:15 PM
I agree that the calcium level should in theory be higher, but I'm not sure that the test kit is functioning quite properly. I wouldn't worry very much, though.

gatorlover
04/16/2012, 07:49 AM
Don't mean to hijack the thread but curious of what if any negative affects having calcium higher than the acceptable range are. For example, I have a fowlr and my calc is around 580. My alk was 7 so alittle low which I'm working on bringing up some.

bnumair
04/16/2012, 09:11 AM
in a fish only system i wouldnt even worry about cal alk and mag levels, i would just keep up with ur 30% water changes per month broken down either weekly or bi weekly or even daily, that would be enough to keep up as long as ur using a good salt mix and rolling ur salt bucket 10-15 times before using.

Randy Holmes-Farley
04/16/2012, 09:12 AM
580 ppm calcium appears to be no significant concern. :)