Low Alkalinity, High calcium. Need help

mbh7848 · 12/06/2017, 09:02 PM

Hey got a few questions maybe someone could help me with. I just added a few corals to my tank that has been up and running for a few years now. My alkalinity is 1.79 meq/l. My calcium is reading around 570 ppm and magnesium is 1460 ppm. The ph is reading 8.2. I checked my salt mix before I added it to the tank and the alkalinity was reading 2.86 meq/l.

I’m thinking I need to add some soda ash maybe to bring my alkalinity up? If someone could point me in the right direction that would be great! Thanks!

RobZilla04 · 12/07/2017, 06:30 AM

Use these:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator

You can choose which additive you'd like to raise the Alk. Just pay attention to the notes and don't add more than the daily max so the increase doesn't occur too quickly causing harm.

mbh7848 · 12/07/2017, 02:51 PM

ok thanks. i will mix up a batch of soda ash tonight and start adding a little at a time.

blasterman789 · 12/07/2017, 03:42 PM

IMO, I would not use soda ash. With such a high calcium reading already the elevated pH of soda ash -vs- baking soda will simply exacerbate the inevitable precipitation as calcium and alkalinity 'right' themselves.

Good old baking soda should work fine. Again, with calcium being that high you will likely see some precip anyways until alk / calcium right themselves.

I'm more concerned about the 570 calcium reading. If you're test kit is correct you either have a broken batch of salt or are dosing calcium.

RobZilla04 · 12/07/2017, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blasterman789

IMO, I would not use soda ash. With such a high calcium reading already the elevated pH of soda ash -vs- baking soda will simply exacerbate the inevitable precipitation as calcium and alkalinity 'right' themselves.

Good old baking soda should work fine. Again, with calcium being that high you will likely see some precip anyways until alk / calcium right themselves.

I'm more concerned about the 570 calcium reading. If you're test kit is correct you either have a broken batch of salt or are dosing calcium.

Id bet testing error was made there.

mbh7848 · 12/07/2017, 06:39 PM

I will go back over the test to make sure but im almost certain it is right. My tank has been running for a while and i am the new owner of it. When i moved into this house i was not sure of what salt the old owner used and started using red sea pro salt. Could it possibly be that i am using a salt with a high calcium substance but just do not have enough corals to take in that calcium yet? and the high calcium precipitating and lowering my alkalinity? Seems like i read that happening somewhere but not sure.

mbh7848 · 12/07/2017, 06:43 PM

Im going to run my water tomorrow to my lfs and get them to test to see if it matches up. Could very well be it is wrong.

bertoni · 12/07/2017, 07:17 PM

I agree that baking soda is less likely to cause precipitation of calcium carbonate, but you might be fine with soda ash, particularly if you dose slowly or into a large volume of water. Baking soda is inexpensive and easy to get, though.

mbh7848 · 12/07/2017, 07:47 PM

I have about a 120 gallons of water, i figure since i already have the soda ash i will add nice and slow. The calculator says i need about 10 oz so i figured i would add about a oz or two a day and just see what happens.

bertoni · 12/07/2017, 09:15 PM

Okay, just be aware that some tanks can consume 2-3 dKH per day, so your tank might consume all that you add in a fairly short period.

tmz · 12/08/2017, 10:16 AM

Watch the pH if you have a mans to measure it . Soda ash is Na2CO3;baking soda is Na2HCO3. Both are basic but soda ash is more so since it does not contribute any H it will raise pH more precipitously when dosed.Soda ash provides twice the alk by volume vs. baking soda. A rise in pH over say 8.6 will likely occasion precipitation of calcium carbonate. The calcium level doesn't have any effect on pH and won't by itself cause precipitation.

Asuming the calcium measure is correct ,570ppm is on the high edge ,though it shouldn't do any harm and can come down on it's own as calcium carbonate is formed. It can be lowered by using a slat mix with a lower calcium content for water changes.

mbh7848 · 12/08/2017, 03:06 PM

Thanks everyone for the info! the brs calculator said 10.6 fl oz of soda ash solution. I am going to split that up and add about 1 oz twice a day and see what that does.

As soon as i noticed my alkalinity problem i also noticed i have a few aiptasia growing on my candy cane coral and zoas. Should be a fun weekend.

RobZilla04 · 12/08/2017, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbh7848

Thanks everyone for the info! the brs calculator said 10.6 fl oz of soda ash solution. I am going to split that up and add about 1 oz twice a day and see what that does.

As soon as i noticed my alkalinity problem i also noticed i have a few aiptasia growing on my candy cane coral and zoas. Should be a fun weekend.

Couple peppermint shrimp will gobble that aiptasia in a few days.

mbh7848 · 12/08/2017, 07:45 PM

wish i could do that. I have a sunrise dottyback that will eat the shrimp as soon as i throw them in the tank. I would give the fish up but it is my wifes favorite fish

12/06/2017, 09:02 PM	#1
mbh7848 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 31	Low Alkalinity, High calcium. Need help Hey got a few questions maybe someone could help me with. I just added a few corals to my tank that has been up and running for a few years now. My alkalinity is 1.79 meq/l. My calcium is reading around 570 ppm and magnesium is 1460 ppm. The ph is reading 8.2. I checked my salt mix before I added it to the tank and the alkalinity was reading 2.86 meq/l. I’m thinking I need to add some soda ash maybe to bring my alkalinity up? If someone could point me in the right direction that would be great! Thanks!

12/07/2017, 06:30 AM	#2
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	Use these: http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator You can choose which additive you'd like to raise the Alk. Just pay attention to the notes and don't add more than the daily max so the increase doesn't occur too quickly causing harm. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

12/07/2017, 07:17 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree that baking soda is less likely to cause precipitation of calcium carbonate, but you might be fine with soda ash, particularly if you dose slowly or into a large volume of water. Baking soda is inexpensive and easy to get, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/07/2017, 09:15 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Okay, just be aware that some tanks can consume 2-3 dKH per day, so your tank might consume all that you add in a fairly short period. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/08/2017, 10:16 AM	#11
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Watch the pH if you have a mans to measure it . Soda ash is Na2CO3;baking soda is Na2HCO3. Both are basic but soda ash is more so since it does not contribute any H it will raise pH more precipitously when dosed.Soda ash provides twice the alk by volume vs. baking soda. A rise in pH over say 8.6 will likely occasion precipitation of calcium carbonate. The calcium level doesn't have any effect on pH and won't by itself cause precipitation. Asuming the calcium measure is correct ,570ppm is on the high edge ,though it shouldn't do any harm and can come down on it's own as calcium carbonate is formed. It can be lowered by using a slat mix with a lower calcium content for water changes. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

12/07/2017, 02:51 PM	#3
mbh7848 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 31	ok thanks. i will mix up a batch of soda ash tonight and start adding a little at a time.

12/07/2017, 03:42 PM	#4
blasterman789 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 365	IMO, I would not use soda ash. With such a high calcium reading already the elevated pH of soda ash -vs- baking soda will simply exacerbate the inevitable precipitation as calcium and alkalinity 'right' themselves. Good old baking soda should work fine. Again, with calcium being that high you will likely see some precip anyways until alk / calcium right themselves. I'm more concerned about the 570 calcium reading. If you're test kit is correct you either have a broken batch of salt or are dosing calcium.

12/07/2017, 06:39 PM	#6
mbh7848 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 31	I will go back over the test to make sure but im almost certain it is right. My tank has been running for a while and i am the new owner of it. When i moved into this house i was not sure of what salt the old owner used and started using red sea pro salt. Could it possibly be that i am using a salt with a high calcium substance but just do not have enough corals to take in that calcium yet? and the high calcium precipitating and lowering my alkalinity? Seems like i read that happening somewhere but not sure.

12/07/2017, 06:43 PM	#7
mbh7848 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 31	Im going to run my water tomorrow to my lfs and get them to test to see if it matches up. Could very well be it is wrong.

12/07/2017, 07:47 PM	#9
mbh7848 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 31	I have about a 120 gallons of water, i figure since i already have the soda ash i will add nice and slow. The calculator says i need about 10 oz so i figured i would add about a oz or two a day and just see what happens.

12/08/2017, 03:06 PM	#12
mbh7848 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 31	Thanks everyone for the info! the brs calculator said 10.6 fl oz of soda ash solution. I am going to split that up and add about 1 oz twice a day and see what that does. As soon as i noticed my alkalinity problem i also noticed i have a few aiptasia growing on my candy cane coral and zoas. Should be a fun weekend.

12/08/2017, 07:45 PM	#14
mbh7848 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 31	wish i could do that. I have a sunrise dottyback that will eat the shrimp as soon as i throw them in the tank. I would give the fish up but it is my wifes favorite fish