Help with Ca and alk

rbarb1111 · 03/02/2006, 07:34 PM

I have a 30 gallon tank with a fair amount of sps corals.
I am having trouble keeping my Ca and Alk at high enough levels.
I get my Ca up to 400 and my alk up to 9dkh using liquid CA and Coral builder. I dose kent two part daily about 15 ml per of each. My Ca within two days drops to 320 and my Alk drops to 6. Should i increase the daily 2 part The bottle says to use one 10ml per day per 40 gallons i am already over this.
Any suggestions???

Thanks
Richard

Bandsaw · 03/02/2006, 07:41 PM

Do you know what your Magnesium levels are?

I had problems keeping not only a balanced system of Alk and Ca, but high enough levels.

Tested for Mg and found it real low. Once adjusted, my Ca, Alk and the balance between them were easly to maintain with a Kalk drip.

You may also want to look here;

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

When Do Calcium and Alkalinity Demand Not Exactly Balance?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.htm

Magnesium in Reef Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

rbarb1111 · 03/02/2006, 07:45 PM

Don't know what mg level is , but ph is always 8.3

mbbuna · 03/02/2006, 07:49 PM

Ca/Alk and Mg all work hand in hand. you need to start testing for Mg also

mace88 · 03/02/2006, 08:28 PM

I had the same problem and I tested Mg and it was low. Fixed it and all was well.

rbarb1111 · 03/05/2006, 01:02 PM

Mg was at 1375. I think it is just demand?????

Paintbug · 03/05/2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rbarb1111
Mg was at 1375. I think it is just demand?????

sounds about right to me. if you have SPS corals, most will use up calcium quickly.

Bandsaw · 03/05/2006, 02:18 PM

I second Paintbug. 1375 Mg is perfect. It is probably just demad

03/02/2006, 07:34 PM	#1
rbarb1111 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 94	Help with Ca and alk I have a 30 gallon tank with a fair amount of sps corals. I am having trouble keeping my Ca and Alk at high enough levels. I get my Ca up to 400 and my alk up to 9dkh using liquid CA and Coral builder. I dose kent two part daily about 15 ml per of each. My Ca within two days drops to 320 and my Alk drops to 6. Should i increase the daily 2 part The bottle says to use one 10ml per day per 40 gallons i am already over this. Any suggestions??? Thanks Richard

03/02/2006, 07:41 PM	#2
Bandsaw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Eastern Ontario (above Sudbury) Posts: 720	Do you know what your Magnesium levels are? I had problems keeping not only a balanced system of Alk and Ca, but high enough levels. Tested for Mg and found it real low. Once adjusted, my Ca, Alk and the balance between them were easly to maintain with a Kalk drip. You may also want to look here; Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm When Do Calcium and Alkalinity Demand Not Exactly Balance? http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.htm Magnesium in Reef Aquaria http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm __________________ VE3SZB Failure is not an option - It is a requirement if you expect to learn anything. Click on my home page button for pictures of my aquarium. Current Tank Info: 75g Display, CPR SM Aquafuge, 8g sump, 20g tall fuge, Maxspect R420R LED, KoralLin 1502 CaRa, EV-180 Skimmer

03/05/2006, 02:18 PM	#8
Bandsaw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Eastern Ontario (above Sudbury) Posts: 720	I second Paintbug. 1375 Mg is perfect. It is probably just demad __________________ VE3SZB Failure is not an option - It is a requirement if you expect to learn anything. Click on my home page button for pictures of my aquarium. Current Tank Info: 75g Display, CPR SM Aquafuge, 8g sump, 20g tall fuge, Maxspect R420R LED, KoralLin 1502 CaRa, EV-180 Skimmer

03/02/2006, 07:45 PM	#3
rbarb1111 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 94	Don't know what mg level is , but ph is always 8.3

03/02/2006, 07:49 PM	#4
mbbuna Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 6,847	Ca/Alk and Mg all work hand in hand. you need to start testing for Mg also

03/02/2006, 08:28 PM	#5
mace88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anderson Posts: 75	I had the same problem and I tested Mg and it was low. Fixed it and all was well.

03/05/2006, 01:02 PM	#6
rbarb1111 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 94	Mg was at 1375. I think it is just demand?????