Alk and calcium levels won’t drop

[bellasdad0911]

After a mild rebuild of this 120, after doing a 60 gallon water change with Red Sea coral pro my all levels are 10.5 alk 480-500 calcium. Weekly 20 gallon water changes for maintenance. I have not dosed in weeks. All levels never drop. Tank right now have 3 colony’s of sps some acans, and zoanthids with green starts. This is going to be a mainly sps mixed reef. I am concerned something is hindering absorption of alk and calcium. Magnesium is 1350 and phosphates .03 on the Hanna meter. Any thoughts? This tank was thriving in June and now seems to have hit a wall. Fish are happy and inhabitants are happy. Tank is very clean with no algae issue. Any help would be great

 

[tdileo]

Red Sea Coral Pro salt has very high parameters like that. You will have to switch to a different salt in order to lower it, or not do a water change for a while. If your corals are doing well I would change it though.

 

[jda]

Is your coralline growing? It is usually the largest consumer of both.

My guess is that your water changes are keeping up with the growth of the three colonies and acans.

You can lower the alk in your salt mix with Muratic Acid. I have no idea how to lower calcium.

High phosphate levels will inhibit calcification, but not in that range. High nitrates will also keep corals from growing, but you need to be over probably 50 (nobody knows an absolute number) for that to happen.

 

[bellasdad0911]

Is your coralline growing? It is usually the largest consumer of both.

My guess is that your water changes are keeping up with the growth of the three colonies and acans.

You can lower the alk in your salt mix with Muratic Acid. I have no idea how to lower calcium.

High phosphate levels will inhibit calcification, but not in that range. High nitrates will also keep corals from growing, but you need to be over probably 50 (nobody knows an absolute number) for that to happen.

My coraline is very very slow. That was my other issue I am hoping to target. Everything being ok I guess I will leave it be and see where it end up in a week. I just want to make sure there isn’t anything binding the two and prohibiting growth.