Alkalinity and Calcium Not Rising

aashley · Feb 17, 2017

GoVols said:
+1
Keep your mag at least 3 x your cal so your Cal and Alk ions don't bind together

Well said

sghera64 · Feb 17, 2017

What is pH?

jason2459 · Feb 17, 2017

sghera64 said:
What is pH?

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 3: pH

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/

jason2459 · Feb 17, 2017

GoVols said:
+1
Keep your mag at least 3 x your cal so your Cal and Alk ions don't bind together

Not necessary or required.

I would just try and keep each in a recommended range and not chase any specific number or ratio.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/optima...-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.173563/

Frozn · Feb 17, 2017

Just throwing this out there.. but did you mix your solution to the correct strength?

GoVols · Feb 17, 2017

jason2459 said:
Not necessary or required.

I would just try and keep each in a recommended range and not chase any specific number or ratio.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/optima...-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.173563/

Yeah, Do the math...
lol
Take your cal and x's it by 3 and you have your mag. Geeeezzzzzzzzz

If your mag is too low your cal and alk ions can bind together preventing your corals to intake the cal and alk ions and that's a simple basic class 101 fact

Do the math to Randy's charts in the linked article.
450 cal x's 3 = 1350 mag, it's that simple

jason2459 · Feb 17, 2017

GoVols said:
Yeah, Do the math...
lol
Take your cal and x's it by 3 and you have your mag. Geeeezzzzzzzzz

If your mag is too low your cal and alk ions can bind together preventing your corals to intake the cal and alk ions and that's a simple basic class 101 fact

Do the math to Randy's charts in the linked article.
450 cal x's 3 = 1350 mag, it's that simple

And what if I like to keep my calcium around 400? I'm sure you can do the math for me as its beyond my remedial skill levels.

Current107 · Feb 17, 2017

What are you testing with? If its a Hanna, might have a bad one. Mine went out of me and kept reading the SAME thing over and over. I tested 4 different tanks that I knew was different because I used different salts and the SAME reading. Got a Red Sea Pro... Tested and figured out I was WAY off. Caused myself to Alk burn all my SPS and set me back 6-8 months of growth.

GoVols · Feb 17, 2017

jason2459 said:
And what if I like to keep my calcium around 400? I'm sure you can do the math for me as its beyond my remedial skill levels.

It's this simple, as long as your mag is 3 x more than your cal then your good to go.
If your at 1400 it's still good.

It's truly just that simple

Who needs a chart when you can just x's by 3?

GoVols · Feb 18, 2017

@jason2459
I apologize for going off the deep end on this thread.
It's uncalled for and I'm sorry.

polyps707 · Feb 18, 2017

I can't sleep

Revhtree, I had this problem with the brs recipe and could not get my primary elements to rise (cal & alk), I also increased dosage and started getting precipitation mostly around pumps and high flow areas of my sump which I thought at the time might be ok until I took apart some plumbing and I had ALOT of calcium build up! after taking apart all my plumbing and soaking in vinegar (thank god for union fittings) I knew something was not right! A friend, who services tanks, said they had an issue with a clients tank that was also dosing brs solutions and could not get them to raise, they checked there RODI water and it was acidic which I'm assuming (cause I'm NO Dr. Holmes) lowered alk. Anyways I've been adding sodium bicarbonate to my top off and it's been working! I tested my RODI and ph was 5.1 w/calibrated apex lab prob, TDS was 0. Dr. Holmes I don't know if your still following this thread but does this chemically make sense?
Ps. Revhtree thanks for this awesome site!

Cperkins · Feb 18, 2017

Stabilize magnesium first to whee you want it. That has a lot to do with allowing the alkalinity and calcium to be utilized by the corals. If you are getting crusting it's because you are adding to much at a time. Needs to be dripped in. Also check your testing equipment. I would only buy salifert test kits.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 18, 2017

aashley said:
Well said

Actually, I don't agree at all. I think one should target the desirable range of magnesium (say, 1250-1400 ppm) independent of what the calcium level actually is.
There is no substantial reason that just because calcium might be on the high or low side to target a magnesium level that is high or low.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 18, 2017

GoVols said:
It's this simple, as long as your mag is 3 x more than your cal then your good to go.
If your at 1400 it's still good.

It's truly just that simple

Who needs a chart when you can just x's by 3?

Because we try to be correct, not oversimplify.

if you want oversimplification, try the new to the hobby section.