C-Balance Dosing Problems

[Pedr]

Recently I have been having trouble getting my calcium, alkalinity and magnesium in line as all the coral in the tank continues to grow out. I dose Two Little Fishes C-Balance as well as recently adding Kent Tech M magnesium because two part and regular water changes weren't enough.

General problem: As I increase the two part at a 1:1 my calcium is not increasing much but the alkalinity keeps increasing. As this has happened, I've seen a small amount of this clear, mucous form on the surface of the water as well a small algae increase in a low flow part of the tank and some of the montiporas losing color.

The System:
75 gallon glass aquarium with 20 gallon sump
1 Vortech MP40
2 Radion xR30 G3s running at 40% on radiant color setting
Bubble magus dosing pump for C-Balance and magnesium
BRS dual reactor running GFO and Carbon
Dr. Tim's biopellets very small quantity
Skimz skimmer
5% water changes once weekly with Red Sea Coral Pro salt

Live Stock:
Heavy density mixed reef that has been running for 2 years (mostly LPS and montiporas with a couple birds nest and a few softies)
1 Red Sea sailfin tang
2 firefish gobies
2 clownfish
1 lubbocks wrasse
1 randalls goby
1 banggai cardinal
1 cleaner shrimp
and snails and hermits

Today's Water Chemistry (all Salifert test kits):
S.G - 1.024
Calcium - 360
Alkalinity - 9.6 (this has gone up from 8 in the last two months and calcium isn't budging)
Magnesium - 1320 (was sitting right around 1200 until adding the tech M)
Nitrates - 2ppm
Phosphates - 0 ppm

Thoughts, questions, recommendations?

 

[TheEngineer]

Have you tried verifying with another calcium test?

 

[Pedr]

I haven't yet. What other brand would you recommend?

 

[TheEngineer]

I use Red Sea pro. You could just ask a local reefer to test for your or stop by a LFS.

 

[Pedr]

Good call. I'll have my LFS check it

 

[Pedr]

Any other thoughts other than just test kit error?

 

[TheEngineer]

That's my first thought. Have you tried testing a batch of fresh saltwater?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

General problem: As I increase the two part at a 1:1 my calcium is not increasing much but the alkalinity keeps increasing.

That's exactly as it should be.

A two part when dosed in equal amounts will boost calcium by 18-20 ppm for each 1 meq/L (2.8 dKH) of alkalinity. So the alk rises much faster on a percentage basis when adding both equally.

If you want a substantial calcium rise, you should use just calcium chloride, or just the calcium part of the two part.

 

[Pedr]

That's exactly as it should be.

A two part when dosed in equal amounts will boost calcium by 18-20 ppm for each 1 meq/L (2.8 dKH) of alkalinity. So the alk rises much faster on a percentage basis when adding both equally.

If you want a substantial calcium rise, you should use just calcium chloride, or just the calcium part of the two part.

Ok great thank you Randy!


Just tested my replacement water

S.G 1.024
Calcium 400
Alk 9.9

Thoughts?

 

[Pedr]

That's exactly as it should be.

A two part when dosed in equal amounts will boost calcium by 18-20 ppm for each 1 meq/L (2.8 dKH) of alkalinity. So the alk rises much faster on a percentage basis when adding both equally.

If you want a substantial calcium rise, you should use just calcium chloride, or just the calcium part of the two part.

Also any recommendations on what to use for just Calcium since you can't buy part A by itself?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok great thank you Randy!


Just tested my replacement water

S.G 1.024
Calcium 400
Alk 9.9

Thoughts?

Looks fine.

You may need to boost the calcium a bit once in the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Any brand of calcium chloride (BRS, Kent Turbo Calcium, etc.) is fine. There are loads of brands. Nearly any calcium supplement is OK, with a few exceptions.

This shows how much to use:
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

 

[TheEngineer]

That's exactly as it should be.

A two part when dosed in equal amounts will boost calcium by 18-20 ppm for each 1 meq/L (2.8 dKH) of alkalinity. So the alk rises much faster on a percentage basis when adding both equally.

If you want a substantial calcium rise, you should use just calcium chloride, or just the calcium part of the two part.

I suppose it depends on how much the OP has been dosing, but I would think you would see some climb in the calcium with dosing even if it is a small amount. When I dose just 15mL per week I can measure the increase. No?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes and no.

He mentioned that he observed a 1.6 dKH alk rise over that time, so he would expect about an 11 ppm rise in calcium. Most kits cannot reproducibly show that rise.

 

[TheEngineer]

Yes and no.

He mentioned that he observed a 1.6 dKH alk rise over that time, so he would expect about an 11 ppm rise in calcium. Most kits cannot reproducibly show that rise.

Thanks for sharing your reasoning Makes sense!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.