Ca+ and Alk Test/result Question

[RobertTheNurse]

Save your self a lot of frustration and buy hannah checkers.

Yes they are $50 to start but you won't deal with those frustrating syringes and color charts.

I would also switch salts....there are a lot of good brands. I've noticed a lot of shops use fritz blue.

Yeah was thinking of changing salts. Right now I jusy don't need that high calcium for the stock I have. I mean everything except my cephastrea has been thriving. If it ain't broke dont fix?

 

[neiltus]

with just softies and the correct salt, regular water changes will work. It will help if the salt is mixed correctly each time.

Adding LPS can up your needs pretty quick depending on the type. When you start adding corals you might want to up your testing to see if your needs have changed.

FWIW to keep my alk at 9 and ca at 420, with just live rock covered in coraline, my 71gallon was taking 50ml of alk and 35ml of Ca a day before adding any coral with a weekly water change of 15 gallons mixed to alk of 10.

So, needs will vary with age of tank too.