Cal and alkalinity help!!!

[Dtfnemo]

Hi guys I need some help, my calcium and alkalinity are going crazy.

For the past week I've been dosing calcium and alkalinity to try to maintain stable levels but I think I'm just making it worst. Everything inside the tank seems fine ( two fishes and a few corals, hammer head, sun coral, some zoas,)

I'm trying to keep my Cal at 450 and my alkali at 9 or 10 the tank is about 65g with probably a 30g sump.

I'm dosing daily purple up for cal. And ME for dkh. I haven't dose any mag bc my levels are already too high.
Here are my parameter for the past week

Date - salinity - CA - mag - alk
01/27 - 1.024 - 460 - 1500 - 8
01/28 - 1.024 - 420 - / - 10
01/29 - 1.025 - 400 - / - 8 (water change)
01/30 - 1.025 - 380 - 1500- 8
01/31 - 1.024 - 400 - / - 8
02/01 - 1.024 - 400 - / - 8
02/02 - 1.024 - 380 - / - 8

For the first 3 days I dosed 4ml of both Cal and dkh.
The fourth day I dosed 10ml of both
The fifth day I dosed 12ml of both
Sixth day 10ml of both
And today I did 15ml Cal and 10 ml dkh.

Why does my cal keep dropping??

I used to do 10g water changes every week with red seas salt in the past and dose 4 to 5ml of both cal and dhk and 1ml of red Sea mag every week and everything seems fine, no crazy swings and parameters where stable.

Now I'm buying my water from a different store and they use fritz salt water and I'm only doing 10g water changes every two weeks and my parameters are going crazy.

Any ideas why this is happening?
Any feedback is well appreciated as I am fairly new to the reefing world.

Thank you!!!!

 

[redfishbluefish]

Testing error? You're not going to see calcium drop from 460 to 380 in three days in a tank that has a handful of corals. What test kits are you using?

 

[Dtfnemo]

I test daily with a api test kit. Buying a read sea kit next week.
On 01/27 and 01/30 the test were done at my local store and I got the same results later that night with my api test kit. When they checked the water in the 30th they told me to up my dosing from 4ml to 10ml
I don't know what test kit they use.

 

[Dtfnemo]

I thought it could be testing error but I Doble checked to make sure. I also clean the container I use to do my water test very well to make sure contamination is not a factor. I have no idea what is causing this, everything looks healthy and happy in the tank

 

[favites]

DTFnemo-- your parameters are absolutely fine. sometimes when starting there is a tendency to overanalyze the numbers-- bottom line is your ALK is stable which is most critical, your calcium levels will fall in line. I would suggest dosing alk/ca the same maybe 5 ml each for now, trying to chase the numbers when the corals look good will only lead to instability. If your calcium falls to 350 and your alk is stable, your tank will be fine as well.

 

[WVReefJunkie]

You could be precipitating calcium from all the dosing. I would suggest letting the tank sit for a couple days then test. I use a Hanna alk & calcium checker, they are easy to use and very accurate.

 

[Dtfnemo]

DTFnemo-- your parameters are absolutely fine. sometimes when starting there is a tendency to overanalyze the numbers-- bottom line is your ALK is stable which is most critical, your calcium levels will fall in line. I would suggest dosing alk/ca the same maybe 5 ml each for now, trying to chase the numbers when the corals look good will only lead to instability. If your calcium falls to 350 and your alk is stable, your tank will be fine as well.

I feel better now, I was freaking out, so 350 is OK for cal?? I just don't want to have any casualties

 

[Dtfnemo]

You could be precipitating calcium from all the dosing. I would suggest letting the tank sit for a couple days then test. I use a Hanna alk & calcium checker, they are easy to use and very accurate.

I had a precipitation problem in the past but I was told by my lfs that it was due to low magnesium. How long you think I should let it sit for?
I would love one of those Hanna testers

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I had a precipitation problem in the past but I was told by my lfs that it was due to low magnesium. How long you think I should let it sit for?
I would love one of those Hanna testers

That is only the case if magnesium is quite low, but it is certainly the stock answer that many folks give (not always correctly).

Let what sit?

I'd maintain at least 400 ppm on calcium.

I'd stop using Purple Up.

 

[Dtfnemo]

That is only the case if magnesium is quite low, but it is certainly the stock answer that many folks give (not always correctly).

Let what sit?

I'd maintain at least 400 ppm on calcium.

I'd stop using Purple Up.

Should I let the tank sit without dosing anything? You think that would help level the parameter out?
I'm thinking on replacing the purple up for red seas Cal

Thank you

 

[Catchemall]

That is only the case if magnesium is quite low, but it is certainly the stock answer that many folks give (not always correctly).

Let what sit?

I'd maintain at least 400 ppm on calcium.

I'd stop using Purple Up.

I'd go with this advice ditch the purple up and get a good two part

 

[WVReefJunkie]

I was trying to encourage him to get better test equipment, in the mean time stop dosing until he had a more reliable test kit.

 

[Dtfnemo]

I'd go with this advice ditch the purple up and get a good two part

I been thinking about getting a two part, what system do you use? Any that you would recommend

 

[MaiReef]

Kalkwasser would take care of your needs.

 

[Dtfnemo]

I was trying to encourage him to get better test equipment, in the mean time stop dosing until he had a more reliable test kit.

I can purchase a red Sea test kit today right after work, I'm sure it's going to be better than the api one that I have right?
Or should I just go with something more like the Hanna
What do think?

 

[MaiReef]

Red Sea works very well. API works okay.

 

[WVReefJunkie]

I have been in your shoes as a reefer too, I ditched the api kits and went to hanna checkers. I hate looking at color charts, but thats me. I have the phosphate, alk, and calcium checkers.

 

[MaiReef]

Red Sea comes with a Titrator and it is from one color to another. Very easy to use.

 

[Dtfnemo]

Red Sea comes with a Titrator and it is from one color to another. Very easy to use.

I'm thinking on going with the red Sea kit. I fund one at my lfs for $44 I can just pick that up today.
In the other hand I just love the idea of having some of the hanna test kits but I would have to wait for them to be shipped and stuff, I hate waiting lol

 

[Catchemall]

I been thinking about getting a two part, what system do you use? Any that you would recommend

I use esv bionic. Very easy to use and also contains trace elements.