Calcium being used but alk not

[CJ1]

Hi all
Ive had a system for 10 years and only lately i have been sorting my water chemistry, ive had corals die and only left with softies ,
My levels are
Calc 435
Alk 9.6
Mag 1365
Ph8
Nitrate 1
Phos .25

I have sps now and doing well , my levels are stable and only dose calcium .
What i want to know is why my alk is not being used ?

 

[KrisReef]

If your coral is alive it is using alk. I don’t know how you are testing your parameters but I think your testing is not accurate or your water changes and additions are hiding the uptake of alkalinity?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Agreed. There’s no possibility of calcium being consumed without alk, but you may be adding alk other ways (such as using tap water) or may be getting it from water changes.

How much of what calcium product are you dosing to what size tank?

 

[CJ1]

Hi guys thanks for your replys , im currently dosing 3 ml daily of calcium in a 1000 ltr tank , im testing with salifert , my alk was a bit high few weeks ago so did water change to bring down a bit and havnt done a change since , i just top off with ro

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi guys thanks for your replys , im currently dosing 3 ml daily of calcium in a 1000 ltr tank , im testing with salifert , my alk was a bit high few weeks ago so did water change to bring down a bit and havnt done a change since , i just top off with ro

3 mL of what product?

What salt mix and what is the current tank alk?

 

[CJ1]

So the salt is blue treasure , my alk is at 9.6 and the calcium i use is a cheap bottle with just calcium wrote on it lol not sure whats in it

 

[Northern Flicker]

So the salt is blue treasure , my alk is at 9.6 and the calcium i use is a cheap bottle with just calcium wrote on it lol not sure whats in it

Do you have a pic? Of the back (analysis) and front would be good.

 

[CJ1]

 

[CJ1]

So i tested tap water and alk was 2.5 i added 2 ml calcium and it went to 2.2 , my ro is 0 , the only other thing i add is nopox , my nitrates where over 50 , made algae scrubber and nopox and now at 1 , could that have an impact?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So the salt is blue treasure , my alk is at 9.6 and the calcium i use is a cheap bottle with just calcium wrote on it lol not sure whats in it

Lol

I’d definitely advise against using that calcium supplement. Without any idea what it is, it may be toxic, worthless, or may also add alkalinity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So i tested tap water and alk was 2.5 i added 2 ml calcium and it went to 2.2 , my ro is 0 , the only other thing i add is nopox , my nitrates where over 50 , made algae scrubber and nopox and now at 1 , could that have an impact?

Declining nitrate adds alkalinity. Each 50 ppm of nitrate consumed adds 2.3 dKH of alk.

 

[beamers]

Where did you get that calcium supplement from?

 

[CJ1]

Local fish shop in australia , il get a branded bottle and see if it changes , i have tested before i dosed and alk was up and few hours after dosing its back down to 9.6

 

[Reign1]

That bottle says calcium chloride , but yes what is concentration and what else may be in bottle ??