Consumption? Precipitation? Or Test Noise?

[Philipgonzales3]

So before water change numbers:

Calcium: 401
Alk: 7.9
Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.1
Mag: 1320

After a 10% water change the next day. I think one bag of IO that I have is low on calcium. I did not mix well before using. I went ahead and mixed two bags of IO that I had in a sealed 5 gallon bucket for future use.

Calcium: 365 (tested twice using Hanna checker)
Alk: 8.3
Salinity: 1.025

Wanted to raise calcium and learn about dosing 2 part. My goal right now is around 400ppm calcium as this is what IO is supposed to mix to. Dosed 30ml ESV of both calcium and Alkalinity that night.

The next morning (14 hours later)

Calcium: 410
Alk: 9.4
Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.2

Then the following morning (today) ~24 hours since the last test.

Calcium: 380
Alk: 9.2
Salinity:
PH:8.2

It does seem that dosing calcium and alk raised them and then they are dropping.

My tank is 50 gallons of net water volume.

Torch is the biggest peice I have at about 6"x2". Everything else is about 1" in diameter.



No coralline on my rocks yet. Only on pieces that already had it.



Any insight is appreciated.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Calcium drop is mostly Test noise, I expect. Too large of a drop for either consumption or water change.

 

[Sod Buster]

Not much insight, but a big dose for 50 gallons. You did 30ml of each to bring it up to 410, from 365, I would guess precip. To cheat your calcium a little, bring your salinity up to .026

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Calcium drop is mostly Test noise, I expect. Too large of a drop for either consumption or water change.

Yeah, kind of odd. To get from 365 to 410 I would have needed to dose 140ml of ESV calcium from what I understand. Also like you stated even if my new water had 300PPM calcium it would have been impossible to initially go from 401 to 365 with only a 10% water change. I did test twice but guess it's possible I did the same wrong thing twice lol. Odd. I feel like I am doing the tests consistently. I have the .1ml syringe for the Hanna checker and using Hanna DI water and everything.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Not much insight, but a big dose for 50 gallons. You did 30ml of each to bring it up to 410, from 365, I would guess precip. To cheat your calcium a little, bring your salinity up to .026

Ok, fish should be OK at 1.027? Only going to raise to 1.026 but just in case lol. I read that the max dose was 1ml per gallon. Was just trying to get my initial levels up, but I'm not going to lie I find the balanced Calcium and Alk articles a little over my head.

 

[Sod Buster]

I've always followed the 1ml per 4 tank gallons per day to start and then detect a rise through testing at the same time daily. If you don't see a rise, bump it up after a few days and continue. My salinity is .027 and might hit .028 before the ATO kicks on. That keeps me where I want with just water changes.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

I've always followed the 1ml per 4 tank gallons per day to start and then detect a rise through testing at the same time daily. If you don't see a rise, bump it up after a few days and continue. My salinity is .027 and might hit .028 before the ATO kicks on. That keeps me where I want with just water changes.

That's a good idea. I guess I should just follow the instructions on the bottle to start with. D'oh!

 

[Philipgonzales3]

https://www.amazon.com/Jebao-Progra...s=dosing+pump&qid=1552837006&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Would this dosing pump work? Or do I need something "better"?

Edit: Maybe this one? Since it has Wifi and still not too expensive?

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/4...bOtltt0AG_UBiQzss1VPIoqyaxoChKUQAvD_BwE#first

I'm thinking Alk, Calcium, Magnesium, and extra. Not sure if it's feasible to even dose magnesium via a dosing pump. Not sure what else could even be dosed but figured it won't hurt to have it and not need it.

 

[Sod Buster]

Let's slow down for a week and enjoy your tank. Last week was questions about kalk in the ATO, and now you are hard for a 4 head dosing pump? Your tank will appreciate the ato setup you installed last week. Figure out what's up with your salt, and get an electrician to check out the wiring so we can ground the tank safely. For some input on the coral box dosing pump, I've read some good reviews, and some so/so. I do own a coral box light I'm messing around with. The app is a little clunky, but when you figure out what does what, it does what you program it to do. I might try that dosing pump in the future. Let's chill and get priority 1 taken care of. Sticking your hand in the tank and preventing a zap.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Let's slow down for a week and enjoy your tank. Last week was questions about kalk in the ATO, and now you are hard for a 4 head dosing pump? Your tank will appreciate the ato setup you installed last week. Figure out what's up with your salt, and get an electrician to check out the wiring so we can ground the tank safely. For some input on the coral box dosing pump, I've read some good reviews, and some so/so. I do own a coral box light I'm messing around with. The app is a little clunky, but when you figure out what does what, it does what you program it to do. I might try that dosing pump in the future. Let's chill and get priority 1 taken care of. Sticking your hand in the tank and preventing a zap.

I've been looking into this non grounded GFCI stuff and a little confused. First of all I rent so don't think adding a ground wire here is going to be an option.

Something I did not mention before was that the old outlet actually had a "bootleg ground". A jumper between the negative and ground screws on the back of the outlet.

"Even if an outlet box isn't grounded, installing a GFCI in it will still protect you (and your tools and appliances) from ground faults. But an ungrounded GFCI can't safeguard sensitive electronics, such as a computer or phone, from the interference caused by stray currents. The National Electrical Code requires you to stick a label on the receptacle that reads, "No equipment ground." These labels come in the box with a new GFCI."

I think I'm going to post this question in the forum and ask if the ground wire is necessary on a GFCI outlet. Hopefully someone can dumb this down a little bit in terms of risk and what not. I'm not dismissing your comments just want further information on the topic.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Let's slow down for a week and enjoy your tank. Last week was questions about kalk in the ATO, and now you are hard for a 4 head dosing pump? Your tank will appreciate the ato setup you installed last week. Figure out what's up with your salt, and get an electrician to check out the wiring so we can ground the tank safely. For some input on the coral box dosing pump, I've read some good reviews, and some so/so. I do own a coral box light I'm messing around with. The app is a little clunky, but when you figure out what does what, it does what you program it to do. I might try that dosing pump in the future. Let's chill and get priority 1 taken care of. Sticking your hand in the tank and preventing a zap.

I do tend to want to jump into things full speed lol. I wanted to start planning where the dosing pump was going to go and what reservoirs I would use and what not. I was going to drill the back of the new cabinet and run my power strip and what not to the new cabinet. I was thinking of trying to get ahead of any drops too far below 400 in calcium. I was thinking having a little higher than 400 would probably be better than having it a little bit lower. I was thinking the sooner I start dosing the sooner I can make sure my tank stays stable. But I may be overthinking things as usual. ;Facepalm

 

[Sod Buster]

The ground on the outlet is the green hex screw. If it goes to a metal outlet box,it might go through metal conduit to the panel box.

 

[Sod Buster]

Get this for your calcium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yeah, kind of odd. To get from 365 to 410 I would have needed to dose 140ml of ESV calcium from what I understand. Also like you stated even if my new water had 300PPM calcium it would have been impossible to initially go from 401 to 365 with only a 10% water change. I did test twice but guess it's possible I did the same wrong thing twice lol. Odd. I feel like I am doing the tests consistently. I have the .1ml syringe for the Hanna checker and using Hanna DI water and everything.

Incorrect or variable readings do not always imply you did something “wrong” many are just not very accurate and precise.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

The ground on the outlet is the green hex screw. If it goes to a metal outlet box,it might go through metal conduit to the panel box.

The receptacle has a blue plastic box.

 

[Sod Buster]

@Brew12

 

[Philipgonzales3]

Incorrect or variable readings do not always imply you did something “wrong” many are just not very accurate and precise.

Ok, cool. What's your opinion Randy? As far as if I should go with Kalkwasser or 2 part dosing? Calcium Chloride? I am still very open to either kalkwasser or 2 part dosing.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

@Brew12

So then I'm good right? Because my whole tank and everything on it is plugged into a power strip that is plugged into a GFCI outlet. Makes me wonder if the outlet I am plugging my laptops and TV's into have a ground. But honestly we should be buying a newer house soon so not extremely worried about it. May be the wrong mentality to have but it's the truth.

 

[Sod Buster]

10-4. Before you put a purchase offer in, imagine where you'll put the dream tank and take the outlet cover off to inspect. I don't know if you have basements in TX, if so, go down there and look at the floor framing. The rate you are going, I see a 200 gallon in your future.

 

[Philipgonzales3]

10-4. Before you put a purchase offer in, imagine where you'll put the dream tank and take the outlet cover off to inspect. I don't know if you have basements in TX, if so, go down there and look at the floor framing. The rate you are going, I see a 200 gallon in your future.

Good idea. I'm thinking this 50 gallon tank will be my office tank and having a large peninsula tank in the living room. I don't think our houses have basements here. We went to look at some nice new builds and they didn't have one. Never been to anyone's house that had a basement here that I'm aware of. I'll be sure to create a build thread when I upgrade. For my wallets sake it will likely be a couple of years but doubt I will hold off much longer. This tank is actually a "test" to see how I would do in the long term. I'm thinking if I went large enough an automatic water change system may be in order. Probably will get help from pros on the setup.

I have this stuff coming on Friday...did I mention I tend to deep dive into everything haha. I think I do a decent job of researching the major stuff. Others will likely disagree. I learn mostly by doing lots of times though.