cycling dkh low calcium high

[NavyMishaFen]

Good day all,

i started cycling my 125 gal 2 weeks ago, after testing today, i noticed my dkh has been lowering and calcium rising, what should i do? let it do its thing? dose KH from aquaforest? not sure what to take from the readings... i can see the cycle happening, but i dont understand why the dkh and calcium values are changing, there is nothing in the tank.

- using Red sea pro salt.
- adding microbacter7 over the weeks for cycle.
- using Hanna checkers
- using 4 stage RODI with added 2 extra DI chambers(6 stage)

thank you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The calcium variation is likely just test variability. Same for magnesium.

 

[NavyMishaFen]

The calcium variation is likely just test variability. Same for magnesium.

416 to 469 seems like a big jump. but with the DKH lowering without anything consuming it? what should i do? should i do a water change during the cycle? or maybe dose KH?

 

[Formulator]

I suspect the calcium result may be off. In general, lowering Alk is observed in new tanks due to precipitation on the new sand and rock surfaces. Your alk is waayyyyy too high for a new tank. You are likely to have all kinds of stability issues running that high. I would suggest closer to 8 for a new tank. You can always raise it later when the tank is established to boost coral growth rates if desired.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I would not waste test solution on alk, mag, and cal during the cycle...

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

416 to 469 seems like a big jump. but with the DKH lowering without anything consuming it? what should i do? should i do a water change during the cycle? or maybe dose KH?

Do Not start dosing!

 

[NavyMishaFen]

I suspect the calcium result may be off. In general, lowering Alk is observed in new tanks due to precipitation on the new sand and rock surfaces. Your alk is waayyyyy too high for a new tank. You are likely to have all kinds of stability issues running that high. I would suggest closer to 8 for a new tank. You can always raise it later when the tank is established to boost coral growth rates if desired.

i was told to use Red sea Pro salt which comes with 11 - 12 dkh for growth and coloration for LPS dominant tank with 25% sps

 

[Formulator]

i was told to use Red sea Pro salt which comes with 11 - 12 dkh for growth and coloration for LPS dominant tank with 25% sps

Sure, but you don’t have a tank full of growing coral yet . What you do have right now is a ton of open calcium carbonate surface area for nucleation of precipitation.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

i was told to use Red sea Pro salt which comes with 11 - 12 dkh for growth and coloration for LPS dominant tank with 25% sps

1. Your tank is 2 weeks old.
2. Almost all salts will be fine, 11-12 dkh is a rather high target.
3. Who are you getting your advice from?

 

[NavyMishaFen]

Sure, but you don’t have a tank full of growing coral yet . What you do have right now is a ton of open calcium carbonate surface area for nucleation of precipitation.

when will i know when i can start adding some LPS?

 

[NavyMishaFen]

1. Your tank is 2 weeks old.
2. Almost all salts will be fine, 11-12 dkh is a rather high target.
3. Who are you getting your advice from?

the internet and Red sea website lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

416 to 469 seems like a big jump. but with the DKH lowering without anything consuming it? what should i do? should i do a water change during the cycle? or maybe dose KH?

Nothing.

The alk is fine. I recommend 7-11 dkh. I would not dose a new tank until it dropped below 7 dKH.

The calcium is fine (both, real or not).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

the internet and Red sea website lol

But, of course, that Red Sea recommendation is for maximizing hard coral growth. That doesn't seem useful in your scenario.

 

[NavyMishaFen]

Nothing.

The alk is fine. I recommend 7-11 dkh. I would not dose a new tank until it dropped below 7 dKH.

The calcium is fine (both, real or not).

thank you, i do a lot of research all the time but i still get stomped on random things like this... i was starting to panic a bit, i was so confused on what was going on. "theres nothing in the tank what the heck"

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

thank you, i do a lot of research all the time but i still get stomped on random things like this... i was starting to panic a bit, i was so confused on what was going on.

My advice: take things slow, and be conservative. Meaning don't try to have a "TANKED" tank in a month or 2.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

My advice: take things slow, and be conservative. Meaning don't try to have a "TANKED" tank in a month or 2.

There's a bunch of great info in the "New to..." forum. Look at the stickies.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

New to Saltwater & Reef Aquariums? Post Here

If you're new to the Saltwater Hobby and have questions please post them here. So you finally decided to take the plunge. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask!

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Formulator]

when will i know when i can start adding some LPS?

You will get a huge range of answers on here and some will be quite passionate about it. Personally, I don’t see the harm in introducing a few hardy LPS as soon as you are done cycling and add a few fish. Just start slow so if they die, your wallet hurts less. Favia brains are cool, relatively cheap, and pretty tolerant to a range of conditions. That was one of my first stony corals back in the day. Added immediately after cycling and it lasted for years.