First time testing for Alk and Calcium

[PhilMStudy]

I have 8.3 dkh
483 ppm calcium
1.025, 78 degrees

looking at what ranges “should be” I am little on low side for alkalinity and a little too high on calcium.

going to test this over next 2 weeks or so and see what ranges are. Is there something I should be worried about?

 

[MaxTremors]

I have 8.3 dkh
483 ppm calcium
1.025, 78 degrees

looking at what ranges “should be” I am little on low side for alkalinity and a little too high on calcium.

going to test this over next 2 weeks or so and see what ranges are. Is there something I should be worried about?

Your actually just about perfect. I shoot for 8.5dkh (this is so I have some wiggle room either way should I have a spike or a dip) and 420-450ppm for calcium (calcium is, IMO, much easier to keep consistent, that may be different in a larger sps dominant tank, but for all the mixed reefs I’ve kept, calcium has been fairly easy to keep stable). If I were you I would let your calcium come down a little and then just maintain your alk where it’s at (use a salt that mixes roughly to the same dkh).

In my small 28 gallon tank (probably 20g of water), I have probably 15 small corals (a mix of lps, softies, and one sps), and to maintain around 8.5dkh I have to dose around 1ml of part two daily, and to maintain calcium at around 450ppm I dose 1ml of part one twice a week (I also do a 25% water change once a week). You also want to keep an eye on your magnesium level, so far mine has been maintained with just water changes.

 

[blasterman]

8.5 is fine for alk, but you will find it can be tough to keep at that number and will almost always fall faster than calcium.

I keep calcium at 400-420 in my SPS tanks. Reefed for several decades and not found a benefit of having it higher. Doesnt hurt anything to be at 483, but its just sitting dissolved in my tank vs sitting in my calcium jar. Otherwise, no difference.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have 8.3 dkh
483 ppm calcium
1.025, 78 degrees

looking at what ranges “should be” I am little on low side for alkalinity and a little too high on calcium.

going to test this over next 2 weeks or so and see what ranges are. Is there something I should be worried about?

No, nothing to be worried about, and no need for dosing. 7 dKH is perfectly fine.

 

[PhilMStudy]

Thank you all, I really want to take a swing at some euphyllia (grape and hammer ideally), but I also want to get the parameters inline before I try something like that

although there are a couple of inexpensive cristata I keep telling myself no on right now

have 2-3 weeks off before start going back to office and really want to get this stabilized before then