Help with parameters

[dib]

Hi, I'm looking for help with my testing parameters. I've got a 20g mixed reef that is low on calcium. The tank has been running a little over a year. I started dosing calcium once a week following the directions on the bottle.

PH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
Phosphate 0
Calcium 380
KH 12
Magnesium 1350
Salinity 1.026
Date 12/22/2015

All test kits are API except mag which is salifert. I'm confused about KH tho. I see threads that say dKH. Is that alkalinity? I'm thinking of getting the brs alkalinity test kit, is it good or something else better.

I have a hair algea problem too. Most corals seem to be doing good, however my wall hammer is crashing. I'm thinking because of calcium.

What else am I missing? Do I need to test for anything else? Any suggestions are much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, alkalinity and KH are the same. I've not seen the BRS kit to know, and I haven't heard much about it. It is the most important thing to measure, aside from salinity.

What calcium product do you have?

 

[dib]

So is the KH at a good point?
Calcium is a liquid from instant ocean.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

12 dKH is a tad high, probably reflecting the salt mix. Just don't add any more.

They do not give the potency for that calcium product, so I cannot advise how much it will take.

 

[kevindo123]

I think your Alkalinity is too high and your hammer coral shriveled up. Your SPS and LPS corals should be happy at 7-8 dkH.

I would slowly do a water change to get the dkH down. I would suggest you get a Hanna alkalinity checker. It will give you accurate measurements.

Multiply that number by 0.056 to get the dkH. Based on you dKH range it would be 214 on Hanna meter which is ridiculously high.

The range I recommend is between 130 to 145ppm. Adjust your 2 part dosing accordingly to get to this range.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think your Alkalinity is too high and your hammer coral shriveled up. Your SPS and LPS corals should be happy at 7-8 dkH.

I would slowly do a water change to get the dkH down. I would suggest you get a Hanna alkalinity checker. It will give you accurate measurements.

Multiply that number by 0.056 to get the dkH. Based on you dKH range it would be 214 on Hanna meter which is ridiculously high.

The range I recommend is between 130 to 145ppm. Adjust your 2 part dosing accordingly to get to this range.

My expectation is that a water change won't reduce the alkalinity, unless he is using one of the very few low alkalinity salt mixes. Many common mixes have alk as high as he has, and that may be why it is at that level.

IMO, his alk is not high enough to cause most LPS to suffer. I recommend 7-11 dKH, and higher alkalinity generally makes many hard corals grow faster than lower alkalinity. The only time is seems really desirable to have alkalinity lower is when the nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) very low, as in ULNS systems. In that scenario, the high alk might lead SPS skeletons to grow faster than the tissue, leading to burnt tips of SPS (I've never seen that with LPS like hammer, but it might suffer similarly). His nitrate is not low,a nd I expect his phospathe testing is not detecting low enough to say it is ULNS (say, less than 0.01 ppm or so)

FWIW, I do not think the Hanna alk checker is any better than a DIY alk test or any of the several good alk test kits.

 

[Zane]

Lowering the alk a little will raise then calcium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Lowering the alk a little will raise then calcium.

Lowering alkalinity will not, by itself, raise calcium.

If you are adding calcium, and reduce alkalinity, then the sinks for both calcium and alkalinity (such as coral skeleton growth and abiotic precipitation) will likely decline, so you will not be using as much calcium, and when steadily dosing calcium, that might make it rise.

 

[dib]

I just tested again

DKH 11
Calcium 360
Going to dose again with what I currently have, instant ocean calcium booster. What is better recommended?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I just tested again

DKH 11
Calcium 360
Going to dose again with what I currently have, instant ocean calcium booster. What is better recommended?

Any brand of calcium chloride is suitable, even a DIY.

For many you can determine a dose using this calculator:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html