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After adding T. gigas and other SPS to my tank, I have to increase my Ca and alkalinity input. I use a Kalk reactor and Ca reactor for my Ca/Alkalinity needs. My Ca reactor is really efficient with my own modification as detailed here:
www.reef2reef.com
Anyway, messing around with it over the last two weeks, increasing flow and CO2 to the Ca reactor, and checking it yesterday I find that my Ca is just over 500 and Alkalinity is just over 5.59 ( dKH just over 15.7). I use Salifert and empty the whole cc of the solution and the color just start to change. I did not get more reagents to titrate this fully but just assume it is a little north of the maximum value. Magnesium is around 1320 and SG is at 35 ppt. Phos is somewhere between .1 to .25 ppm. I am not all that good at reading those shades. I didn't do any other test. Nitrates always less than detectable but I don't check this anymore.
I never pushed my Ca and Alkalinity that high before. So far all the animals are OK. Fishes act normal. Coral still have good PE, and anemones are all doing good. The three Sea Urchins looks well and acting normal. Clams fully extended, Sea cucumber still eating and pooping.
I will turn down the Ca reactor slightly and leave everything alone. I don't think this level is toxic for the animals, but will make sure I check my equipment and sand to make sure that there is no calcification that solidifies the sand or damaging to my equipment.
In your experience or estimate, how high Ca and Alkalinity need to be before we have to do something to lower it?
Optimize Calcium Reactor: OrionN's modification
Calcium reactor is a very efficient and cheap way to add Ca, Alkalinity and trace elements to our reef aquariums, especially those that require high level of Ca and Alkalinity input light large SPS and clam tanks. In order to supply this high...
www.reef2reef.com
Anyway, messing around with it over the last two weeks, increasing flow and CO2 to the Ca reactor, and checking it yesterday I find that my Ca is just over 500 and Alkalinity is just over 5.59 ( dKH just over 15.7). I use Salifert and empty the whole cc of the solution and the color just start to change. I did not get more reagents to titrate this fully but just assume it is a little north of the maximum value. Magnesium is around 1320 and SG is at 35 ppt. Phos is somewhere between .1 to .25 ppm. I am not all that good at reading those shades. I didn't do any other test. Nitrates always less than detectable but I don't check this anymore.
I never pushed my Ca and Alkalinity that high before. So far all the animals are OK. Fishes act normal. Coral still have good PE, and anemones are all doing good. The three Sea Urchins looks well and acting normal. Clams fully extended, Sea cucumber still eating and pooping.
I will turn down the Ca reactor slightly and leave everything alone. I don't think this level is toxic for the animals, but will make sure I check my equipment and sand to make sure that there is no calcification that solidifies the sand or damaging to my equipment.
In your experience or estimate, how high Ca and Alkalinity need to be before we have to do something to lower it?
