If these were your tank numbers....Alk and CA

[CoralsAddiction]

Just to elaborate on my above post. The max level reading is 500. So it literally stops there. And to keep going higher one has to start a second syringe and do the addition. Takes a little bit of time and getting used to. My goal was to try out a test kit that was more user friendly and didn’t require the extra steps like Salifert.
this is my first time using Hanna and so far it’s been great. We’ll see if it holds.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I added 25ml of Fluval Sea Alkalinity. We’ll see what that does

 

[SMSREEF]

I would start dosing. And I would switch to a salt mix that is similar to what I want my parameters to be.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I went below the recommended dose and I’m glad I did. The dKH is up to 7.6 now.

 

[SMSREEF]

So a few thing to think about with testing and calculations.

are you sure of your actual water volume? Volume in tank - volume of rock = water volume. This is the volume you want to dose . for instance my 10 gal cube is actually 8. My 60 cube with 10 gallon sump is only 60 gal.

also Hanna testers... make sure you use the same vial for C1 and C2. Align the vial in same direction both times. I use the printed 10ml and line that up with the front of tester. Also, any micro bubbles in the tube will skew results.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Okay thanks. Looks like this Fluval stuff works. I’ll keep an eye on the tank’s stability and make adjustments as needed.

 

[User1]

So a few thing to think about with testing and calculations.

are you sure of your actual water volume? Volume in tank - volume of rock = water volume. This is the volume you want to dose . for instance my 10 gal cube is actually 8. My 60 cube with 10 gallon sump is only 60 gal.

also Hanna testers... make sure you use the same vial for C1 and C2. Align the vial in same direction both times. I use the printed 10ml and line that up with the front of tester. Also, any micro bubbles in the tube will skew results.

There is a calculator that will do this if you search the web. It is tank size, sump, substrate, rock, etc. I forget the URL, sorry but as you said when dosing I always use the water volume and not the tank size...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What you say is right and that’s how I was able to get a 520 reading with Salifert. But I don’t want to do that moving forward.

OK, but many folks find the Salifert calcium test more reliable/reproducible than the Hanna checker, which has issues that frustrate many users, including being freakishly sensitive to small traces of calcium in the blank.

IMO, the Hanna calcium checker is the weakest of all the Hanna products that reefers commonly use.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I added 25ml of Fluval Sea Alkalinity. We’ll see what that does

FWIW, I personally would not use that in a reef tank long term due to the borate added. I would advise kitchen baking soda as a better option, at least if you are not measuring boron by ICP.

 

[Fishfinder]

No way a 5% water change took you from 440 to 500ppm calcium.

you are having testing error with that hanna.

 

[John08007]

I would add some alk to get that number up, then see if your 10% water changes can make up for the usage

 

[Marine Life]

10% WC is done weekly. So the higher numbers are immediately post water change and the lower numbers are a week after. That’s weekly consumption.

Are you using Tropic Marin Pro reef Because those parameters match up to that. And you need to record your consumption. So test alk and then wait 48 hours and test again. And whatever your tank consumed divide that by 2 and that's your daily dose. And if your not happy with those levels just slowly raise them up. I recommended 8.5 Alk And 440 Cal and 1350 Mag

 

[CoralsAddiction]

No way a 5% water change took you from 440 to 500ppm calcium.

you are having testing error with that hanna.

hanna and Salifert both gave similar readings.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Are you using Tropic Marin Pro reef Because those parameters match up to that.

Using Reef Crystals mix. Was using NeoMarine before that.

 

[Tamberav]

The day after making the 10% water change I made a 5% water change. Today my calcium measured at 500 and dKH 6.6. Need to get that alkalinity higher.

Don't freak out and change it up too fast. Just bring it up slowly to your desired range and then keep it there with dosing.

My tank is 6.3 alk right now and everything looks fantastic and is growing. The low alk hasn't caused harm.

Mines low just because the tank is doing well and consumption has increased with growth and I am slowly upping my daily dose. The low alk isn't immediately alarming though but swings are.

I started out hand dosing but now use a doser as I have to dose enough 2part a day to warrant it.

I used to use BRS 2part but now use ESV 2part as it's more concentrated (since my daily needs have been increasing).