I'm not understanding my test results...

ryanjohn1 · Mar 5, 2023

Yeah it looked like you converted the others but not that one.

Dom · Mar 5, 2023

ryanjohn1 said:
The rest of his numbers look fine tho right unless I’m missing something

Generally speaking, I don't have a problem with the numbers. I'm trying for a better understanding of the relationship between the numbers.

ryanjohn1 · Mar 5, 2023

I personally would bring the alk up but if the tank looks good and it’s all relatively stable. Keep doing what you are doing

Dom · Mar 5, 2023

ryanjohn1 said:
All your other numbers look good. Maybe dose some Red Sea alk slowly to bring it up

Yes, I already have Red Sea Foundation A & B, but I haven't opened them yet. I was hoping that a steady drip of Kalk would maintain my Calcium and Alkalinity.

So would you dose the foundation in addition to the Kalk or instead of?

ryanjohn1 · Mar 5, 2023

Probably instead of. Then once they are stabilized you could switch back and see if it maintains. Just don’t bomb it with huge doses go slowly

Dom · Mar 5, 2023

ryanjohn1 said:
I personally would bring the alk up but if the tank looks good and it’s all relatively stable. Keep doing what you are doing

Yes, I agree. I don't like to fix what isn't broken, but in my mind, this requires attention.

Calcium was 500 on 2/26. Had I stayed the current dosing course, it probably would be close to 600 by now!

ryanjohn1 · Mar 5, 2023

500 and a bit higher is fine. I’m usually around 5-520

jsker · Mar 5, 2023

Dom said:
Reagents are all good until June 2024.

I would say that I take testing to the next level of extreme

Dom · Mar 5, 2023

ryanjohn1 said:
500 and a bit higher is fine. I’m usually around 5-520

Really... I would think you would begin getting precipitation at those levels...

ryanjohn1 · Mar 5, 2023

Whose salt are you using?

ryanjohn1 · Mar 5, 2023

and what do you mean by precipitation?

ryanjohn1 · Mar 5, 2023

Nope I’m sorry meant 4-450. Some times i see 500

Dom · Mar 5, 2023

ryanjohn1 said:
Whose salt are you using?

Instant Ocean Reef Chrystals. Although, I think this is moot.

I'm not doing 20% water changes on such a big tank; just hyper filtration and supplementation.

Dom · Mar 5, 2023

ryanjohn1 said:
and what do you mean by precipitation?

Calcium precipitation... it is when you see calcium building up on things like heaters and pumps due to elevated calcium levels for extended periods of time.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 6, 2023

Dom said:
Look at the relationship between ALK, Calcium and Mag. On 2/26, calcium was 500 and ALK dropped to 7. Checked; not a testing error.

Yes, the 500 ppm is testing error. What makes you claim it is not?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 6, 2023

What is hyper filtration?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 6, 2023

Dom said:
Calcium precipitation... it is when you see calcium building up on things like heaters and pumps due to elevated calcium levels for extended periods of time.

That's not any concern with your values. The calcium is fine. Alk is low, pH is low. All those say no significant problems with precipitation.

Dom · Mar 6, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
That's not any concern with your values. The calcium is fine. Alk is low, pH is low. All those say no significant problems with precipitation.

8.0-8.1 pH is low? Okay... what do you suggest as a target range?

Dom · Mar 6, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Yes, the 500 ppm is testing error. What makes you claim it is not?

The discussion of a testing error was on KH. And that was an error on my part; as @ryanjohn1 pointed out, when recording my numbers, I failed to make the conversion.

Okay, 500 ppm on Calcium is a testing error. And I'm guessing that the relationship of calcium to the other numbers in the chart make a calcium of 500 impossible?

vpierce3 · Mar 6, 2023

When you said hyper-filtration, that makes me wonder what your no3 and po4 are at….especially po4. Without enough nutrients, the corals and other stuff won’t be able to metabolize the calcium in the water. This can cause the Ca to shoot up and dkH to drop.
This is what happened in my tank.
My po4 was at zero so I started dosing trisodium phosphates. Then I saw an explosion in coral growth. I brought my dkH up (which raised my pH) and the Ca came down on its own. Now my tank is stable.
Everything needs to be balanced…..including nutrients.