Low Calcium Low Alk

[BeeReef]

Hello Reefers,

This is my first time posting in this forum. I started a tank 3 months back. its FOWLR.
current parameters

temp - 72 F
ph - 7.4
amm - 7.5 dhk
calcium - 285 ppm
mg - 1240
salinity - 1.024


salt - tropic marine - pro

stuff I got for free
Seachem reef calcium - liquid
Seachem reef builder
Seachem marine buffer

where do I start the correction Alk or Ca ? suggest some links there is too much information

 

[mta_morrow]

Hello and welcome to R2R!

First...……...we love tank pics!!!

to answer your question, i'm not so sure those levels matter as you are FOWLR and not a reef as corals need those to be in a certain range and stable. Others will post soon and let you know for sure.

 

[lapin]

Howdy
Fish wont mind 7.5 alk
From what I know the Tropic Marine Pro salt has both low alk and cal. Kinda misleading since it says "pro". Most other pro salts have high alk and other elements. With these other pro salts reefers can keep their numbers up with water changes. If it was me and I wanted to up my numbers a bit I would switch salts to something closer to what I wanted my tank to be at. But thats just me.
This is old and there are newer stats avail if you search.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505

 

[BeeReef]

Thank you for this quick response .. I am planning to add some coral.
will take good pictures, planning to buy some nice camera this thanks giving.

 

[scardall]

Bring your Magnesium up to 1400ppm will help with both. A PH of 7.4 is way too low. PH should be at least 7.8 or higher. While salinity of 1.024 is fine for a fowler 1.026 would be nice. All that said, for a FOWLER PH 7.8-8.4 ALK. 7-12dkh CA 350+ <420 mg. 1360 Nitrate < 40ppm IMO I would raise my Magnesium up to 360-1400ppm and see what your ph, alk and calcium go to. PH is a major concern as 7.4 is way to low. 7.8 min. Good Luck

 

[BeeReef]

Howdy
Fish wont mind 7.5 alk
From what I know the Tropic Marine Pro salt has both low alk and cal. Kinda misleading since it says "pro". Most other pro salts have high alk and other elements. With these other pro salts reefers can keep their numbers up with water changes. If it was me and I wanted to up my numbers a bit I would switch salts to something closer to what I wanted my tank to be at. But thats just me.

thanks for the info on salts, i bought one tropic marin sea salt on craigslist, should I start using that?

 

[BeeReef]

Bring your Magnesium up to 1400ppm will help with both. A PH of 7.4 is way too low. PH should be at least 7.8 or higher. While salinity of 1.024 is fine for a fowler 1.026 would be nice. All that said, for a FOWLER PH 7.8-8.4 ALK. 7-12dkh CA 350+ <420 mg. 1360 Nitrate < 40ppm IMO I would raise my Magnesium up to 360-1400ppm and see what your ph, alk and calcium go to. PH is a major concern as 7.4 is way to low. 7.8 min. Good Luck

Thank you for articulating the best parameters to target down the lane.
Can you tell me where to start the correction? i.e should I start to increase PH or Alk or CA?

Can I add below additives first day PH, second day Alk , third day Ca on rotation ?

stuff I have in hand is

Seachem reef calcium - liquid
Seachem reef builder
Seachem marine buffer

 

[BeeReef]

will work on the Mg issue, can you suggest a particular product for Mg.

 

[lapin]

Yes. That salt is close to the numbers you will need to keep coral. Do normal water changes and you will see your numbers increase over time. As your corals grow they will start consuming Alk and Cal. When water changes cant keep up, then think about dosing. That will be a while .
Happy reefing

 

[scardall]

will work on the Mg issue, can you suggest a particular product for Mg.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/magnesium-mix-for-general-adjustments-bulk-reef-supply.html

 

[scardall]

Thank you for articulating the best parameters to target down the lane.
Can you tell me where to start the correction? i.e should I start to increase PH or Alk or CA?

Can I add below additives first day PH, second day Alk , third day Ca on rotation ?

stuff I have in hand is

Seachem reef calcium - liquid
Seachem reef builder
Seachem marine buffer

For now , if PH is <7.8 I would use the marine buffer and hold off on the other Ca products till mag. is in the correct range. But before you do this, I will concur with another poster that a WC can help. I would do a 30% change and wait a day or two. See where you are at with PH . You do not want to increase your ph more than .2ph per day. Repeat once more with WC and wait a day . If not at 7.8ph use buffer as directed. NEVER rush please. Good Luck and welcome to the adventure.

 

[cracker]

@scardall offers good advice . Consider not getting too concerned about PH yet . Get your mag in range then check Alk & Ca. You get these 3 with in the range. I bet the PH will follow & rise . Just my OP based on experience no facts to back it up though.

 

[BeeReef]

12/05 8:00 am readings
11.5 dhk alkalinity
330 - ppm cal
1400 ppm mg

just did a huge 30 g water change and 5 g partial water changes. Moved lights 12 inches above, lots or aeration.

 

[BeeReef]

12/05 8:00 am readings,

alk -11.5 dhk , calcium to 330 ppm Mg to 1400. Did a huge water change, and partial water changes. moved lights to 16 inches from water surface. Thank you guys for all the help.

 

[BeeReef]

Last night reading

08/1/2019
8.4 dhk alkalinity
7.4- pH
480 Cal
Magnesium 1600

I am treating for phosphates using chemipure. How to increase pH. I got seachem buffer and seachem reef builder.

 

[beaslbob]

I would implement the improved diy two part system by Dr Randy holmes-farley in the reef chemistry forum.

 

[MnFish1]

Last night reading

08/1/2019
8.4 dhk alkalinity
7.4- pH
480 Cal
Magnesium 1600

I am treating for phosphates using chemipure. How to increase pH. I got seachem buffer and seachem reef builder.

I would get a doser (once you decide to get coral - and your alk/calcium are being used up) and dose your Ca and Alk 24 hours automatically (if you can afford it). You should also be testing Alk at the same time every day - as it will vary at different times So - comparing morning to night may be different. FWIW - you shouldn't need to do anything with Ca Mg or Alk - since you have no Coral (yet) - and they also shouldn't be varying. 2 possibilities I can think of - you didnt mix your salt (in the bag or box or bucket) before adding water - and sometimes this can lead to lower or higher parameters depending. Secondly - your tests may be either wrong or misread - or some testing error. This is the most common reason for values that don't make sense. (your numbers don't totally make sense for freshly made saltwater from any mix) - in any case - its the first thing you should make sure are correct.

One other thing - are you dosing Ca and Alk in close proximity to each other? If so - they may be precipitating - make sure you don't dose them near each other/at the same time.

Just so you know - A higher Mg helps prevent Ca and Alkalinity from precipitating. So - I would address the low Mg first before you start adding Ca and Alk (doing water changes shouldn't hurt).

here is an article that spells some of this stuff out - and also lists the proper parameters for a reef tank. Some of the values on this thread have been incorrect (possible typos) http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/.

PS welcome to R2R

 

[BeeReef]

Thanks for the response.
I have 3 Coral gsp, a torch, zoa. I will like to go towards the doser once I start growing some more Coral and Coraline algae. Meanwhile I would to keep this tank params stable 10 months old.

 

[MnFish1]

Thanks for the response.
I have 3 Coral gsp, a torch, zoa. I will like to go towards the doser once I start growing some more Coral and Coraline algae. Meanwhile I would to keep this tank params stable 10 months old.

Did you see the other questions / suggestions in my post?

 

[BeejReef]

Your parameters are reasonable. Looking good!

I agree w others. Your ph seems unusually low. That's the one standout. It's so low, I'd suspect the test is faulty. Unless you live in an air tight home with a big family and four dogs. Might want to let magesium come down a bit and ease off on dosing that