New tank - low Ca, high alk

[Ben jammin]

I started a new nano reef (30 gal) about 2.5 weeks ago. I used live rock from an existing system plus some fritz zyme to short circuit the cycle. Ammonia and nitrite have been ND, nitrate was up to 10 last weekend so I did my first water change. Nitrate is now 5 and holding. pH is steady at 8.2 Calcium was low (275 ppm) when I first tested over the weekend, and Alk was 10.2 I began dosing with B-Ionic two part. After three days of dosing my Ca is up to 320 ppm but Alk has gone up to 11.2, which I understand is a bit too high. So, how do I increase my Ca without raising my Alk further? Can I just dose the Ca part of the two-part? What will the effect of the high Alk be? All my corals look fine except for a green sarcophyton which stopped opening yesterday and has remained closed since.

Also, I have some B-Ionic Magnesium but forgot to order a Mg test kit so I don't know my levels and haven't begun dosing. I assume I need to get a test kit, but I wonder if the Mg level could have something to do with my low Ca/high Alk situation?

I've got some Kent Essential Elements too - any reason not to start dosing that?

Thanks for any advice. High school chemistry was a long time ago!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You cannot use both parts of the B-ionic to boost calcium because alkalinity gets too high.

You need to use ust the calcium part, or use calcium chloride (any of many brands, such as Kent Turbo Calcium or a DIY) for that boost.

Then once calcium is where you want it, use both parts equally to maintain it.

i would not dose the magnesium unless and until you determine you need it. You may not.

I'm not usually a fan of random dosing of trace elements (like the Kent product) since you do not know which ones you need and which may already be elevated.

 

[Ben jammin]

Thank Randy. That's what I needed to know.

Regarding Magnesium and the trace elements, which ones do you recommend testing for regularly? If I'm not testing, how do I know what I may be missing?