Reef levels!!!!!!!!

griff126 · Sep 7, 2011

Does anyone know why my corals would be using calcuim (10ppm per day) but the alk and magnesium are staying the same?

Chompers · Sep 8, 2011

They aren't. Something is causing the calcium to precipitate or it is getting used somewhere else (heater, pump, algae, etc.). The corals can not lay down calcium without the carbonate. Your alkalinity indicates that they aren't forming calcium carbonate in significant quantities.

griff126 · Sep 8, 2011

would you have any ideas on how to fix that? or could it be that most of my sps are all frags? im just starting with them so there all 2" or less in size

CJO · Sep 8, 2011

What are your levels?

What Chompers is saying is that corals use calcium and alkalinity (carbonate) at exactly the same rate since they are forming calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Since the corals can't use them at different rates, something else has to.

Another thing that occured to me- what are the units you are using to measure them? If you are measuring calcium in ppm (which you almost certainly are) and alkalinity in dKH (likely), then you might not have an imbalance in usage.

CJ

griff126 · Sep 8, 2011

checked levels on 9-5-11
mg- 1350ppm ca- 410ppm alk- 8.3dkh

checked levels on 9-6-11
mg- 1320ppm ca- 400ppm alk- 8dkh

checked levels on 9-7-11
mg- 1320ppm ca- 390ppm alk- 8dkh

I am also going to check the levels again around the same time to see if there is any change at all.

pumarjr · Sep 8, 2011

how long has your tank been setup? the calcium could be being absorbed by your substrate.

griff126 · Sep 8, 2011

set up about 4 years. started out as a fish only then started with coral about 3 years ago

Coral Whisperer · Sep 8, 2011

Could just be the deviation of the test kit. Salifert's Ca test is a titration until it turns blue. Depending on the lighting in the room you could be seeing blue earlier or later. In other words blue under one lighting condition may not be the same under a different lighting condition.

Reef Breeders · Sep 8, 2011

Idk, sometimes my alk is steady but my ca is slowely rising, so I have to adjust my dosing pumps. Its a little wierd, but I dont have too many hard corals in that system, so not much ca being used, however alk is being used to precipitate c02 or the carbon in it anyways.

CJO · Sep 9, 2011

Coral Whisperer said:
Could just be the deviation of the test kit. Salifert's Ca test is a titration until it turns blue. Depending on the lighting in the room you could be seeing blue earlier or later. In other words blue under one lighting condition may not be the same under a different lighting condition.

You beat me to it. griff126, wait a week between readings and see how they fluctuate.

CJ

PS- a drop of 1 dKH in alkalinity is approximately 18 ppm.