Tank parameters ok?

jasonb87 · Nov 12, 2015

So I haven't tested my tank since i moved about 3 month ago Typically i either didn't test or i had my lfs test my water and i finally tested.
Calcium seem high to me, i dont dose (just fuel) and havent done a water change in about 3-4 weeks
red sea kit
red sea salt
nitrates 0.75
phosphates 0.03
calcium 500+ (i question this but didn't retest tonight)
alk 7
mag 1400
salinity 0.24
temp83
ph 8.07
How do these look specifically cal, alk, mag?

Anthony Wood · Nov 13, 2015

Are you using a salifert calcium test? only reason I ask is because mine will give false reading every once in a while also haha. You'll have to retest calc and get a better reading. If you want to know thats way to high. But you are cutting it close on your alk, I wouldn't let it get below that. 7 is ok NSW is 7dKh as long as it stays consistent and doesn't flucuate up and down. The only real reason to keep your alk high like 10dkh is because the tank isn't on a doser. So keeping it high gives the alk leeway to drop between WC's and not drop below 7 and put the tank in jeopardy. I personally keep my alk at 8dkh but doesn't budge from that due to my doser. You really need to start dosing and try to keep your calc and alk as stable as possible if you want your coral to do really well and not just ok. Mag is a tad high for my personal taste I like to keep it anywhere from 1250-1350.

jasonb87 · Nov 13, 2015

Anthony Wood said:
Are you using a salifert calcium test? only reason I ask is because mine will give false reading every once in a while also haha. You'll have to retest calc and get a better reading. If you want to know thats way to high. But you are cutting it close on your alk, I wouldn't let it get below that. 7 is ok NSW is 7dKh as long as it stays consistent and doesn't flucuate up and down. The only real reason to keep your alk high like 10dkh is because the tank isn't on a doser. So keeping it high gives the alk leeway to drop between WC's and not drop below 7 and put the tank in jeopardy. I personally keep my alk at 8dkh but doesn't budge from that due to my doser. You really need to start dosing and try to keep your calc and alk as stable as possible if you want your coral to do really well and not just ok. Mag is a tad high for my personal taste I like to keep it anywhere from 1250-1350.

It's was a Red Sea test kit, I also use Red Sea salt.

jasonb87 · Nov 14, 2015

do you recommend kalk? I'm afraid dosing kalk would raise my calcium even more?

jsker · Nov 14, 2015

Kalkwasser in small amounts will be your friend. If you have a ATO this is a great way to dose.

JimDog2015 · Nov 14, 2015

jsker said:
Kalkwasser in small amounts will be your friend. If you have a ATO this is a great way to dose.

what is an ATO?

den75 · Nov 14, 2015

JimDog2015 said:
what is an ATO?

Auto top off system.

jasonb87 · Nov 14, 2015

yes i do have an ATO. I'm using a JBJ ATO with a rio pump with a 2.5-3 gallon fresh water reservoir. i have the switch in the reservoir set to shut the ATO off about 5 inches from the bottom just to protect if the ATO sticks on. so i typically refill the reservoir once-twice a week.

JimDog2015 · Nov 14, 2015

den75 said:
Auto top off system.

Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 15, 2015

jasonb87 said:
do you recommend kalk? I'm afraid dosing kalk would raise my calcium even more?

What salt mix are you using? What salinity?

Have you supplemented calcium?

Limewater (kalkwasser) is a fine way to go in your case, but so are other methods.

I compare them here:

The Many Methods For Supplementing Calcium And Alkalinity

jasonb87 · Nov 15, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
What salt mix are you using? What salinity?

Have you supplemented calcium?

Limewater (kalkwasser) is a fine way to go in your case, but so are other methods.

I compare them here:

The Many Methods For Supplementing Calcium And Alkalinity

I used Red Sea black bucket salt mix

Salinity is .25

I do not supplement anything at the moment other than fuel for my corals.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 15, 2015

So calcium is probably in the mid 400's and I wouldn't worry about it just now.

The limewater won't boost the calcium too much and will keep calcium about where it is, which is fine. So would equal parts dosing of a two part system based on alkalinity needs.

jasonb87 · Nov 15, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
So calcium is probably in the mid 400's and I wouldn't worry about it just now.

The limewater won't boost the calcium too much and will keep calcium about where it is, which is fine. So would equal parts dosing of a two part system based on alkalinity needs.

I tested 500. I did a 10% water change yesterday and plan on re testing this evening before making any dosing decisions.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 15, 2015

OK, but it won't change much from a water change.

jasonb87 · Nov 15, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
OK, but it won't change much from a water change.

Yes understood, guess more for my piece of mind. I'm leaning a lot towards kalk

jasonb87 · Nov 22, 2015

So I tested again today 1week since the last test

Calcium 450
Alkalinity 6.4
Magnesium stayed at 1400
Salinity .24
Ph 7.95
Temp75.3

jasonb87 · Sep 10, 2016

Tested this morning with the lights off, lights have been off for 20 hrs or so (trying a lights out to kill off my remaining algae) i started using kalk +2 in my ato last week but started slow at only 1/2tsp for my 2.5 gallon resivor i have a new gallon mixed up at 1 tsp for the next batch and will keep increasing as i mix new batches (mixing a gallon at a time).

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 11, 2016

I can't be sure I'm reading that table right as it is small. What is the alk?

jasonb87 · Sep 11, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I can't be sure I'm reading that table right as it is small. What is the alk?

Alk is still really low at 5.6 Dkh. My new batch of kalk went in the ato yesterday evening, also did a 10g water change yesterday evening

I have kalk +2 and a alk/ph buffer on hand

I should also note i have gotten phosphates down from.36 to .08 is the last 3 or 4 weeks