trouble raising alk and cal

[reefpeeper]

i have a problem with raising my cal and alk. i have a 34g tank with a 20g long sump/refugium. i add 50ml each a night and my levels are as follows:
cal 350
alk 8.1
mag 1400
ph 8.0
temp 78

how can i get these levels up and keep them there? i feel adding 50ml of cal and alk is alot already for a 50g total volume. should i add more? i am using brs 2part. i only have a couple of sps frags and rest are z/p. any ideas are appreciated.

 

[mcarroll]

50 isn't much at all, but you are on your way! Just keep your doses in line with what your test kit is telling you!

-Matt

 

[mike007]

Looks okay let it go for a few days and test and you will find out how much your tank is consuming then you can caclulate what you need to dose to keeps levels up to correct levels. Looks to me what you are doing is working fine.

 

[asn]

If you are dosing 50ml a day, and your numbers are staying put, you can raise your doses a little. I would also dose alk at a different time then the cal

 

[reefpeeper]

50 isn't much at all, but you are on your way! Just keep your doses in line with what your test kit is telling you!

-Matt

i thought 1ml per gal may be alot but i will add more each day and see what happens. just thought adding more would be too much

 

[reefpeeper]

Looks okay let it go for a few days and test and you will find out how much your tank is consuming then you can caclulate what you need to dose to keeps levels up to correct levels. Looks to me what you are doing is working fine.

ive been adding the 50ml each per day for a while and levels are always about the same. i will try adding 75ml now

 

[Reefing Madness]

Only thing I see out of whack is your Cal, just up the dosage on that.

 

[reefpeeper]

thanx guys

 

[bct15]

I think your cal and alk are a little out of balance, I have added a link below that is very useful. Your alk level is good, so bring only your calcium up to about 380-400. To do this stop dosing alk am only calcium. Also, what is your magnesium level? Magnesium plays a role in maintaining stable alk and calcium, and if it is low that might be a problem as well.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

 

[mike007]

His mag. level is 1400 which is fine. Raising the ca. level is okay but he is close to being right on.

 

[RacinRevo0818]

If your consuming that much alk and cal the worst thing you can do is go a few days and test. Everything looks good except your cal which is just on the verge of bad. I would spilt your dosing up at least 30 min apart and dosing cal first. Bulk reef supply has a great calculator that will help you figure out how much you need to be adding.

Also when dosing that much in such a small system you might think about dosing morning and night. When your consuming that much alk and cal you begin getting major swings.

My recommendation would be going with 75 ml of cal and continue dosing the same alk and test at least ever three days till you get the numbers your after. You might see a little change in your alk when you begin adding the additional cal. That's why I would recommend testing often.

 

[RacinRevo0818]

Best advice is go slow!!

 

[reefpeeper]

My main question I guess would be why does my tank use so much Cal and alk

 

[bct15]

I dont think it is, I think a bunch is precipitating out when you are dosing. That is why I suggested bringing up the calcium by itself. Also dose at least thirty minutes apart.

Unless you have seen an explosion in coralline.

 

[reefpeeper]

I dont think it is, I think a bunch is precipitating out when you are dosing. That is why I suggested bringing up the calcium by itself. Also dose at least thirty minutes apart.

Unless you have seen an explosion in coralline.

That could be the problem

 

[Reefing Madness]

My main question I guess would be why does my tank use so much Cal and alk

Corals and Coralline.

 

[russo36]

Your alk seems pretty good... I wouldn't dose for that.... You can chg your salt also.... I know instant ocean gives me good result.. I'm sure there is other that does well for others. But my cal stays pretty high using that kind of salt.

 

[mcarroll]

Best advice is go slow!!

+1x10^9!

-Matt

 

[Singlefin]

You would need to slowly add a large dose to get your numbers where you want them. Then wait 24hrs to test again to see what your daily consumption is. There's a couple reef calculators you can use. BRS has one. My guess is You probably need about 14oz to raise it 100ppm. (Randys part 1)Slowly. How often are you doing wc? What salt? Are you mixing the salt in the correct proportions?

 

[LowezAkar24]

i have a problem with raising my cal and alk. i have a 34g tank with a 20g long sump/refugium. i add 50ml each a night and my levels are as follows:
cal 350
alk 8.1
mag 1400
ph 8.0
temp 78

how can i get these levels up and keep them there? i feel adding 50ml of cal and alk is alot already for a 50g total volume. should i add more? i am using brs 2part. i only have a couple of sps frags and rest are z/p. any ideas are appreciated.

First things first. What is your daily consumption of Calcium and Alkalinity?