You're welcome.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Alkalinity is too high.
- Thread starter Sohal11
- Start date
hurleycr
Member
Hello,
I'm battling the same issue, the ALk is testing 5.71. meq/l.
Calcium at 290.
I'm dosing Turbo Calcium at the moment to raise the calcium, I'm on day two of the dosing. I have raised the Calcium from 260 to 290.
I'm doing 20 gal water changes weekly, second week of that, but the alkalinity hasn't moved.
I used a buffer almost a 6 weeks ago. However, it shouldn't be affecting it now......right?
am at least on the right track? I've read most of the articles that I can find that you wrote, and think I'm doing it right. Just looking for clarification.
PH is 8.2 day, and 8.0 night.
150 gallon total system volume.
I'm battling the same issue, the ALk is testing 5.71. meq/l.
Calcium at 290.
I'm dosing Turbo Calcium at the moment to raise the calcium, I'm on day two of the dosing. I have raised the Calcium from 260 to 290.
I'm doing 20 gal water changes weekly, second week of that, but the alkalinity hasn't moved.
I used a buffer almost a 6 weeks ago. However, it shouldn't be affecting it now......right?
am at least on the right track? I've read most of the articles that I can find that you wrote, and think I'm doing it right. Just looking for clarification.
PH is 8.2 day, and 8.0 night.
150 gallon total system volume.
Forget the dosing instructions on the turbo calcium and boost it by 100 ppm per day. This calculator shows how much to add:
Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html
Have you measured the alkalinity in your salt mix?
Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html
Have you measured the alkalinity in your salt mix?
hurleycr
Member
no, but that is a great idea......
I'm using the calculator....I just ran out of mix, and need to buy more.
This isn't the first time this has happened. It took almost a month to fix it last time. My alk has always ran high for some reason the lowest I've gotten it is 11. I can't figure out how its climbing, I always do water changes at least by weekly.
I just changed salts which, I think may be the culprit this time, now that you bring it up. I changed from Bio Assay-Crystall Sea, to Tropic Marin, back to IO. Boy, my tank didn't like it either.
I'm using the calculator....I just ran out of mix, and need to buy more.
This isn't the first time this has happened. It took almost a month to fix it last time. My alk has always ran high for some reason the lowest I've gotten it is 11. I can't figure out how its climbing, I always do water changes at least by weekly.
I just changed salts which, I think may be the culprit this time, now that you bring it up. I changed from Bio Assay-Crystall Sea, to Tropic Marin, back to IO. Boy, my tank didn't like it either.
Do you use tap water? It may have alkalinity in it.
If you are using RO/DI, and have high alk in the salt, try a new salt mix.
hurleycr
Member
Uhm...I just had a thought with the Alk that high....will adding turbo calcium help?
Won't the high alkalinity depress the calcium?
But if I keep adding it, it has to go somewhere, because its not precepitating into the water? Just wondering, I will be going into town to pick up more turbo in the morning, I will update later.
Won't the high alkalinity depress the calcium?
But if I keep adding it, it has to go somewhere, because its not precepitating into the water? Just wondering, I will be going into town to pick up more turbo in the morning, I will update later.
Not trying to hijack this thread or anything but should I stop dosing Kalk as well as reducing the CO2 in the Calcium Reactor till my Alk comes down? I have but seem to notice the polyps on the coral aren't as extended now.
I'd keep up the limewater. Higher pH stimulates demand.
I'd keep up the limewater. Higher pH stimulates demand.
Uhm...I just had a thought with the Alk that high....will adding turbo calcium help?
Won't the high alkalinity depress the calcium?
I'd measure calcium and see if you need it.
Hate to get off topic, but I am wondering I've had a calcium monitor for about two months now. I was reading your article, and was wondering if floating the calibration solutions in my sump is a good way to control the temp issue?
That sounds like a good method, as long as they are tightly closed.
Won't the high alkalinity depress the calcium?
I'd measure calcium and see if you need it.
Hate to get off topic, but I am wondering I've had a calcium monitor for about two months now. I was reading your article, and was wondering if floating the calibration solutions in my sump is a good way to control the temp issue?
That sounds like a good method, as long as they are tightly closed.
Last edited:
Looking good.
Happy Reefing!
Happy Reefing!
Re: Alkalinity is too high.
The original parameters on 12/25/05 as shown above. Here is the update sequence of the event since the last time I posted:
1/02/06 (Couldn't find Calcium Chloride so did not add)
Calcium = 350 ppm
Alkalinity = 5.36 Meg/L
1/06/06 (Add ESV Calcium)
Calcium = 420 ppm
Alkalinity = 5.36 Meg/L
1/11/06 (Continue to add ESV Calcium to maintain Calcium level)
Calcium = 430 ppm
Alkalinity = 4.68 Meg/L
1/17/06 (Continue to add ESV Calcium to maintain Calcium level)
Calcium = 450 ppm
Alkalinity = 4.45 Meg/L
A little over three weeks now, alkalinity is dropping down from 7.994 Meg/L to 4.45 Meg/L. Does this sound right Randy?
The original parameters on 12/25/05 as shown above. Here is the update sequence of the event since the last time I posted:
1/02/06 (Couldn't find Calcium Chloride so did not add)
Calcium = 350 ppm
Alkalinity = 5.36 Meg/L
1/06/06 (Add ESV Calcium)
Calcium = 420 ppm
Alkalinity = 5.36 Meg/L
1/11/06 (Continue to add ESV Calcium to maintain Calcium level)
Calcium = 430 ppm
Alkalinity = 4.68 Meg/L
1/17/06 (Continue to add ESV Calcium to maintain Calcium level)
Calcium = 450 ppm
Alkalinity = 4.45 Meg/L
A little over three weeks now, alkalinity is dropping down from 7.994 Meg/L to 4.45 Meg/L. Does this sound right Randy?
It is certainly moving in the right directions, and looks fine to me now. Have you been adding anything?
OK, looks good. Before too long, you'll probably have to add some alkalinity.
