CA- 340 DKH 10 - what is wrong w/ this picture?

[AustinVines]

So I do regular water changes with IO saltwater. I have even done 10g changes days at a time in the past month trying to get my nitrates under control which are still around 10ppm according to an Aq. Pharm test. My CA started out in the 480 range but has now declined to 340 according to the Aq. Ph. test I use. My dkh, taken just now, was 10. My ph looks to be 8.2 (both a.p. tests)

I was given b-ionic 2 part and have used about 25ml of each every few days but the CA does not really move much. The corals I have in my tank are 4 large rocks covered in GSP, 4 stalks of xenia, 10 small to medium heads of caulestera and two small rocks with zoas on them but under 10 polyps per rock.

What should I do to increase the CA? I used the java calculator and it suggested adding 12oz of the 2d part over two days. Can the CA part be added independently of the alk part?

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That's about what you'd expect with IO salt and limewater to supplement calcium and alkalinity.

if you want to boost calcium, you need to add something like calcium chloride (Kent Turbo or liquid calcium, Dowflake, or many other brands). You can also just use the calcium part of the B-ionic. So add what the calculator suggest of just that part.

This calculator shows how much to use:

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html


and this article may help:

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[AustinVines]

Thanks Randy.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

FWIW, I boost my IO with Dowflake and MAG flake to boost calcium and magnesium by 70 and 150 ppm respectively before use in my aquarium.