calcium, alkalinity?

[Ehgemus]

Ok I have been toping off my tank with limewater. for about two months, last week I stopped using limewater for the time being, because my alkalinity is 6 meq/L and my calcium is 300. my first question is how to get my alkalinity down? just wait for it to go down on its own or is there a quicker way. my other question is what should I use to raze my calcium? will this product work to raze it or do I need something stronger. this product says that it maintains calcium.

 

[PatMayo]

I don't know about that product. I use Kent's Turbo Calcium. I got it at Marine Depot. If that is just a buffer I would not use it. Buffers typically won't work very well.

Regards,

Pat

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It is a fine plan to dose calcium only and let alkalinity decline on its own, although it won't decline very fast until you boost the calcium back to normal levels. Any brand of calcium chloride will work.

HOWEVER, the material that you show (Seachem Reef Calcium) actually supplies both calcium and alkalinity. Unfortunately, Seachem does not tell anyone that unless you push them on it. So choose another brand, such as ESV calcium chloride, Kent (Turbo calcium or Liquid Calcium), Warner, Dowflake from Home Depot, etc.

 

[Ehgemus]

what is Warner, Dowflake from Home Depot, how is it used, and what department is it in at home depot. Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Dowflake is calcium chloride dihydrate sold as a de-icer. I discuss it here:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#16

Warner is an aquarum brand line:

 

[Ehgemus]

That is to funny I have 4 containers of Prestone Driveway Heat that I got on clearance a year ago for 1.00 each. how do I use that to just to raze my calcium?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Dissolve it in fresh water and add according to this calculator, using the entry for anhydrous CaCl2:

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

 

[Ehgemus]

For calcium Recipe #2 if i use Prestone Driveway Heat, does it mean to use one cup of heat, and one gallon of water? Is that right?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

No, that isn't right.

"Dissolve 500 grams (about 2 Ã"šÃ‚½ cups) of calcium chloride dihydrate (such as Dowflake 77-80% calcium chloride or ESV calcium chloride; see below for substitutes and sources) in enough water to make 1 gallon of total volume. You can dissolve it in about Ã"šÃ‚½ gallon of water, and then pour that into the 1 gallon container and fill it to the top with more freshwater. This solution has about 37,000 ppm calcium."

and then:

"Using these numbers, I suggest that aquarists use 20% less VOLUME of the dehydrated versions in the recipes than the Dowflake they call for. So a recipe calling for 5 cups of Dowflake would use 4 cups of Peladow, Prestone Driveway Heat, Kent Turbo Calcium, etc."


So the 2.5 cups (before baking) becomes 0.8 x 2.5 = 2 cups.

And add enough water to reach 1 gallon when the solids are dissolved, which means adding less than 1 gallon.

 

[Ehgemus]

Thanks, and sorry for being a pain in the you-no-what.

 

[Ehgemus]

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome and no problem.

Happy Reefing.