Calcium high, Alk High, Nitrates High. help

[chiefrokka]

I've had this tank for about 2 months that i got from someone who had it for 3 years. I kept all his water. 75g tank. this past weekend I put 200 lbs. of LR in with tons of xenia, zooanthids, shrooms, etc that came with rock. rock was from another reefer who had it for 2 years... all cured of course with corals on it very healthy lookin rock.

I have 7 fish... 4 clowns, 1 flame angel, 1 foxface lo, 1 blenny
The fish are never bothered by the chemicals, but I've never been able to get stable params.

I use Red Sea Marine Test Kit

nitrates - this I'm little confused at... they hav a column on left side for Low, and colum on right side with High. The right side is what I believe I should be using??... mine is always bright red and usually 50 the most the kit goes up to. I've read something about dividing by 4.4?? no clue.

nitrites - 0 ... those are usually good. last test was .02 few days ago
amonia - 0... usually 0 with last test of .25
phophates - Always had 2.0 + ... last test it's down to .2
Alk - always HIGH on kit. 2.9-3.6 is highest the card goes of milli equivalents per liter
PH - steady 8.2
Calcium - 500-520. just started testing for first time this weekend when i got LR and corals. never added calcium ever to tank.



My fish are always fine which is good thing... but why can't I get my nitrates ever to go down.... or am I reading it wrong?
And why can't I get my phosphates, calcium, alk down? or are those fine where they are?


I use RO from LFS to top off and do all water changes. I do 5g water change ever 1.5 weeks at least. I just did 15g change yesterday.

My xenia's look like they are dying so I'm not sure what to do... a bucnh look fine, but others are laying down like their dead with skin peeling off from them it looks like.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I've not used the Red Sea nitrate kit, so I can't comment on its directions. Anyone else?

For alkalinity I recommend 2.5-4 meq/L, so 2+ is not an adequate test.

Calcium is not bad. Don't add any more unless it drops below 450 ppm.

This article may be useful:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

and


Phosphorus: Algaeââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s Best Friend
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/chem.htm

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm

Iron Oxide Hydroxide (GFO) Phosphate Binders
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.htm

 

[chiefrokka]

thanks randy... it seems like if I grew some macroalgae it would lower the phosphates and nitrates... too bad I don't have a big enough sump to grow some. I've been feeding fish twice a day, so I'll drop it down to once every other day for like a week and see if the levels drop a little. flakes/pellets in morning and frozen cube/pellets at night is what I am currently feeding.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, the macroalgae is my preferred method, along with skimming.