Cant get Alk and Calc to balance out

[fio1022]

Ok ,I need some guidance.
I posted an issue I was having with low calcium(short read).
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2133202
Since then I decided to re-introduce limewater into my top off.
I tested my calcium and its at 430(up from 390),however my alk has shot up to 12.2(up from 9.2).
I have slowed the drip rate to a mere 1 drop every 3 sec on the calcium reactor and now i,m thinking of taking it off line completely.
Should I wait and see what happens or take action again?
All I want is stability without having to keep adjusting and changing things.

 

[ivans75]

If you have an issue with Ca, then you should not use limewater to bring it up. Limewater or kalkwasser will increase KH and pH
Use calcium chloride instead

For stability start dosing Randy holmes 3 part recipe every 2 days and check water parameter every week, and adjust the dosing accordingly. There is no fast track in this hobby. Remember that. Its all by trial and error, every tank is different.

 

[ivans75]

Btw, kh of 12 is way too much. You should aim for 7-9. U can bring it down by weekly water change for 20 percent.

 

[ek9vboi]

Yup, I would suggest two part or the 3 part if your mag is low.

 

[Sk8r]

Definitely test your mg---but also crosscheck your alk kit to be sure it's not expired or otherwise bad. If that test goes bad you can end up overdosing and having a heckuva mess of deposit in your pipes: it's a real pita when that happens.
My params in my sig are very reliably stable---I don't have to tinker with it but every few months, and the thing I most track is mg, because the others stay ok when it's ok.

 

[Sk8r]

Definitely test your mg---but also crosscheck your alk kit to be sure it's not expired or otherwise bad. If that test goes bad you can end up overdosing and having a heckuva mess of deposit in your pipes: it's a real pita when that happens.
My params in my sig are very reliably stable---I don't have to tinker with it but every few months, and the thing I most track is mg, because the others stay ok when it's ok.

 

[returnofsid]

Magnesium plays a part if allowing Calcium levels to be elevated. I'd definitely be testing your Mg to see if you need to be dosing Mg.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

back to the original question, ivans75 is spot on. The ONLY way you should boost calcium that is substantially low is with a pure calcium additive, such as calcium chloride. There is no need to invoke any other issues.

The limewater and a CaCO3/CO2 reactor will necessarily raise alkalinity by 1.4 dKH for every 10 ppm boos to calcium, so obviously a 30 ppm boost pushes alk too high.

If you use a two part for this, don't add the alk part when determining what to add for the calcium boost.

 

[fio1022]

My first tank behaved so differently.
limewater for top off,no other supplementation.I added a CA reactor later when tank was thriving.
Ever since I decided to make things better(so i thought), I've had nothing but headaches.