grrr alk still low!
- Thread starter A.T.T.R
- Start date
BangkokMatt
New member
You need to build gradually. Try using seachem reef builder over the course of a week. Also add kent turbo calcium (but not at the same time). To get your levels to the correct amount use the reef chem calculator to guide you. Here is the link
http://reef.diesyst.com/
http://reef.diesyst.com/
Re: grrr alk still low!
Am understanding this correctly? You mixed up salt using kalk (calcium hydroxide) saturated RO/DI water? You must have had massive precipitation :eek2: I'm not quite sure how to go from there....let me get someone else to look at this....
Besides that though, generally not being able to raise alk/ca is a sign of low magnesium. What is you magnesium level?
Am understanding this correctly? You mixed up salt using kalk (calcium hydroxide) saturated RO/DI water? You must have had massive precipitation :eek2: I'm not quite sure how to go from there....let me get someone else to look at this....
Besides that though, generally not being able to raise alk/ca is a sign of low magnesium. What is you magnesium level?
Dingo Dog
Premium Member
There's no 'tank description' in your profile so it's hard to analyze. I have a 46 gal w/HOB skimmer.
I was also fighting a low cal/alk level. I finally bought a Sentry dual dosing pump and setup regular dosing. I took a bit of tweaking but now I do a weekly check and make any minor adjustments if needed. Dose pumps aren't cheap but then neither is my time.
I hope this is helpful to you as I'm not sure there is a quick fix in your future for this particular tank.
I was also fighting a low cal/alk level. I finally bought a Sentry dual dosing pump and setup regular dosing. I took a bit of tweaking but now I do a weekly check and make any minor adjustments if needed. Dose pumps aren't cheap but then neither is my time.
I hope this is helpful to you as I'm not sure there is a quick fix in your future for this particular tank.
If you mixed or ran RO/DI water through a kalk reactor and then made seawater out if it, it is now useless. You need to can it all and start over. You have completely off-set the ionic balance of the salt mix. Adding more two-part just made it worse. FWIW it is no longer a sea salt mix and has a set of chemical rules of is own. Meaning, you will not be able to get levels where you want them.
A.T.T.R
Active member
it was filled the right way the first time
the tank is a 140 prop tank that always gives me trouble
this time i mixed it so the alk and ca would be right
the CA of the water before using the salt was 150 ish ( i ran it trhou a kalk reactor with stirer off)
and since i was using IO salt that ususaly has a low CA level so it should of evened out... iv done this for many tanks before ( including the other identical prop tank)
the tank is a 140 prop tank that always gives me trouble
this time i mixed it so the alk and ca would be right
the CA of the water before using the salt was 150 ish ( i ran it trhou a kalk reactor with stirer off)
and since i was using IO salt that ususaly has a low CA level so it should of evened out... iv done this for many tanks before ( including the other identical prop tank)
the CA of the water before using the salt was 150 ish ( i ran it trhou a kalk reactor with stirer off)
Then you have a testing error of some kind , as there is no such thing and fresh IO having a Ca++ that low.
You should never run RO/DI through a kalk reactor and then mix salt mix in it ......period. It will jack up the pH and Alk to high and can cause massive prciep.
Then you have a testing error of some kind , as there is no such thing and fresh IO having a Ca++ that low.
You should never run RO/DI through a kalk reactor and then mix salt mix in it ......period. It will jack up the pH and Alk to high and can cause massive prciep.
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A.T.T.R
Active member
wierd thing happend.... salility was a lil high so i siphoned some water out and added fresh.. some of the precipitate disapeared off the bottom and my mag is at AT LEAST 1500 ( took 1 ml and then a lil extra to change the test color) i know the test is right .. it is new and was compared to other test and other tanks
alk is still low and ca is 400-420
im sure i can get this back in balance with a lil time and work.. if not by monday im calling one of the many local water guys ( 400 gallons of water for 80 bucks from one guy and 300 for 90 from another.)
alk is still low and ca is 400-420
im sure i can get this back in balance with a lil time and work.. if not by monday im calling one of the many local water guys ( 400 gallons of water for 80 bucks from one guy and 300 for 90 from another.)
