Help w/Readings and Kalk Water

[SMARTbomb]

Hi All,
Want to start adding Kalk.
75 gal reef tank

Here are my current readings:
PH 8.1
Ammonia: 0
Calcium: 390
Alkalinity: 5.0
Nitrate: 15ppm
Phosphate: 0.6
Nitrite: less than .22

I need to lower my Nitrates (just added a small HO fuge w/some macro-algae, LR, LS--any other suggestions?)

Want to lower my Phosphates---am running Phos Remover in my Fluval.

Want to boost my Calcium (am adding 2 capfuls of Kent Liquid Calcium per day)

Also want to boost PH--

Have an aquadose coming tomorrow w/Kalk-Water---how much should I add???

Do 5 gal water changes per week.

 

[SMARTbomb]

Also--what is best way to boost alkalinity---will Kalk do it?

 

[nazzy_19]

5.0 for alk? What unit are you talking about? Sometimes low magnesium level would lead to low calcium level no matter how much Ca you put in. I wouldn't worry about your nitrate too much right now, but your nitrite looks higher than normal. I use kent buffer. Kent superbuffer would buff up both alk and pH; coral builder would buff up only alk and Turbo Cal would buff Ca level. I use coral builder myself to buff up my alk since my pH always stays around the 8.1-8.2 range. As for phosphate, how long do you run the media for?? I am not too familiar with your media, but many phosphate remover products in the market would release phosphate back into your system if you keep the media in your filter for too long.

 

[SMARTbomb]

I leave phosremover in for about a week.

 

[SMARTbomb]

Phos remover is Phos-Guard--I clean out bag once a week and put in more.

U of Measure for Alk is meq/L so it is 5.0--would be 250ppm

Should I add Mag every day w/Calcium--Should I start w/Calc Water?

Why does Nitrite level look high? It's lowest reading on my test.