Help with Alk and Calcium

[PirateLove]

Hi RC. I am trying to get my tank right for corals. My magnesium is 1400. My alk is 6.5 and my Calcium is 320. I want to raise my alk to 9 and my calcium to 420. How should I do this? I do have some Kalk. Should I use this? How do I raise these two?

Thanks!!

 

[jason2459]

You'd want to adjust your calcium and alk before getting into kalk. Bulkreefsupply has a calculator you can use to adjust those two. What is your salinity level at, what are you using to measure your salinity level, when was it last calibrated, and how was it calibrated?

 

[PirateLove]

Salinity is 1.025 and I am using the BRS refractometer to measure. Brand new and calibrated with the solution.

So do I need to order a two part to raise ca and kh? I thought maybe if I mixed a small amount of kalk it would raise it to where I want it.

 

[jason2459]

Salinity is 1.025 and I am using the BRS refractometer to measure. Brand new and calibrated with the solution.

So do I need to order a two part to raise ca and kh? I thought maybe if I mixed a small amount of kalk it would raise it to where I want it.

Your calcium is rather low to be at 1.025. Do you currently have a lot of corals or coralline? How long has the tank been setup?

I would check the salinity of a new mix of salt to get to 1.025. Then check the calcium and alk of that new salt mix. Most all salt mixes that I know of if you're at 1.025-1.0264 your calcium will be more around 400 or greater and alk above 7. If it's not I would suspect either bad test kits or bad refractometer calibration.

 

[PirateLove]

My calcium is low because I started off with just Instant ocean while it cycled. Then I did a 50 percent water change with my normal Reef Crystals. I do not have any corals or coralline and it has been set up for a month.

Everything was low because of the regular instant ocean and after I did a water change I also added magnesium to raise it to 1400.

 

[jason2459]

FYI even regular IO mixes over 400 for me at 1.0264 and Alk over 9.

 

[PirateLove]

FYI even regular IO mixes over 400 for me at 1.0264 and Alk over 9.

Ok well I appreciate it.

Anyone else know have any tip/recommendations/opinions?

 

[jason2459]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-bulk-kalkwasser-starter-package.html

But I highly recommend making sure you're getting the right readings first. Bringing your water, test kits, and refractometer to a good LFS can help. Many good ones will do a test for free, help make sure your refractometer is calibrated, and help make sure you're performing the tests correctly.

Though if they are using a swing arm hydrometer to test salinity I would check out another LFS for help.

 

[ZeeSparrow]

Jason's got you headed in the right direction. I had a recent issue with high parameters from my salt, took in my refractometer, solution and a sample of water to the LFS. They double checked everything for me - that way I was able to confirm exactly where the problem lie. It could be the salt mix, test kit, test method, refractometer, solution.... in my case, it was the salt mix. Unless you verify each, they're all possibilities.

 

[thegrun]

Kalk will not raise either the calcium or alkalinity significantly, it is used to maintain the calcium and alkalinity once the desired level is achieved usually by adding two part. If you add a lot of kalk all you will do is raise your pH.

 

[Rocco8]

Graph Calcium versus Alkalinity

Graph Calcium versus Alkalinity

When in doubt Graph, Graph, Graph.

Use this method http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

I have used the graph method to determine where I am with respect to Calcium on the X-axis and alkalinty on the y axis for the last 5 years.

Once you determine if you are in region 1, 2, 3, 4 or in the sweet spot, the red square, make the appropriate fix as shown on the web page.

Magnesium over 1200 helps stabilize the see-saw effect from the Calcium - Alkalinity relationship.

I mostly find myself in region 2. I use the balanced two-part calcium and alkalinity supplement from B-ionic to get back into the red zone.

Most test kits measure alkalinity in DkH so you must convert to meq/ liter.

See http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/99245Alk_Chart.jpg

It's really that simple. When I discovered this method about 5 years it made my maintenance much simpler.

I hope this helps.

 

[Coelli]

Kalk will not raise either the calcium or alkalinity significantly, it is used to maintain the calcium and alkalinity once the desired level is achieved usually by adding two part. If you add a lot of kalk all you will do is raise your pH.

I know everyone says this, but I have found that kalk does raise my alkalinity. My alk (and pH) dropped significantly (to mid-7s) when I hadn't added any kalk to my ATO reservoir in a while. There was so much precipitate I didn't think I needed to. Emptied and cleaned the reservoir, added new kalk, and within a couple of days alk was back up to the 9s where it usually is.

 

[jason2459]

Yes, limewater can raise alk and calcium in a balanced approach but is not the best method to use as a corrective supplement as it will be a balance between the calcium and Alk keeping the imbalance in place and on top of that would spike pH to much to get to the levels required. Kalk is much better used for maintaining or slight increases where calcium and Alk are already at or around where you want them and balanced.

 

[kurt_n]

Just another vote to get a 2nd opinion on those numbers. Just curious... what was your magnesium level before you added magnesium? If it was down in the 900ppm range, I'd suspect your salinity reading is off and you're mixing your saltwater too weak. I've found mag levels to be about 3x the cal levels in IO and RC.

Have you tested the calcium levels in your new Reef Crystals before you add it to the tank? At 1.025ish, it *should* be at the levels you're wanting to be at, so I'd just do several large water changes. That will be the easiest thing to do.

Also, have you calibrated your refractometer with calibration solution, and not RODI water? Depending on your refractometer, calibrating with RODI water may mess you up.

2-part solution is best used to maintain your cal/alk levels where you want them, AFTER you get them where they need to be. When I need to boost my calcium levels a bit, I've just used Kent Turbo Calcium - but any calcium chloride mixture will work. Just don't bump it up more than 20ppm or so a day. I've never needed to adjust magnesium or alk.

But again... I suspect you're not really where you think you're at.