I think I have a high KH level

[TBall]

My KH level is between 13 and 14. My calcium is around 510 and my Mag is about 1270. I was wondering if the KH level was too high. I have mostly LPS with a Rainbow and Sunset Monti. Any thoughts?

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

13 to 14 is on the high side but nothing to be too concerned about.
If you are topping off with kalkwasser halt that and just top off with RO/DI until it comes down.

 

[TBall]

13 to 14 is on the high side but nothing to be too concerned about.
If you are topping off with kalkwasser halt that and just top off with RO/DI until it comes down.

I do top off with RODI. I dose with ESB Bionic 2 part. I guess I could lower the dosage amount to 20ml each. I have a 125 gallon.

 

[Sk8r]

With that mag level the alk should start to drop soon, so don't fret.

I carry pgp (pretty good parameters) in my sig, for convenience.

I recommend a logbook, and frequent tests until you learn how your particular tank responds. Dosing INTO a trend is better than getting into a deficiency or excess and then trying to correct. Just a lot easier to manage with that little book: keep it your first year and after that you'll have a much better idea what's going on.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Do you dose daily?
I would stop dosing both until your dKH is around 10 then start dosing again at a reduced rate until you determine what dosage is needed to keep it constant.
Your calcium is just a tad high as well, but again nothing to be too concerned about.

 

[TBall]

With that mag level the alk should start to drop soon, so don't fret.

I carry pgp (pretty good parameters) in my sig, for convenience.

I recommend a logbook, and frequent tests until you learn how your particular tank responds. Dosing INTO a trend is better than getting into a deficiency or excess and then trying to correct. Just a lot easier to manage with that little book: keep it your first year and after that you'll have a much better idea what's going on.

That sounds like a great idea. Thanks a lot!

 

[TBall]

Do you dose daily?
I would stop dosing both until your dKH is around 10 then start dosing again at a reduced rate until you determine what dosage is needed to keep it constant.
Your calcium is just a tad high as well, but again nothing to be too concerned about.

I dose it every night. So I will give it a break for the next 3 days and measure my levels. Thanks!

 

[scubasteve06]

Sounds like you are dosing a little too much of both. As Uncle Salty said wait a few days of not dosing and test again see where your levels are at. Try and get your alk around 8-10 and the calcium 400-450. As Sk8r's sig says if your mag is low Alk and Calcium will not rise. I've found if the mag levels aren't in between 1280-1300 then it will take more 2 part or Kalk to raise your alk to the desired levels. Even though your Alk is high right now along with your calcium as sk8r said it may start dropping. The reason it probably hasn't dropped yet is because you are still dosing 2 part. I don't dose anything but Iodine daily and I have gone from bi-monthly water changes of 20% to weekly water changes of 15% to keep me from having to dose trace elements and calcium.

 

[TBall]

Sounds like you are dosing a little too much of both. As Uncle Salty said wait a few days of not dosing and test again see where your levels are at. Try and get your alk around 8-10 and the calcium 400-450. As Sk8r's sig says if your mag is low Alk and Calcium will not rise. I've found if the mag levels aren't in between 1280-1300 then it will take more 2 part or Kalk to raise your alk to the desired levels. Even though your Alk is high right now along with your calcium as sk8r said it may start dropping. The reason it probably hasn't dropped yet is because you are still dosing 2 part. I don't dose anything but Iodine daily and I have gone from bi-monthly water changes of 20% to weekly water changes of 15% to keep me from having to dose trace elements and calcium.

Ok makes sense. Thanks for your input.