New Tank Up and Running! Now What?

RussC

RussC

Active member
Im new to this. So your help is appreciated.

I have the RedSea XL 425, 88 gallon display with 24 gallon sump. 80 pounds of substrate, skimmer, return pump and heater. I'm guessing 90-100 gallons of volume.

Current parameters show Mag 1600 plus, ALK 12.04, CA 460, PH 7.73, Temp holding around 77, heater not even on.

Calcium down from 480 since yesterday. Guessing the substrate is soaking that up. ALK was 10.36 yesterday so I made a 3 oz add of BRS two part soda ash and it bumped it up over my goal of 11.5 to 12.04. I likely just overestimated my water volume on that.

I'm using the RedSea Foundation Pro Multi Test Kit. Touchy kit. A bit tricky to read. So, I'm still learning. Its possible my numbers are off slightly at this point just because I'm still getting used to that kit.

I guess my first question is: How do I increase my PH and reduce my ALK?

My goal its to stabilize the aquarium, run it for 4 days and see how it depletes so I can then start my daily dosing scheme with the BRS Dosing pumps.

Second Question: Am I on the right track?
 
If this is a new system and you are concerned with PH and dosing at this point and want to maintain alk levels that high then IMO... NO you are not on the right track at all..

A new system should not need dosing at all.. and I would never recommend attempting to keep alk that high.. 7-11dKH is the recommended range and I believe the ocean is 7dKH on average.. and most will recommend not chasing a perfect PH number either..
You are likely to go overboard with your current train of thought IMO.. too much... slow down..
 
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This is exactly why I enjoy talking to folks on this forum. I based my all number off the recommended water parameters provided by the mixed reef recipe by Ref Sea. I used Red Sea coral pro salt.

They recommend 34 ppt salt, 450 CA, 1350 Mg, All 11.5. Bit they say nothing about PH.

Based on your comments I was right on with Alk in my original test.

So what would you recommend is a good next move? Is a water change in order to reduce Alk?
 
Your salt "should" mix up to about 12dKH I believe.. So a water change will not lower your alk..
I'd guess your mag reading is incorrect too.. or your dosing jacked it up..or something like that..

Do you even have corals or are you just out of the initial cycle stage?
I think we need to get dosing out of your head for now..
 
The substrate can't adsorb calcium alone. It'd have to take alkalinity with it. How much did the calcium level change? There are significant noise limits in our test kits.

I agree that measuring the pH of a very new tank is unlikely to be interesting. The pH level of a running tank (without a lot of decay occurring) is set by the alkalinity and carbon dioxide levels in the water. The alkalinity you mention already is more than high enough, so any pH issue would be due to carbon dioxide or any decay that's happening.

This article covers all the water parameters:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

It's a very useful introduction.

Is there any measurable level of ammonia in the water?
 
I'm not new to the hobby. I know enough to be dangerous! New to this level of the hobb, though. . Lost my tank in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hobby has changed so much since then so I'm approached my this as a newbie.

This tank has nothing in it. Literally no life. Havenot even put live rock in yet. Figured I'd get a good environment set before introducing live rock. But by the way you guys talk, it sounds like once I got the proper Salinity I'm good to go and should introduce live rock?
 
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