Oh crap.

plyr58

plyr58

New member
So I did a 25 gallon water change last night with a box of Reef Crystals and stupid me, I didn't test the parameters before starting the change. Today I break out the test kits and this is what I find. The Mg test kit is from Red Sea. temp from Pinpoint. Salinity w/ a calibrated refractometer. Everything else is APT.

Temp: 79.5
pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Calcium: 580!?!?!? :confused:
Alkalinity: 7 dKh
Magnesium: 1200
Phosphate: 0 ( I know it's not really 0 but I have to wait for the Hanna Photometer until after the holidays.)

How did the calcium go through the roof? Unfortunately I don't have any of that particular salt bag left to test. Is a level this high harmful? Nothing seems to be irritated and no precipitation has occurred. If I only supplement by B-Ionic Alkalinity Buffer for a while will it go back down? Do I need to do a massive water change? Arg!
:uzi:
 
Oh yeah, the API calcium test kit is the only one I have. I retested 3 times, but I don't have another test available ATM.
 
I would not be concerned about the calcium level. If you are seeing no cloudiness, It is of no concern.

I also would not trust the Red Sea Magnesium kit. It is not very accurate from my testing.

At this point, the only thing I would keep any eye on is alkalinity. 7 dkh is getting to the low end of acceptable.

A little Arm & hammer baking soda dissolved in fresh water will help you there. :)

The Reef Chemicals calculator will guide you to the proper dosing amounts. :)
 
Re: the Alkalinity.
I have B-Ionic and Superbuffer handy. It is cheaper to dose the Superbuffer (based on price) but I don't see it listed on the Calculator. Is that b/c it will raise the pH too much as well? Any guidance?

What Mg test kit have you found to be more accurate?

Also, does anyone use the Pinpoint Calcium or Nitrate Monitors? If so, do you like them? Are they significantly more accurate than the test kits? Worth the money?

I am going to be setting up a 210 (already have the tank) in July or so of next year and will probably be buying a ReefKeeper Elite at that time. Does it support Nitrate and Calcium monitoring? I don't want to buy the Pinpoint monitors if they will be redundant in 6 or 8 months.
 
You mention using Superbuffer based on price--- I'm with Billybeau---- you don't get any cheaper than baking soda. That's one of the handful of items in a reef tank that we can get dirt cheap and it be just as useful (in my somewhat experienced and somewhat educated opinion). A couple of bucks of baking soda is a fraction of the cost of superbuffer and gets the job done just fine. Just ask my sps ;)


As a side note, if your API calcium kit is kinda old, it may be losing accuracy. I had an older API calcium kit a couple of years ago that would tell me my calcium was over like 700, when the LFS tested it at ~400. Was an old kit. doh!
 
I get ya on the baking soda. I just don't have any on hand but I do have Superbuffer and B-Ionic. Plus I'm too lazy to drrive to the supermarket at 9:45. Any thoughts on the Supperbuffer's effect on pH versus the B-Ionic?
 
A little Arm & hammer baking soda dissolved in fresh water will help you there.


Can you elaborate on this Billybeau? Why fresh water? won't this bring the PH down?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13965823#post13965823 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plyr58
I get ya on the baking soda. I just don't have any on hand but I do have Superbuffer and B-Ionic. Plus I'm too lazy to drrive to the supermarket at 9:45. Any thoughts on the Supperbuffer's effect on pH versus the B-Ionic?
Click to expand...

I don't remember off hand what is in the Superbuffer, but, I doubt short term use will be a problem to raise alkalinity. I wouldn't hesitate to use either. :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13965979#post13965979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aka_Willy
A little Arm & hammer baking soda dissolved in fresh water will help you there.


Can you elaborate on this Billybeau? Why fresh water? won't this bring the PH down?
Click to expand...

Possibly slightly downward for a very short period of time. By the time you add it to the tank, it is hardly noticeable. Unless it is baked first. Then slightly upward for a short period of time.

Mixing it in fresh water insures no precipitation and that it all goes into solution. :)
 
Entering baking soda for the calculator will be pretty close to the Superbuffer effect. It is mostly baking soda, plus a little washing soda and some borate.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13966136#post13966136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Mixing it in fresh water insures no precipitation and that it all goes into solution. :)
Click to expand...


Make sure you add the baking soda to the water, not the other way around or you'll be mixing for a VERY long time. :)
 
Well, I ended up going out to get baking soda last night after all. Added the recommended dose over about 4 hours to bring the dKh up to 10. Tested this morning. Spot on. Thanks all for the help!
 
Oh, and does anyone have some guidance on a Mg test kit that is more accurate than the Red Sea kit? Thanks.
 
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