Pump and Maintenenace Question
- Thread starter PatMayo
- Start date
PatMayo
New member
Update
10-19-06 5:30 am.
Temp 80
Ph 7.86
Alkalinity 3.09 meq/l
calcium still at 470
mag is at 1260
I added a bit of magnesium and still have not started the calcium drip. I also noticed that my limewater drip stopped. (The bucket ran dry, I forgot to check it last night but I am unsure at what time it ran dry.) I reloaded the limewater container and started it.
I did notice a substantial difference in the look of the sump. It's starting to look "cleaner" and without the perennial "stuff" on the sides and bottom of the sump. (Never had it in the main tank.)
I did add some of the #1 formula to the #2 alkalinity formula as suggested. I eyeballed it so I'm not sure of the exact ratio but I think it is close to 3 to 1. I also turned the drip slightly up thus the increase in alkalinity.
So that is where it's at. I will give a further update once I get home form work this evening.
Regards,
Pat
10-19-06 5:30 am.
Temp 80
Ph 7.86
Alkalinity 3.09 meq/l
calcium still at 470
mag is at 1260
I added a bit of magnesium and still have not started the calcium drip. I also noticed that my limewater drip stopped. (The bucket ran dry, I forgot to check it last night but I am unsure at what time it ran dry.) I reloaded the limewater container and started it.
I did notice a substantial difference in the look of the sump. It's starting to look "cleaner" and without the perennial "stuff" on the sides and bottom of the sump. (Never had it in the main tank.)
I did add some of the #1 formula to the #2 alkalinity formula as suggested. I eyeballed it so I'm not sure of the exact ratio but I think it is close to 3 to 1. I also turned the drip slightly up thus the increase in alkalinity.
So that is where it's at. I will give a further update once I get home form work this evening.
Regards,
Pat
PatMayo
New member
Evening update. Interesting readings this time around
10/19/06 8:40 pm
Temp 80
ph 8.04
alkalinity 2.86
calcium 460
magnesium 1300
It's interesting that the calcium is still as high as it is. In the past (when I had all the precipitation in the sump) I had to add a ton of calcium. I have not added any from the 2 part only the limewater and the calcium is still quite high. I actually turned up the alkalinity just a pinch more but I still will not turn on the calcium 2 part drip. I am going to leave that off until the calcium reads even lower. (Maybe I won't have to, I wonder if the limewater will fill the need? If so why dosen't it supply enough alkalinity?)
So what do you think jdieck? Just keep holding the course? It seems as if everything is hunky dory so far.
Regards,
Pat
10/19/06 8:40 pm
Temp 80
ph 8.04
alkalinity 2.86
calcium 460
magnesium 1300
It's interesting that the calcium is still as high as it is. In the past (when I had all the precipitation in the sump) I had to add a ton of calcium. I have not added any from the 2 part only the limewater and the calcium is still quite high. I actually turned up the alkalinity just a pinch more but I still will not turn on the calcium 2 part drip. I am going to leave that off until the calcium reads even lower. (Maybe I won't have to, I wonder if the limewater will fill the need? If so why dosen't it supply enough alkalinity?)
So what do you think jdieck? Just keep holding the course? It seems as if everything is hunky dory so far.
Regards,
Pat
PatMayo
New member
Latest update. Did a 12 gallon water change today. This is normal routine every Friday.
The first test was done at 12 noon today just minutes before the lights come on.
Temp 80
PH 7.93
Alk 3.36
Calk 435
SG 1.026
I didn't do a thing just left it.
I did the 12 gallon water change at about 5 pm tonight.
Tested soon after:
Temp 80
PH 8.02
alk 2.97
calcium 410
SG 1.025
Mag 1230
The only thing I did was add some magnesium. 1/2 what the calculator said to add. I will add the rest in the am. I still have not turned on the 2 part calcium. I think I may wait until the am and see where it is at.
I cleaned out the sump very well when I did the water change. The cheato is growing very well. The sump isn't totally clean but it is about 90% better.
That's all for now. Shall I just keep going jdieck as is???
I think I'll surf the site a bit and see if I can gain or give some more knowledge.
Regards,
Pat
The first test was done at 12 noon today just minutes before the lights come on.
Temp 80
PH 7.93
Alk 3.36
Calk 435
SG 1.026
I didn't do a thing just left it.
I did the 12 gallon water change at about 5 pm tonight.
Tested soon after:
Temp 80
PH 8.02
alk 2.97
calcium 410
SG 1.025
Mag 1230
The only thing I did was add some magnesium. 1/2 what the calculator said to add. I will add the rest in the am. I still have not turned on the 2 part calcium. I think I may wait until the am and see where it is at.
I cleaned out the sump very well when I did the water change. The cheato is growing very well. The sump isn't totally clean but it is about 90% better.
That's all for now. Shall I just keep going jdieck as is???
I think I'll surf the site a bit and see if I can gain or give some more knowledge.
Regards,
Pat
PatMayo
New member
I'm using IO and it's all I ever use.
I usually have to add some alklinity to IO. I forgot to do do this time. I also usually add any magnesium as well, but I forgot to do anything to the water this time. I made it with a little lower SG than normal and the tank came out perfect.
So you think I should crank up the Calcium now? Easy to do I'll just stick the hose in the container.
Regards,
Pat
I usually have to add some alklinity to IO. I forgot to do do this time. I also usually add any magnesium as well, but I forgot to do anything to the water this time. I made it with a little lower SG than normal and the tank came out perfect.
So you think I should crank up the Calcium now? Easy to do I'll just stick the hose in the container.
Regards,
Pat
PatMayo
New member
I'm using a dosing pump which works 24/7. I just raise it up slightly and it seems to get it up pretty quickly. The next time I will not forget to balance my new salt water with the tank so that the alk/calk will match the tank. It will save some headache.
I started the calcium. I am going to test the alkalinity once more tonight before I hit the hay.
Thanks for all the help.
I'll keep you informed of the progress.
Regards,
Pat
I started the calcium. I am going to test the alkalinity once more tonight before I hit the hay.
Thanks for all the help.
I'll keep you informed of the progress.
Regards,
Pat
PatMayo
New member
jdieck or Randy. Another question regarding the apparent imbalance of calcium and alkalinity. I was reading Randy's article again, the one entitled "When Do Calcium and Alkalinity Demand Not Exactly Balance", and in this article Randy states that imbalances typically only occur because of water changes and top-offs and during some other chemical additions.
My question is this. Since limewater is a balanced additive and I am dosing Randys 2 part which is a balanced additive as well, if the alkalinity is where I want it to be for instance 3.2 meq/l and the calcium is going up is that really high calcium or a chemical mirage? And if a mirage how can I be sure and how can I determine when a true imbalance is developing and I should cease the calcium until it lowers to a reasonable level?
From my reading I understand that the test kits are not too accurate for calcium even the Salifert kit which is what I use.
As well, if alkalinity keeps dropping typically you need to add both of the balanced additives not just the alkalinity component.
Any help here guys?
Thanks,
Pat
This is perplexing to me.
My question is this. Since limewater is a balanced additive and I am dosing Randys 2 part which is a balanced additive as well, if the alkalinity is where I want it to be for instance 3.2 meq/l and the calcium is going up is that really high calcium or a chemical mirage? And if a mirage how can I be sure and how can I determine when a true imbalance is developing and I should cease the calcium until it lowers to a reasonable level?
From my reading I understand that the test kits are not too accurate for calcium even the Salifert kit which is what I use.
As well, if alkalinity keeps dropping typically you need to add both of the balanced additives not just the alkalinity component.
Any help here guys?
Thanks,
Pat
This is perplexing to me.
jdieck
New member
Because on a balanced addition (or consumption) there is an increment of 1 meq/lt of alkalinity per every 20 ppm of Calcium it is easy to get the impression that Calcium almost does not drop when Alkalinity drops a lot and viceversa, that Calcium does not increase when Alkalinity increases a lot.
In any case there are some processes that consume Alkalinity only, mostly those associated with nitrification. So there is a chance that under certain circumstances you need to add only Alkalinity.
For those cases where the testing shows low alkalinity but right Calcium I would recommend adding only the Alkalinity part.
Another situation is that a Kalk mix really does not increase Alkalinity but rather prevents it from dropping while at the same time adds Calcium equivalent to the amount of Alkalinity prevented to drop. Besides the large PH increase, this is another reason Kalk mix is not an efective method to increase your levels.
In any case there are some processes that consume Alkalinity only, mostly those associated with nitrification. So there is a chance that under certain circumstances you need to add only Alkalinity.
For those cases where the testing shows low alkalinity but right Calcium I would recommend adding only the Alkalinity part.
Another situation is that a Kalk mix really does not increase Alkalinity but rather prevents it from dropping while at the same time adds Calcium equivalent to the amount of Alkalinity prevented to drop. Besides the large PH increase, this is another reason Kalk mix is not an efective method to increase your levels.
outy
New member
I should cease the calcium until it lowers to a reasonable level? yes
even though its a balanced you still need to adjust levels as they are needed. these needs will change and so should your amounts of each.
I add daily bottles with a givin amount i know my tank uses for that givin week. 6tsp baking soda and 8tsp dowflakes pre mixed in 2 different bottles. i mix a weeks worth of bottles at a time so im ready to go.
if my testing falls low or high in one or the other [ alk or ca ] in my weekly to biweekly testing i can adjust next weeks mix to suit the tanks needs.
theres no reason that they cannot be added by themselves to correct a problem
even though its a balanced you still need to adjust levels as they are needed. these needs will change and so should your amounts of each.
I add daily bottles with a givin amount i know my tank uses for that givin week. 6tsp baking soda and 8tsp dowflakes pre mixed in 2 different bottles. i mix a weeks worth of bottles at a time so im ready to go.
if my testing falls low or high in one or the other [ alk or ca ] in my weekly to biweekly testing i can adjust next weeks mix to suit the tanks needs.
theres no reason that they cannot be added by themselves to correct a problem
PatMayo
New member
The tests today yielded these results,
10/22/06
temp 79
ph 7.95
alk 3.12
calk 480
mag 1290
Based on those results the calcium is most likely actually high and not just affected by a mirage or "testing noise'. I understand that the calcium tests can be off as much as 50 "points", but based on the results would you still cease the calcium additions or would you continue? My best guess is that I would cease the calcium until they returned to 420 or so. Is this assumption correct?
Regards,
Pat
10/22/06
temp 79
ph 7.95
alk 3.12
calk 480
mag 1290
Based on those results the calcium is most likely actually high and not just affected by a mirage or "testing noise'. I understand that the calcium tests can be off as much as 50 "points", but based on the results would you still cease the calcium additions or would you continue? My best guess is that I would cease the calcium until they returned to 420 or so. Is this assumption correct?
Regards,
Pat
PatMayo
New member
Still clearing up. I do not see any new precip at all. It's the cleanest it has been since several months after the tank was up. Ok then I will remove the hose and wait for it to drop.
Thanks again jdieck.
I gotta get going to the office. Have a great week I'll check back later.
Regards,
Pat
Thanks again jdieck.
I gotta get going to the office. Have a great week I'll check back later.
Regards,
Pat
