question for the reef professionals

[ray22]

I am currently dosing my tank with a calk reactor with readings around 490. should i be dosing anything else to help out my sps.. thank you !

 

[RichConley]

I'm no pro, but you should be looking at Magnesium and Alkalinity too.

 

[turtlespd]

490 is excessive, i would shut off the reactor and let your readings drop alittle. 480ppm ca is common but i had problems with percipitaion so i now keep my ca at 400-420. You should also check for alk and mg

 

[ray22]

what will happen if my ca is to high?

 

[VCoo71]

high Ca will clog up your pumps faster.....
IMO keeping the Alk in check(steady) is far more important then the Ca

charlie

 

[ray22]

what should i do to keep the alk in line ? please explain . i am fairly new to this .. thank you

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[kevensquint]

I don't want to sound like the bad guy, but I find it strange that you are keeping SPS without understanding the principals of maintaining your parameters first.- Alk???

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

Are you using a Calcium reactor, or a kalkwasser reactor?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Most likely a Kalk RX.. Jermery posted a GREAT link.. Ray please read it, print it and keep it!!
I have known of many that didn't understand Thats why we have RC, Great place to ask!!

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

I would think using a kalk reactor, he would have no trouble maintaining alk.

 

[ray22]

I have a kalkwasser reactor. I do have a basic idea of what the water parameters need to be, but this is my first sps tank and I figured the best way to learn is to jump right in and of course find a place I can ask questions and learn from others.

 

[Horace]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7721845#post7721845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ray22
I have a kalkwasser reactor. I do have a basic idea of what the water parameters need to be, but this is my first sps tank and I figured the best way to learn is to jump right in and of course find a place I can ask questions and learn from others.

HEHE this could be a very expensive lesson for you to learn . SPS are not a very forgiving species of coral to learn on. However, it doesnt take much to learn the ropes...after that it is just diligence in keeping your parameters in line.

I do agree with the above....490 Ca is much too high. There is no reason to run it any higher than about 420. While high Ca dont seem to have any harsh effects on the coral, it does cause problems with pumps etc. HOWEVER, if your dosing kalk and your Ca is out of line, that probably means that your Kh is way out of line as well as well as your PH (likely its high). Alk if high, DOES have a negative effect on SPS. You should do your best to dial the tank into the following levels:

Alk (kh): 7.0 - 8.0 dkh
Ca: 380 - 420ppm

If your running a higher nutrient tank (no ozone, bb, or zeovit or other nutrient reducing system) then you can get away with slightly higher levels of Alk (8.0 - 10dkh).

HTH

 

[ray22]

Thank you very much for your help... expensive... lol... i think i am going to cash in some bonds and borrower from my 401K just to be able to afford the equiptment not to mention the cost of the coral.. (I wouldn’t trade it for anything)((THE BEST HOBBY IN THE WORLD)) it is like smoking crack .. once you start you cant stop. ... lol

 

[ray22]

i bought myself a good ca test kit (salfert) is the name of the kit along with an alk test kit. and after i did a 25% water change i waited a couple of hours and tested and my ca was right at 420 and the alk was at 4 .. so it appears i am ok with the readings and i now know the correct levels to keep them at ..thanks