Revised Salifert Testing. Q: about KH/Alk

[mmotown]

Guys I needed to get some advice on my water parameters so I am posting here in this forum for the first time. I have had my tank running for about a year now. I mainly have SPS in my tank and I few lps. I have been using Salifert test kits. The CA and the KH/ALk and Mg kits have syringes that come with an attachment (cone shaped) that go on the end of the syringe. Well for about a year I have using only the syringe without the attachment. I realized today that I needed to use it because the attachement allows smaller drops to come out. Well here are my results:

SG: 1.025
Mg: 1200ppm
Amonia 0
Calcium 460-470
Ph: 8.1
KH/ALk 13.8/ 4.91
No3: 0
Nitrite: 0

On the test kit for KH/Alk it says natural sea water is 8/2.9. I see I am a bit high.

My mag should be 1300-1500ppm. I have mag supplement so I can bring that up.

My question is how do I bring my KH/Alk down? I do have a CA reactor.

 

[acropora nut]

MMOTOWN give me a call and we can go over it. Mike

 

[shelburn61]

turn off the reactor and dose calcium alone until it drops.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Ditto-shelburn61.. (Not being a mean person, it really helps) After turning off you Cal.rx for a day (2?), spend some time on the chemistry forum.. Randy has some very helpful stuff there..

 

[mmotown]

I ahve been told two different things but the majority say I should shut down my reactor. Do I turn everything off meaning Co2 or do I just unplug the reactor? Also does any one know the link to water parameters that I once had? I obtained it from RC. Also I thought my Ca was within its limits?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Turn off C02.. leave flow thru it alone. Cal. Rx's are really miss-named IMHO. They are ALK rx's.. Cal is just a added benifit.