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View Full Version : Calcium, Alk, Mg & pH Dosing Chat Thread 10/22


ReeferRob
10-21-2009, 11:06 PM
Okay guys so all the talk about Alk and Calcium. Hows this, I never have to touch my Alk always at 8 doesn't drop or raise even with water change. Calcium falls each day about 30-40 points? What gives?
speedstar
10-21-2009, 11:11 PM
Where is your PH? Have you ever used a buffer? What type sand bed? SPS uptake is balanced so you should lose each equally.

What test kit are you using?
Sir Patrick
10-21-2009, 11:13 PM
I had the same problem, so I bumped my alk up to 9 from 8 and dosed that way, and every day it would drop back to 8. I got frustrated and stopped dosing after a while. Just stepped up my water changes in an attempt to keep my levels where they should be.

Now that I think back, I think my mag was low, and it made it hard for me to balance the alk/calc. I didnt have a mag tester while dosing, but did have it tested once and found my mag to be low.

Have you tested your mag? Calc/alk will not (or be hard to) stabilize without the right mag level.
ReeferRob
10-21-2009, 11:14 PM
Where is your PH? Have you ever used a buffer? What type sand bed? SPS uptake is balanced so you should lose each equally.

What test kit are you using?

pH 8.3, never buffered, 2 inch sand in DT, 4-5 fine sugar in fug. Elos tests

Tested mag once about a week or two ago, don't remember what it was.
speedstar
10-21-2009, 11:16 PM
Is the sand bed of a type that the package said buffering help or anything like that? carbonate is whats important but hard to measure thats why the use of alk for reference.
ReeferRob
10-21-2009, 11:17 PM
I had the same problem, so I bumped my alk up to 9 from 8 and dosed that way, and every day it would drop back to 8. I got frustrated and stopped dosing after a while. Just stepped up my water changes in an attempt to keep my levels where they should be.

Now that I think back, I think my mag was low, and it made it hard for me to balance the alk/calc. I didnt have a mag tester while dosing, but did have it tested once and found my mag to be low.

Have you tested your mag? Calc/alk will not (or be hard to) stabilize without the right mag level.

Not that I remeber
speedstar
10-21-2009, 11:18 PM
RHF has some great article on the relationships, do you have links or want them?
ReeferRob
10-21-2009, 11:22 PM
Ya, I have the Holmes Farley articles.............do you know anyone who has them on tape???:p I work to much to read!!!

Seriously though Ive read them, need to do it again. Just thought it was odd that my Alk is so stable but Calcium is consumed. Probably the clams.

Do I really dump all my mag after a galloon of Calcium? Seems odd
Sir Patrick
10-21-2009, 11:23 PM
If your mag is low, it will make dosing the 2 part a huge headach.

Not saying its the issue, but worth checking into.
ReeferRob
10-21-2009, 11:23 PM
Agreed doing it fo sho tomorrow!
ReeferRob
10-21-2009, 11:24 PM
Guess i haven't been to alarmed because the tank is bangin' clean and healthy. You know? Shoot I just cursed myself didn't I?
speedstar
10-21-2009, 11:24 PM
Calcification can;t occur with only Ca, you need the carbonate of the ALK to make skeleton. I'd verify test kit with buddy and also verifiy Mg levels.
ReeferRob
10-21-2009, 11:25 PM
A certain amount must be absorbed before actuall calcification, no?
ReeferRob
10-21-2009, 11:26 PM
Ive only seen a plib in the calc test this past week with additions of clam 4 and 5
speedstar
10-21-2009, 11:26 PM
A certain amount must be absorbed before actuall calcification, no?

too late to make me think, but for now sticking by my original thought./
ReeferRob
10-21-2009, 11:28 PM
Ya, I need to get booted to bed.

Fresh new Elos KH kit coming tomorrow and gonna do mag again and see whats up.

Last question, do you test morning middle or end of day? Does it matter, well other than pH?
Sir Patrick
10-21-2009, 11:51 PM
Not sure if it matters or not, but one thing that does matter- whichever time you decide to test (morning, noon, night) make sure you test at that same aproxamate time with future tests.
schminksbro
10-22-2009, 10:54 AM
For anything other than testing Ph the time of day should not matter. Your symptoms though are classic low magnesium.
graphixx
10-22-2009, 03:12 PM
RHF has some great article on the relationships, do you have links or want them?


if you could PM me the links that would be cool... I would like to read them.
ReeferRob
10-22-2009, 03:45 PM
if you could PM me the links that would be cool... I would like to read them.

Ill post them here just in case anyone else needs them!

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

I guess thats all I have, maybe speedstar has more?!
speedstar
10-22-2009, 04:21 PM
Ill post them here just in case anyone else needs them!

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

I guess thats all I have, maybe speedstar has more?!


To get the others just use the search on advancedaquarist site with key work alkalinity or calcium. they'll all turn up/