High Kh

[MizTanks]

I've started dosing with Kents Tech part A&B~mostly due to low calcium which is reading at 380~however my Kh is reading 14 which I know is high~ph is 8.4~directions say to dose equal amounts but if it's going to raise my Kh could I do a lesser amount of part A and a higher amount of B~presently I'm doing 4ml daily of each.

[whitetiger61]

whats your calcium level now..380 is starting to get a little low but still not bad..might try dropping to 2 ml and see where that gets you..personally when i dose i dose to manufactures directions..hope that helps

Rick

[Sir Patrick]

Have you figured out how many points your alkalinity drops per day?

When dosing 2 part, you want to look at alk to figure out your daily dosage. Dont worry about calc for the time being. Once you figure out how much your alk drops per day, and the dose to fix it each time- you found your dosing amount.

After you figure out your dosing amount- you find out where your calc is at, and what you would like it to be.

If your calc is lower than what you would like- you will have to do an independant dose to raise your calc to what you want it at. Get the calc where you want it- without adding the second part.

The next day- dose the 2 part, equally, at the amount you have figured out from your alk dropping. This process should keep the alk/calc both right where you want them. Neither should get too high or low. Might take some time to test/tweek, but it shouldnt take long to get it down.

If you are dosing the 2 part acording to calc instead of alk- you will get high alk.

With your alk high right now, you might want to wait it out for the alk to drop before you use the instructions above. During this time, test your alk daily. Pay attn. to how much it drops daily. This will give you a good starting point to figure out your dosing schedule.

[schminksbro]

380 is natural seawater level and fine for a softie tank.

[ReeferRob]

Agreed, softies don't enjoy as high calcium levels as LPS and SPS, nor is it required.

I always dose in the morning as the lights are coming on as 2 part can raise pH a bit, so dose slowly.

Do you guys recommend any particular amount of time in between the 2 elements?

[MizTanks]

Ok~380 is fine for my tank~without worry for my snails and my favia~let my Kh drop~actually the only reason I started dosing was because of what I believed to be low cal levels~without dosing I get a steady reading of cal=380~Kh=10~ph 8.4~I am dosing Mag though at 6ml daily, is that ok?

[ReeferRob]

The more stable your mag is the easier it will be to stabilize the others.

[Sir Patrick]

^as long as the 6 ml daily of mag is working for you, I would stick w/ it. Doesnt look like you have a need for 2 part yet.

Rob- as long as all elements are relativly stable, and nothing is out of wack, and the dosages arent very large, you can dose at the same time- no issues. If things are out of wack, or w/ a large dose- its better to wait a while between parts. Dont want to chance percipitation.