Additives-NEED HELP!

[fishy7]

I am a newbee and have some puzzling questions and need the experts advice before continuing.
This is what happened:
My tank has been up and running for about 4 months and I do regular water changes(10% per week).
Mf LFS tests the water for me and feel pretty good with the results.
Latest results as of 03/05/06
PH 7.9
NH3 0
NO2 0
NO3 0
Sal 1.024
Temp 80
215 gal
280lbs LR
200LBS LS
Cal 350
I did buy Salifert: CALCIUM test kit & KH/ALKALINITY test kit since in the next months, I want to add corals so I wanted to get a head start to get the water in check to accomodate them.
I have issues with my PH. It tests 7.8 on a consistant basis. :thinking:
They recommended I buy the following since I was going to start adding corals and such:
Kent Liquid Calcium & Kent Probuffer dKH.
QUESTION: How do I balance this out.
I added per the bottles and end up killing my LTA & 3 Mex turbo's.

What do you recommended that I add to keep my water in check where I do not end up killing inhabitants.... :help:
Thanks for the help.

 

[thomas712]

Since the deaths then I'd have those water parameter checked again. When you added your additives for calcium and alkalinity how exactly did you add them?
Do you happen to live in the north? ie is the house closed up all winter? Could be a simple CO2 problem with regards to the pH (which is scientifically expressed as small p capital H).
When testing for calcium you must also test for alkalinity, might as well throw magnesium in there which helps keep the two in balance.
Do you know the proper range for reef tanks?
Thomas

 

[fishy7]

Thamas good questions lets see:
I did a 20%water change on Friday and then had it tested again yesterday and those are the latest reading. I did pull the LTA out before it had the chance to polute the tank.
I add them directly in the sump. Added the cal and waited about 10 mins & then the alk. It says to add in a high flow area.
I live in TX and I have a good amount of fresh air coming in. I have been told to make sure there is plenty of water movement on the top for gas exchange. I have both of my jets pointing to the top.
I do not know off the top of my head the proper reef ranges. I do have a copy of Fenners book that keeps me in check and use it when ever I have issues with my tank. I think I may be putting to much trust in my LFS. :thinking:

 

[thomas712]

From reefkeeping 101:
Normal seawater has a calcium level of about 380 and an alkalinity level of 2.8. These levels work fine in low and some moderate demand tanks where there is not a lot of calcium consuming inhabitants. I often see new hobbyists with a couple of mushrooms in a new tank who think that need to be dosing calcium. That generally is just wasted money and effort. In tanks that have fast growing calcium consuming critters such as SPS corals and clams, it is generally better to maintain elevated levels of both calcium and alkalinity. This tends to improve growth, coloration and general health of the specimens. Calcium levels in the range of 400 to 450 are preferred with up to 500 being acceptable. Alkalinity levels of 3.2 to 4.5 is preferred.
I personally prefer to shoot for the latter set of numbers. Calcium around 420+ and a 10 or 11 dKH for alkalinity.
Now you have a 215 gallon tank, how much of the calcium and buffer did you use?
Are you using any type of protein skimmer?
Thomas

 

[fishy7]

I doesed for a 215. Not sure how much, but I will get the exact amount when I go home.
I am using a Aqua c ev240 with iwaki md40rlt pump.

 

[thomas712]

Your calcium IMO is low, but that also depends on how stocked your tank is. My guess is that you are using instant ocean.

 

[chrisarca]

Thomas your replys are always intelligent and to the point. Dont you think a constant Ph of 7.8 is okay?

 

[chipmaker]

What time of day are yu testing the ph. If its mid day then odds are it is even lower during night time hours.......Geting thre calcium and alk levels up higher will generally bring up your ph level as well. The three of them basically go hand in hand...I run my tanks with cal and alk all in the high end around 460 for cal and 11 or so for ALK and my ph is 8.3 minimum. I also think the B-Ionic 2 part dosing supplement is a much more stabil and better product than the kent 2 part is..I played with kent 2 part, and it would fluctuate all over by the end of the day.......now I use nothing but B-Ionic and it stays quite constant from dose to dose.

 

[thomas712]

Originally Posted by chrisarca
Dont you think a constant Ph of 7.8 is okay?
Depends on how you are maintaining your calcium, alkalinity, and your pH, and your coral and fish bio load.
If dripping kalkwasser folks can have a normal pH of around 8.5, because the kalk water has such a high pH of 11+.
Those that use a reactor wind up with lower pH values around 8.0.
Those that use use additives usually fluctuate, kinda like jumping on a single bladder water bed.
Then everyones air around the tank is going to be different and the CO2 levels affect the water chemistry differently.
Is 7.8 bad, no not really, but constant? well with as much of a swinger that pH is I'd find it strange to be constant. Unless using a refugium on reverse lighting schedule which helps keep it more constant.
Thomas

 

[mudplayerx]

Originally Posted by Thomas712
Depends on how you are maintaining your calcium, alkalinity, and your pH, and your coral and fish bio load.
If dripping kalkwasser folks can have a normal pH of around 8.5, because the kalk water has such a high pH of 11+.
Those that use a reactor wind up with lower pH values around 8.0.
Those that use use additives usually fluctuate, kinda like jumping on a single bladder water bed.
Then everyones air around the tank is going to be different and the CO2 levels affect the water chemistry differently.
Is 7.8 bad, no not really, but constant? well with as much of a swinger that pH is I'd find it strange to be constant. Unless using a refugium on reverse lighting schedule which helps keep it more constant.
Thomas
I'd try to keep ph between 8.40 and 8.45, which I have read in nuerous places to be the ideal parameter for calcium uptake. I read that having a ph over 8.45 can actually inhibit calcium uptake.

 

[fishy7]

Ok. I am using Salfert test kits which I bought last week. I did the test at 7pm which is midday for lights.
results:
Cal 550
Kh 5.8
alk 2.06
PH 7.9
Not sure where I stand.... thoughts....???