Calcium and dKH, what range do you shoot for?

[mlwoods007]

I've been reading up on this alot lately and been finding mixed opinions. What are the "OPTIMAL" levels to keep your CA and dKH at? At the same time, what have you found to be acceptable?
I've been having trouble getting my levels in line and want to see what everyone runs.
My system right now is: CA- 365, dKh-12.

 

[patandlace]

I like to have my calcium between 400/450 and dKH between 8/12.

 

[renogaw]

if you google reef chemistry there are a TON of articles, especially by randy holmes-farley. i try to keep my calcium around 400-450 and alk between 10 and 12

 

[scopus tang]

There is an excellent article in the archives written by broomer5 which I would suggest you read through. It contains the following table;
Alk meq/L Alk dKH Calcium ppm
0

[hr]
0

[hr]
360
0.5

[hr]
1.4

[hr]
370
1

[hr]
2.8

[hr]
380
1.5

[hr]
4.2

[hr]
390
2

[hr]
5.6

[hr]
400
2.5

[hr]
7

[hr]
410
3

[hr]
8.4

[hr]
420
3.5

[hr]
9.8

[hr]
430
4

[hr]
11.2

[hr]
440
4.5

[hr]
12.6

[hr]
450
5

[hr]
14

[hr]
460
5.5

[hr]
15.4

[hr]
470
6

[hr]
16.8

[hr]
480
6.5

[hr]
18.2

[hr]
490
7

[hr]
19.6

[hr]
500
Here is the link
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/80403/delicate-balance-of-ph-alk-calcium
Give it a look.

Personally I shoot for 460 to 480 and 14 - 16

 

[mlwoods007]

Thanks for the advice and I definitely plan on follow up on those reads. The reason I was wondering is because I have a friend who runs his at 13, but everythng i heard on hear stated that 12 dKh should be the highest. I'll do some more research, but just wanted some opionions on what others run. Thanks again

 

[blackaero1]

I shoot for a dKH of 10, have a friend that runs his at 14. Said he's starting to see signs of the tips of some of his SPS burning.

 

[dennis210]

Natural sea water runs 420 for Ca and 9 point something for dKH if memory serves.
In a closed system as our reefs are I shoot for 440 - 460 for Calcium and 200 - 220 Alk
(dKH 11 - 12). This so when used between dosing the system doesn't drop too much.
Has anyone ever noticed that their Alk drops more than Ca between dosing? I thought they were used up in equal proportions.

 

[mlwoods007]

I definately noticed mine does. I've been having trouble raising both of them up to the appropriate levels. Everytime I dose one, the other falls.
Any tricks on how to get them into the appropriate range?

 

[spanko]

Magnesium is also important to keeping a balance between Calc and Alk. You might want to check yours. Mag should run between 1250-1350. A quick guide is about 3 times your calcium level. 450 reading on calcium should have a 1350 reading on magnesium.

 

[ifirefight]

Originally Posted by Dennis210
http:///forum/post/2471937
Natural sea water runs 420 for Ca and 9 point something for dKH if memory serves.
Negative ghostrider... NSW is closer to 2.60 or 7.3 dKh. But I have tested the NSW I use and it is closer to 2.75 to 3.00 or 7.7 to 8.4 dKh. And the Calcium reading I get is 430-440 for my NSW. Obviously, as you can see there is a big difference between the levels people keep their tanks at...the most important part is to keep them at a constant level,somewhere within the upper and lower range. If you are having trouble maintaining any levels..google "chemistry and the aquarium" great,easy to follow article by Randy.

 

[sac10918]

Originally Posted by mlwoods007
http:///forum/post/2472963
I definately noticed mine does. I've been having trouble raising both of them up to the appropriate levels. Everytime I dose one, the other falls.
Any tricks on how to get them into the appropriate range?
Im not sure on this, but I think (maybe) that if you use a 2 part additive like B-ionic, the first addition helps to bring the alkalinity up and the next addition helps to raise the calcium....At least, thats my understanding of it....