Calcium Help

nietzsche

nietzsche

Active Member
Originally Posted by ER..MD
http:///forum/post/2495487
What do you think of the Red Sea salt?
My pH is always at 8.0...on occasion I've added buffer and it gets to 8.2...should I even bother? I suspect 8.0 is ok
8 isnt bad. i use reef crystals and all i do is mix it for 48hrs or more before using the water. i havent even checked pH in a long time, but i run a reverse photoperiod on both my bc14 and my 28.
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by nietzsche
http:///forum/post/2496145
8 isnt bad. i use reef crystals and all i do is mix it for 48hrs or more before using the water. i havent even checked pH in a long time, but i run a reverse photoperiod on both my bc14 and my 28.
But for me, for some reason mixing it for 48 hours just is not enough. I'd rather buff it and get it where it needs to be, instead of adding it to my DT and then trying to get my DT back up to where it needs to be. Now I do not buff the top-off water, and I'm adding about 2 gallons a day to my tank, so with the pH of my top-off water being 7.0, I have to counter act that somehow, so I'm thinking getting my mixed saltwater for my 20 gallon water changes to the correct levels is the smart thing to do, in my case anway. Every tank is different. And I also run a reverse photoperiod, but I'm sure my little compact light down in my sump does not have the same effect as my MHs up top.
(IMO the pH on a reef tank should be at least 8.3.).
Might want to test your pH, you might get a surprised reading.
 
bonebrake

bonebrake

Active Member
Originally Posted by ER..MD
http:///forum/post/2495330
Can you guys answer a question about mag in a nano??
I have a 24G and I change about 5 gallons a week or more with red sea salt....my calcium is always at 400 in the am...I add a teaspoon of kent calcium a day and it goes to 450...I have a large amoutn of coral so I'm sure it's (Ca) utuilized quickly...do you think I need extra mag given I change about 25% or more of the water per week?
thanks
Your magnesium will be fine with regular water changes. I would recommend adding concentrated limewater as your top-off instead for your calcium supplementation. It will be more beneficial because it will boost pH, balanced calcium and alkalinity and it is cheaper.
 
veni vidi vici

veni vidi vici

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bonebrake
http:///forum/post/2496864
Sort of. I top-off with concentrated limewater for evaporation and use baking soda and calcium chloride for extra losses beyond that.
After i run out of the 3 gallons of B-ionic part 1-2 and B-ionic Mag. im switching over to the money saveing way.
 
saltn00b

saltn00b

Active Member
randy's 2 part (aka 2 part solution) is super easy, super cheap, and works amazing.
something about the chemical reaction keeps the levels up, for longer. i cant yet explain how this is possible, but i have been through a variety of methods, and they all seem to lead to my calc and alk struggling to get over 300 - 350 / 1.8 meq/l and then when it does get up, it get drained very quickly. but now everything is up where it should be and staying there.
 
nietzsche

nietzsche

Active Member
last time i checked pH was at 8 point something when lights are on, before i added a refugium pH was like 7.8. but that was a few months back, i just keep my dkh at 9-10, calcium high around 450-500, magnesium 1300. ive been getting some good growth from SPS. encrusting, great color, etc
 
fishissues

fishissues

Member
anybody have a pic on how light blue the water is supposed to be for salifert? i don't know what the color looks like and that means i don't know my calcium...
 
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