KH/Alk Results - Low

rossim

rossim

Member
I'm still fairly new to SW but have had sucess so far. I was doing my weekly maintenance and decided to test for everything (do this about once a month). Everything is fine, but my Calcium was high and KH/Alk were low.
PH - 8.2
NO2 - 0
NH4 - 0
Nitrate - 0
Mg - 1500
Ca - 525-550
Kh - 6.7
Alk - 2.40
All the tests are Salifert (Except Nitrate). What do I have to do to get the KH/Alk up where it should be? Is this where I have to drip Kalk?
:notsure: :help: :notsure: :help:
 
dskidmore

dskidmore

Active Member
Kalk adds calcium. Your calcium is fine.
You could try a specific alk additive. Some people suggest baking soda, although there is minor debate on wether it is as good as the commercial additives.
 
rossim

rossim

Member
I'm not adding any additives to the tank right now. All I'm doing is a weekly 10% water change, adding bioplankton weekly, and feeding every other day.
Should I start dosing with something?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
What saltmix? Can you test Ca again? Also, next time you do a water change test the replacement water for ALK & CA.
Are you using tap water?
 
rossim

rossim

Member
I'm using Oceanic Salt mix. I can test the Ca again, but last time I tested it, it was around the same level (probably close to a month ago). I'll retest tonight. I use RO water. I'm actually making some now to use for topoffs and next weeks water change. I'll test that water before I add it to the tank next week.
Someone on another board mentioned Iocnic B (B Ionic)??? Is it good to add additives? Or is there another way to solve the problem?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
I can't understand how your Calcium got so high.
With a high Ca level you don't want a 2-part additive. Baking soda (as suggested earlier) is fine for bumping up your ALK. Don't go too high until you figure out why Ca is so high.
 
rossim

rossim

Member
I thought I remembered reading that Oceanic has a high calcium level in it. Is my tank in danger with the levels the way they are? Either way, I'd like to get the levels where they belong. I will test the replacement water before I add it next week. If this is the source of the high Ca levels, should I add baking soda or an additive directly to that water before putting it in the tank? Also, what would you recommend... baking soda or a commercial product?
Thanks for all your help! I'd have to say that you are one of the most knowledgable people on this site and I've already learned a ton from you over the past few months just reading your posts.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Don't add anything to your replacement water. Additives need to adjust tank levels. they don't work properly on replacement water except for limewater.
You're in no danger providing you don't make any sudden moves.
Baking soda is fine.
Let's just wait & see what your freshly mixed water looks like (after sitting for 24 hours).
 
rossim

rossim

Member
Thanks again! I'll mix a gallon later today or tomorrow for testing. Until I do that I won't do anything. I'll post once I get those readings.
What else could be the source of high ca levels? Could something be causing the low alk with would lead to the high ca?
 
dskidmore

dskidmore

Active Member
What kind of substrate and rock do you have? If you have a really fine calcium based substrate, it could be disoving faster than your invertabrates are using it up. Do you have much coraline algae or invertabrates in the tank?
 
rossim

rossim

Member
60 lbs of LS and another 50-55 lbs of fiji LR from this site. The rock has a lot of coraline algea and I'm starting to get some on my overflow box. As for inverts, I have about 15-20 snails, 10-15 hermit crabs, a CBS, 2 emerald crabs, and 2 serfent stars. Also have 2 percs and a mushroom coral and zoos.
but if the calcium was disolving, wouldn't it be low? I don't think I understand the chemistry between alk and ca yet.
 
dskidmore

dskidmore

Active Member
The test kits measure calcium disolved in the water. The solid calcium in the form of coral skelotons and good quality sand and rock is trapped up where the test kit won't read it, and most organisims can't use it. You normally want your sand to slowly disolve to boost the calcium levels in the water as it's used up.
Wild Guess: If your alk is low, you might get a pH dip at night. In the lower pH, calcium disovles faster. If this is the case, then increasing your alk will cause the calcium to eventually come into balance on it's own.
 
rossim

rossim

Member
I've actually never tested the PH at night. I didn't get any sleep last night, but if I'm up tonight I'll test it to see if there is a difference. I didn't get a change to make any new salt water yet either for testing. I should get around to it by tomorrow. I'll post what I find.
Thanks for all your help!
 
rossim

rossim

Member
Ok....
I made a batch of SW last night and just tested the CA and alk levels. Here are the results:
CA - 600
dKH - 8.48
Alk - 3.0263
So it looks like the dKH and Alk are alright. Its just the CA that's high. I guess once the water mixes with everything else in the tank, the dKH and Alk get messed up????
 
rossim

rossim

Member
No, I have a RO unit that I use.
Now that we've determined where the CA is coming from, what do I need to do to get the Alk back where it should be? Should I add a baking soda solution to the tank weekly?
Again, thanks for your help.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Baking soda is fine. Just a little at a time though and watch the PH. If you can find Washing soda mix a little with the Baking soda at about a 10:1 ratio.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
If you only use part 'A' it will raise you ALK. I didn't recommend it only because he has no use for the Part 'B' so that's an expensive solution.
 
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