w/c water parameters

[devilboy]

i mixed up some water change water with oceanic salt. and i tested the water since i am planning on changing the water within in the next hour. but i dont like the results of the tests i took.
SG 1.024
temp 80
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
pH 8.2
Alk 8.6 dKH / 3.09 meq/l
Ca 330 ppm
i do not like my alk and ca readings, what do i have to do to bring them up? i want my ca around 430ppm and dKH to be alittle over 9.0.
any suggestions?

 

[bang guy]

The ALK is fine but the Calcium level is low.
Can you describe your mixing proceedure (in great detail). If it's not mixed properly the Calcium and carbonate can precipitate.

 

[devilboy]

this is how i mixed it bang, step by step.
1. bought 10g r/o water from pet store
2. bought 50g mix of oceanic salt
3. poured 5g r/o water into 5g bucket
4. put heater in bucket, raised temp to 80
5. took my wooden spoon
6. slowly put 1 cup at a time into 5g bucket
7. used my wooden spoon and stirred vigorously until SG was 1.024
8. let sit for a few hours
9. test water params, and didnt like the outcome.
i want them higher, since i am having the alk,and ca problem with my tank

 

[bang guy]

I will work better if you use cooler water (don't heat it) and stir as you slowly pour in the salt.
You're not that far off so I'm surprised at the low CA.
If my suggestion doesn't work then you're going to have to add a Calcium supplement after the water change. Don't add anything to the mixed saltwater.
anything above 2.5 Meq/L is pretty good for saltwater mixes. Baking soda added to the tank (not the mixed saltwater) will raise ALK but be sure to increase ALK gradually like over days, not hours.

 

[devilboy]

what kind of CA supplement you suggesting? powder? liquid? all i have right now is the kent marine liquid calcium. but i do have salifert all in one (which is suppose to replinsh trace elements, raise ca, and raise alk), and kent marine super buffer dKH.

 

[devilboy]

Bang,
i decided not to change my water last night as planned, so i threw 2 powerheads in my 5 gallon bucket and let it aerate overnight. i just got done checking the parameters and this is what i got after aerating.
dKH 10.2
CA 460ppm
pH 8.3
are these parameters any better? and all i did was aerate the bucket with 2 powerheads.

 

[devilboy]

bump..............

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by DevilBoy
and all i did was aerate the bucket with 2 powerheads.
You can't get Calcium from nothing.
Perhaps a mis-read on the initial test for Calcium?
Or, you stirred up precipitate from the bottom and when you tested there were Calcium carbonate particles still suspended in the water.

 

[devilboy]

very well could be, i didnt stir the mixture for very long, i just threw the powerheads in the bucket and let it aerate.
do these numbers sound better to you?

 

[bang guy]

There's nothing wrong with those numbers.

 

[devilboy]

thanks bang....
i tested my water this evening after doing my w/c last night, and my alk, an ca dropped again. what the heck.... i now have:
dKH 7.9
Ca 350ppm
pH is still 8.2
my mag must be low. do u suggest to dose with anything to bring alk and ca back up?

 

[bang guy]

B-Ionic is an excellent supplement, it has some Magnesium in there as well.
Try mixing up another batch of saltwater using cold water and see what the readings are.