water chemistry off

[wrassecal]

I had a problem with low dKH and calcium was at 470ppm.
So started adding Kent super buffer dKH a couple weeks ago and cut back on adding calcium.
Tested with Salifert tonight and
dKH is 9.6
Ca is 300 ppm
Sorry had to use a strip for ph but it showed 8.3 and that was at 9:30 tonight, lights go out a 10 pm.
So what is my best course of action now????

 

[dburr]

I would do a water change. That will try to return things back to normal.
Also, never try to move #'s to fast. You prolly know that.
Do you use B-ionic or something?

 

[wrassecal]

dburr - I wasn't trying to move them that fast, I was just trying to buffer to bring my dKH in line. We've been doing about 10% water changes each week. We're having a hair algae problem.
I just use Kent calcium (twice a week), the buffer(every day for the past 10 days or so) and essential elements(twice a week) I just put phosphate sponge in tonight also.
That's what got me confused. The numbers did swing fast.

 

[bang guy]

That's a symptom of low Magnesium, High PH, Low Salinity, or an outdated test kit (> 1 year).
I agree that water changes typically bring things back into balance.

 

[dburr]

Well, this is what "I" would do, 20% water change, dose normal alk and dose a double of calcium. (double of a normal dose)Check every 2 or 3 days to make sure the #'s are going OK.
For the hair, suck out what you can with the WC. If you have tried snails and fish and nothing works, small pieces of rock can be taken out and put in a cooler with no lights, no water movement and no heat. I no this sounds funny and drastic, but, it worked for me. And the pods lived, don't ask me why.

I left the rock in their for a month. I did this a couple of times for a few pieces. I didn't want to do them all at once and have my tank look bare.
Take this or leave it. This is what "I" would do if I did every thing else for the hair.

 

[wrassecal]

The test kits are new. The only thing that could be a date on them is a yellow sticker with 03-2009.
Santa needs to bring me a refractometer but by my swing arm sg is 1.026
dburr - I had hair algae so bad in that tank I took it dark for almost 3 months, took out the dsb, added a ssb, all new water, and it's been going again almost 3 months. We did leave the pumps and filters on though.
My hubby and I are getting good at sucking out the algae during water changes. He scrapes and I use the hose and net for the bigger pieces.
It's odd, it will start dying off then come back, sometimes only half the tank or the back glass, then the sand etc. Something is wierd, I just can't put my finger on what. (probably me)