Why won't calcium and alk rise?

[kroch3rd]

I am trying to start a reef tank. I have a 75g with 60 lbs lr.
parameters
ammonia-0
trite-0
trate-0
ph-8.2ish
calcium- 280ppm
alk-2.5 meq/l
I am using kent tech cb. i have been dosing part a and b for the last few days but neither are rising. i use instant ocean salt. my tank is 2 months old with 1 clown and a frag of zoos. why doesn't my calcium or alk rise?
any advice will help. thanks

 

[24aqua]

imo because you use instant ocean,when i started i used IO and i couldnt keep anything stable switched to oceanic and i dont add anything just buffer my top-of-water 4gl weekly water changes on a 55

 

[fishcake]

what test kit's are you using? some of the cheap kits give false readings,
try using a good good test kit like salifert. Also, try testing for magnesium.

 

[diddley]

If adding chemicals doesn't help, try large scale water changes. Definitely agree with the Salifert kits and testing Magnesium. I also use Oceanic salt, it's got high calcium, but alk could be higher. Good Luck.

 

[kroch3rd]

instant ocean test kits
i was thinking it was magnesium, but i can't find any test kits for magnesium at my lfs

 

[monalisa]

Mmmm, I have to agree with the above posts regarding IO salt. I started out with IO and when I decided to go reef, I took a calcium level...316 or some crazy reading. After changing to Oceanic my calcium has been pretty steady at 420. With regular weekly water changes your calcium should come up with using Oceanic. Sorry, not sure about the alk off hand....
Lisa :happyfish

 

[kroch3rd]

anybody know a solution to my problem? i still have 4 160g buckets of io so i dont really want to switch yet.

 

[markus1]

Make sure you have a proper pH level, and test for carbonate hardness, kH. The hardness is more important for pH stability, but when you add Calcium, Magnesium etc, you are adding ionic minerals to your system. Reactions will occur in an effort to balance the equation (think high school chemistry). Since you adding calcium, you may be drawing out hydoxide groups (alkaline) to give stability to your system. This will make you pH more acidic. BUT, if you have a proper kH level, the pH will not fluctuate as easily. A more stable pH means less of the alkaline groups will bind with the calcium, thus leaving you more elemental calcuim in the water and available to your livestock, rock, coral, etc!

 

[diddley]

Like stated above, Salifert test kits to accurately test levels. You can continue to use Instant Ocean, you will just need to dose more additives. Most people really like E.S.V.'s B-ionic for keeping alk and calcium at desired levels through regular dosing. Also as stated above, low Magnesium will keep levels from rising properly. You've got good information here, time to spend some money......................

 

[hot883]

I used I.O. too and my calcium was ALWAYS low and told to dose with turbo calcium. Din't help much.
As soon as I switched to Oceanic, problem solved.
Sell the unopened containers of I.O. online or to another hobbiest or back to the LFS for credit.

 

[gwh57]

It is really a simple answer. If you add something to supplement cal and alk then they will rise if you add enough. If your tank is using more that you are adding then your levels will fall.

IO salt is lower in cal that some, but is consistantly stable high quality salt. I changed from IO to -- because -- has higher cal and was designed for a reef tank.