I have been dripping kalk for a couple of months and could not get calcium levels over 350 without adding a supplement such as Seachem or b-ionic. Now I can't get alk above 7 dkh or the calcium above 350 even with supplements.My bioload has not changed and I have not added any corals. I have a 125g w/ sump/refuguim that is one year old. What could be wrong? :?
Cannot get calcium level to rise. What's wrong?
- Thread starter Ike
- Start date
do you have increased coral/corraline growth?that's where it could be going to...
fwiw- i think alot of people get too 'locked onto the numbers game'.the bottom line is always how the animals are doing.if levels are stable and within range(and,personally i think yours are-even if at the 'lower end of the scale')don't beat yourself up trying to hit a 'magic number'.
also, test kits are'nt always super accurate-you may have higher, or lower, levels than indicated.
just because you have'nt added corals yourself, doesn't mean your not getting more-your corals are adding corals, by virtue of their growth(same for the corraline-alot of tanks' calcium/alk consumption 'explodes' when their corraline finally 'takes off').
having said that, more details of your tank are needed.what's your pH? do you have a heavy coral load, or a lite one? have you tested the Ca/alk levels in your saltwater when it's freshly made?(if it's low, and you do alot of water changes-this might be countering your efforts to raise it.)
when you use b-ionic, how does your tank react(i.e.-how high do the levels get, and how quickly do they drop?)
hth
fwiw- i think alot of people get too 'locked onto the numbers game'.the bottom line is always how the animals are doing.if levels are stable and within range(and,personally i think yours are-even if at the 'lower end of the scale')don't beat yourself up trying to hit a 'magic number'.
also, test kits are'nt always super accurate-you may have higher, or lower, levels than indicated.
just because you have'nt added corals yourself, doesn't mean your not getting more-your corals are adding corals, by virtue of their growth(same for the corraline-alot of tanks' calcium/alk consumption 'explodes' when their corraline finally 'takes off').
having said that, more details of your tank are needed.what's your pH? do you have a heavy coral load, or a lite one? have you tested the Ca/alk levels in your saltwater when it's freshly made?(if it's low, and you do alot of water changes-this might be countering your efforts to raise it.)
when you use b-ionic, how does your tank react(i.e.-how high do the levels get, and how quickly do they drop?)
hth
Thanks your the help guys , I think I located the answer to my question in the FAQ section. I have been mixing up 5 gal of kalk at a time, and seems to be too much at a time . I will try mixing it on a daily basis now. Might even experiment with the addition of vinegar to my kalk solution. Anyway thanks guys.
Ike
Ike- Location
- Palatine IL
from what I have read on tis board; get you calcium & alk levels to the desired levels. Check that your magnesium; I believe around 1300ppm is where you want to be. The level of magnesium affects the levels of calc & alk that can be maintened in solution before they would precipitate. After reaching the desired levels then rely on your kalk to keep those levels where they are by testing and adjusting the about you dose in to keep up with what your animals are using up.
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