Low Alk and High Calcium

[Zoous]

I recently tested my water and found that my alk was about 5 dKH and my calcium 600 ppm. IS this possible??? What would be the best way to handle this situation. By the way, I use two part E.S.V. B-Ionic.

What should I do?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

keep dosing the alk to get it higher and dont dose any calcium... wait for that 2 drop on its own and when everything is in norm. range then u can start dosing both equally at the same time...

have u checked ur magnesium levels as well.....

 

[marrone]

Read up on Cal & Alk and look at Zon #4 in the article. Also recheck your reading to make sure that they're correct.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[barebucta]

Same problem here. I use oceanic salt, calcium through the roof. I dose with baking soda daily and it keeps the ALK around 7 and the ph at 8.2-8.4. Calcium stays around 450-500, but I can live with that.

 

[yessongs]

Did you add anything that might have caused this, like joes juice?
What test kits are you using?
When is your next water change due?
I remember from this thread http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/13333-my-zoos-collection.html you keep zoos
IMO,your KH value is way too low for zoanthids

 

[Tonyscoots84]

yessongs i ran into the same problem my but with an ok alk like 8-9 and my calcium at 550-600... im letting the tank use up the calcium until i get it to were i want it to be then im going to start dosing equally... of both..

 

[yessongs]

Tony, it depends on your live stock.
When you say "equally" do you mean equality?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

when i say equally i mean if i dose 30 ml of alk i dose 30 ml of cal...

 

[yessongs]

when i say equally i mean if i dose 30 ml of alk i dose 30 ml of cal...

IMO, that can cause problems. If you have a lot of LPS, SPS, clams most likely you will have to dose more Ca.
I think its better to dose according, thats why we test for both.
JMO.

Its only advice, you have to find what works best for your system.

 

[alrha]

when i say equally i mean if i dose 30 ml of alk i dose 30 ml of cal...

correct. that is they way it is meant to be dosed when everything is balanced - equally.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

keep dosing the alk to get it higher and dont dose any calcium... wait for that 2 drop on its own and when everything is in norm. range then u can start dosing both equally at the same time...

have u checked ur magnesium levels as well.....

thankyou alhra... thats why i mentioned this up above to get everything in balance and check his magnesium as well.. cause mag. has an affect in keeping things in balance...

 

[masterswimmer]

Good info Tony.
Get it in balance then dose accordingly.

BTW, I use Oceanic salt also. I've never needed to dose Ca. I do add baking soda to balance it though.

swimmer

 

[Zoous]

Thanks for the replies.

What kind of baking soda do you use and how much do you use?

 

[yessongs]

"thankyou alhra... thats why i mentioned this up above to get everything in balance and check his magnesium as well.. cause mag. has an affect in keeping things in balance..."

I've been using B-Ionic for a few years. there are a few things that can throw the balance off.
I had a talk with the owner of ESV telling him i have to dose less Ca, his reply. what ever works. BTW, we were both drunk at the time.

I think a water change, then get your balance where you want it and try equal amounts of B-Ionic.
Keep on testing you might have to adjust your dosage. Or change from a two part ionic product.

Like i said "Its only advice, you have to find what works best for your system"

 

[jhart]

My calcium was around 600, snails rock corals ect all suck up calcium , your only over dosing when you get a white cloudy film,even though 400 ppm is optimal range for natural sea water but being to high wont kill anything as long as theres stuff in your tank that will suck up the calcium, when your alk is stabalized your Golden..I stoped dosing when my calcium was at 600 , wrong thing to do, evrything was doing fine untill then , but i read to much , and listened to too many peoples advice, purpline alage stoped growing and i lost 2 corals , started back the original way corals never looked that good it took a couple of months for my calcium to come down, but when it did my alk was nearlly perfect range also, they go hand in hand,if your losing corals do a water change...

 

[jhart]

Btw what works for one person might not work for you..the hobby is mother f@#ker,