calcium alk levels

[jet]

my levels have dropped after a recent 25% water change.
my levels are 7.8dkh, 280 calcium. should i turn up the reactor or go back to 2 part buffer???

[reef-man_d-man]

you might want to try addind kalkwasser, or a calcium buffer solution temporarily until your level gets back up, also if you crank up the reactor you run the risk of toxic pH levels.

[jet]

RIGHT, IS it common for parameters to drop from 10dkh , 350 calcium on a water change.

[reef-man_d-man]

yes the large the water change the bigger the swing, I try to do smaller more frequent water changes to combat this.

[jet]

will the reactor eventually catch up or should i add buffer. some of my corals are starting to get "washed out looking". also what is the easiest way to add kalk should i drip it in???

[jobryan26]

I hate to hi-jack a thread but the search won't function right now because of "high server load". Anyway what is the easiest way to properly raise calcium levels? I have heard using Kalkwasser and I did a search on google for "dosing Kalkwasser" and was hoping for something I could just put into the tank water without all the mixing, wait an hour and etc.

[reef-man_d-man]

I take pickling lime and mix it into my top off water and that does a pretty good job, you could also spend 300 $$$$$ and get a dosing pump, but its not needed.

[kotoma]

Can you just dose calcium to your water change? In this case you will not have a drop in calcium level when you change water.

[jet]

hmmmm, pickling lime??? and the best way to obtain that??? mix how much??

[jet]

but just dosing calcium wouldnt that throw off dkh???

[kotoma]

I only use B-Ionic and C balance and it does not happen.

[jet]

do you just use the 2nd part of the additive only???

[jet]

WILL THE REACTOR EVENTUALLY CATCH UP?????

[kotoma]

No, I use equal amount of 2 bottle and then add kent Liquid Calcium (if not, I have desired dkh, but low ca). After a while, I know how much to add for each water change without testing it. The first couple times may need some work.

[jet]

JUST SO I HAVE THIS RIGHT, YOU USE EQUAL PARTS OF THE ESV B-IONIC BUFFER AND KENT LIQUID CALCIUM AS WELL?

AND YOU ADD IT TO TOP OFF WATER TO RAISE CALCIUM AT WATER CHANGE.

[kotoma]

Not "to raise calcium" but to maintain "calcium" level (make sure I do not have a change in calcium level after a water change). Separately from water change, I also does equal amount of B-Ionic to my main tank to prevent calcium depletion.

[jet]

DO YOU USE A REACTOR

[kotoma]

No, I don't. I just dose it with B-ionic or C balance.

[jet]

RIGHT, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU LET YOUR REACTOR JUST RUN, IF YOU USE ONE WILL IT EVENTUALLY CATCH UP TO THE DROP IN PARAMETERS.

[cellexjohn]

jet
Test your mixed salt water for Ca and Alk to see where it's at. I check every new bucket and adjust mine before doing any water changes also. Don't count on your reactor to raise your levels back up. If it does then you don't have it tuned properly. It should hold your levels for you when properly adjusted. I adjust my mixed salt water with B-Ionic. It is also good for slight adjustments in your Ca and Alk when they get unballanced in the tank. If you need to make big adjustments you may want to use something other then B-Ionic.

A handyCalculator (http://www.kademani.com/reefchem.htm) for additives

Enjoy!
John

[jet]

hey thanks alot! that calculator is fantastic. question. doesn't the b-ionic need to be added in equal parts, or can you add it seperate like the calculator suggests???

[kotoma]

My 2cents: you need to experience yourself. I dose equal part of 2 bottles and then check to see if I need to add bottle one or bottle two. Normally I do not add bottle two if my calcium is a bit low. I use Turbo Calcium or kent Liquid Calcium.

[jet]

ISNT PART 2 ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS TURBO CALCIUM?

[kotoma]

I really don't know if they are the same or not. I think they are the same regarding the purpose of raising calcium. Chemically, they are different.

The reason I don't use part 2 alone is because I don't want after I run out of part2 I still have some of part 1 left. this to make sure If I am running out of part2 then I am also out of part1.

[jet]

COPY THAT. SO BASICALLY ITS A SUBSTITUTE

[pkolenda]

You asked about turning up your reactor. If you PH is not too low adjust the reactor. Try during it down to a drip a and make sure the CO2 is is going at about a buble per second. The solution coming out should have a very low ph. Then start tweaking you reactor from there. If you turn up the water flow you will need to add more CO2.

I use my reactor in combination with Kalk water for top off. I don't use the two part solutions anymore. I don't have a problem with low ph since the Kalk water is high ph.

Luck.