Alkalinity and KH ?

[NewSchool04]

This last Sat. I bought an existing 75 gallon, w/ 30 gallon sump aquarium that was up and running. I transfered about 80% of the water and used again and also added a 3" sand bed w/ Southdown and added a sprinkling of larger grain argonite sand for the top layer. He had about 75 # of LR and I added an extra 15# from my other tank. He was running BB. My readings this morning are pH 7.8, Ca 250, KH - 12, and Alkalinity 4.29. I am using C Balance A&B solution to raise the Ca but I am worried about the high KH and Alkalinity. Any suggestions on how to balance?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You need to raise the calcium with a calcium only supplement, like calcium chloride, or just the calcium part of the C-balance. Hold off on the alkaloinity part until the clacium is up to about 420 ppm.

This article should help:


Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

[NewSchool04]

Thank you, the article explained a ton!

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome

Good luck. :)