Mixed calcium and dkh in the same bucket:

[Qdoggie]

Well I read part of the caution label. Unfortunately it was the first part.

Besides the depletion, what else should I be warry of? What should I do? If depleting my level is all, cant I just add some more dkh tomorrow????

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Same bucket of what?

You mixed just the additives together? Or in some salt water?

[Qdoggie]

I was adding them in a bucket of RO water with some salt for a water change.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Depending on how much you added, you probably just precipitated some CaCO3, which will mostly show up as lower than anticipated alkalinity. I wouldn't add anything else to that mix, but if you use it, just monitor to see what effect it has on the tank (likely not too much unless the water change is really large).

[Qdoggie]

Yea, I meant that I had already put it in. It was mixed in a gal of water. I had done the water change, but had to adjust some calc. and alk. levels afterwards..

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, then there's nothing else to worry about. :)

[Qdoggie]

thanks for the reassurance. Ill just check my alk ph etc again and add accordingly

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck! :)

[Qdoggie]

UPDATE- FWIW, by combining the two in a pitcher of RO water, it not only depleted the alk within, but also my tank. The tank was reading 2.5 prior. The next day it was 1.5dkh.... I thought it was alittle odd to have that much of an impact on the rest of the tank. I used 7 tsp of the kent superbuffer as directed(1tsp per 20-30g) for my 180g plus approx 45g fuge. The calcium was the seachem, and again the minimum amt as directed...

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is it 1.5 dKH or 1.5 meq/L?

FWIW, you can raise the level to normal levels in one day, if you want. For alkalinity, I'd use baking soda for that purpose.

This calculator may help:

Reef Chemicals Calculator
http://www.kademani.com/reefchem.htm

[jfinch]

I think it's silly to mix both alk and calcium supplements together before dosing into your tank. Why do you want to use the same container? Just mix them in separate containers and dose separtely. Give 'em time to dilute in your tank.

[Qdoggie]

Sorry, I meant meq....


jfinch: LAZINESS!!!

[jfinch]

:lol:

And I thought I was lazy! :D Seriously, I know you'll have better results if you mix them up separately. Good luck.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:thumbsup:

How is this going now? Is the alkalinity still low?

[Qdoggie]

my alk was raised to 3.5 but my calcium was low. I think it was at 325-350 the other day. I added more seachem calcium but havent retested. Im a little busy getting ready for the hurricane.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm glad the alkalinity is up. :)

Yes, the hurricane should take priority.

I'd use calcium chloride to raise the calcium level that much. The above calculator should help.

[Qdoggie]

what brand, or how do you get calcium chloride?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Dowflake from Home Depot, or ESV, Warner, or Kent Turbo Calcium. I compared them in this article:

Purity of Calcium Chloride
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/chem.htm

[Qdoggie]

amazing to come this far into the aquarium technology, only to revert back to simple products.... thanks

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome. :)

Good luck!

[Qdoggie]

Randy, I just checked my HD and did a search on their web site...... No luck in finding the Dowflake. Any other name it might be under or can you suggest another location to try? Thanks

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

For those of us in the north, it will likely show up in the fall as de-icer. You might find it at a pool supply store. Run a search on Dowflake and you'll find a number of threads where folks have found it.