Water Params outta kilter.....

[scumonkey]

My tank finally finished its start up cycle, and I was able to add the first fish-7 small Green Chromis.
I don't have anything else in the tank except for 100 lbs of araganite and Fiji pink arag-alive, with 160lbs
of base and MI live rock (60% base/40% live). 6 turbo snails + 1 red leg hermit
I just tested my water with brand new Salifert test kits.....
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 1 (I need to remove a cannister filter I have been running poly pads and GAC in)
PH - 7.7
Alk - 2.40 meg/l
Calcium - 390
Mag -2.40 meg/ L

I've been running marine tanks since 1970 but.....this is my first reef tank. 112g with a 40 gallon sump/skimmer and refuge,
2 -250 10k MH and 2 90w VHO super actinic, 2 modded MJ1200 for flow, and an Eheim 1262 for return. All water made with 0- readable TDS RO/DI and Tropic Marin salts
While I know I could probably get away with the above numbers for a FOWLR tank it sure won't cut it for a mixed reef !
What do you recommend I do to bring these water parameters into more realistic ones?

[outy]

mag should be 1350 ppm not sure what the meq/l is.

you just need to raise your alk a hair 3.4 or so. and your ca is almost perfect, i try for 400

your ph is low and thats the worst of your readings

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

[scumonkey]

Thanks outy!
I put the wrong number(glad you caught it) for my mag...which is also quite low.
Mag - 1245

[outy]

no problem :]

[Billybeau1]

Yes those articles will get you going. Especially important to have a good calcium and alkalinity supplimet scheme.

You can boost your mag with any of the good mag supps out there. I use Kent Tech-M

This calculator tells you how much to use.
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

Also you may want to read up on the use of limewater. Many of us use it.

What your grandmother never told you about lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The magnesium isn't really that low. I recommend 1250-1350 ppm.

I'd focus on selecting a balanced calcium and alkalinity supplement system, and start using it now. Limewater, CaCO3/CO2 reactor, two part system, etc.

[scumonkey]

OK.....Right after Randy chimed in I ran out and got myself some B-Ionic 2 pat cal/alk. I also purchased some Seachem Marine buffer.
I started adding as per directions for first time. For my tank (112g w/40g sump)-it came up to around 30 ml for each part of the B-ionic once a day.
Three days later my water Params are now:
Ammo-0, Trite-0, Trate-2, PH-8.1, Alk-2.97, Cal-320, Mag-1260, Phos-0

Everything seems to be coming into alignment EXCEPT for my Calcium:eek2: It just keeps going down :confused:
Question....When The Alk is where I want it but the Calcium is still way off, Do I stop dosing the Alk part and keep going with the Calcium?
Can I increase the amount of the calcium portion of the two part?
If yes by how much- i don't want to push anything to fast.
Thanks for any and all assistance!

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

When The Alk is where I want it but the Calcium is still way off, Do I stop dosing the Alk part and keep going with the Calcium?

Nope. Just add more (a ton more) of the calcium part in addition to the usual dosing of both parts equally. That should only be required once (or rarely) :)

This calculator shows how much you'll need. You can add it all in 1 or 2 doses in 1 or 2 days.:

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

[scumonkey]

Thanks Randy! I looked at the calculator the other day....when I read I needed to add almost the entire bottle of the calc part to bring it up I got nervous! Will add it in 2 large doses over the next two days.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sounds good. Good luck. :)

[Billybeau1]

scumonkey, If you need a one time bump in calcium and want to save your 2-part for when you get balanced, pick up a concentrated calcium chloride like Turbo Calcium, ESV or Reef Complete. You'll see in the calculator it takes much less of these products to raise calcium than the B-Ionic 2-part.

Its always nice to have a bottle of that stuff around for emergency bumps. And easier on the pocketbook.

[scumonkey]

Well I've been adding the suppliments (took Billybeau1's advice and got some Turbo calcium) ,adding some Mag supps as well -and things are changing.....

PH....ALk....Cal.....MAG
-8.0 -2.69 -338 -1185 Sept 24,
-8.1 -2.90 -320 -1260 Sept 25,
-8.1 -2.97 -340 -1260 Sept 26,
-8.1 -2.97 -360 -1260 Sept 27,
-8.1 -3.95 -390 -1320 Sept 28,

The PH doesn't want to budge, and now the Alk is a bit high - I added some PH buffer like a moran :rolleyes:
....Can I skip the alk part when I add the Calcium portion next time?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The Sep 28 vlaues look fine to me. I'd keep adding a bit more of the Turbo Calcium, but I would not skip the alkalinity part. If you want the alkalitnuy lower, you can just add less each day and see where it stabilizes.