Bubbles Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Did some tests on my tank and found my calcium had dropped somewhat in relation to my alkalinity. Ca: 300 mg/l Alk: 12 dkh Mag: 1200 pH: 8.0 Still tuning my Ca reactor, but the effluent alkilinity has now settled on 40 dkh. Had been running a little higher than that for a while. Have dosed Seachem Advantage Calcium twice since yesterday, but the calcium hasn't budged yet. Is this normal? Should I just continue with the additional calcium doses until it reaches proper levels? Any thoughts appreciated. Cheers, Bubs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 bump the Mg up to 1300-1350 first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbles Posted October 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 bump the Mg up to 1300-1350 first Anyone have some spare Mag chips I can chuck in my Ca reactor? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 What is the order that the parameters should be corrected in? Say if you had: KH 7 Ca 360 Mg 1100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Mg first. High levels of Mg allow you to maintain Ca and Alk above the normal balanced levels due to an ability to coat carbonate ions with Mg and trick the Ca into not precipitating. If you bump up Ca and alk first to unnaturally high levels that we seek in a hard coral tank, it may precipitate out. You will find that the Kh and Ca levels may alter once you adjust your Mg levels. KP, I think it's one of the most important areas to get right if you want good SPS growth. My tank parameters are currently Ca - 450ppm Kh - 9-10 Mg 1380ppm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 I just made those numbers up just for an example. Mine are close to yours Getting more growth since dosing vodka, must have had a bit of phosphates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 thought you'd be on to it KP. hows those frags going, encrusting and starting to grow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 They are all looking really good, have started encrusting over the aquaknead it. Have seen more growth in the past week than the whole time I have had them. Should have an update in a month or so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Adding Mg to my tank helped sort out the levels of Ca a whole lot, still not perfect but getting a lot closer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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