Alk and Cal

Amatuer21 · 01/13/2019, 10:57 AM

My Alk(6.7)and Ca(330)seem to be pretty low with a specific gravity of 1.025. This is a newly established tank (BOD 12/3) i use red sea coral pro. I dont have a mag test kit yet so i cant report any #’s on it. All other parameters look good ph8.3, p04-0. Is this normal? I feel that my Alk and Cal should be higher. I have 0 corals and 4 chromis, 1 firefish goby. I was going to add my first corals like a LPS or softie but I decided not to yet. I plan for a mixed reef with a few easier to keep sps. Oh and i run gfo, skimmer is running and i have lots of Chateo. And thoughts? Or am i good? Thanks in advance

Vinny Kreyling · 01/13/2019, 11:14 AM

Right now GFO is not needed, it is really not a good idea to shoot for -0-. Just as there needs to be some nitrate there needs to be some PO4, albeit minimum.
Bionic dosing sounds like the right choice for you @ this point to bring your levels up.

Amatuer21 · 01/13/2019, 11:15 AM

Sorry posted in the wrong page :/

Amatuer21 · 01/13/2019, 11:19 AM

Ok. I thought running gfo right from the starting line would give me an advantage over any new start up algae blooms etc. So like a two part dosing regiment?

Vinny Kreyling · 01/13/2019, 11:28 AM

Your tank has to cycle, that includes algae. Your bio load is very minimal as should be your feeding. Yes a 2 part regiment.

Amatuer21 · 01/13/2019, 11:48 AM

Ok thank you for the quick reply

scrapz · 01/13/2019, 03:30 PM

Double check your salt and if its a bad batch, exchange it..Buddy of mine crashed his talk when his sps tank when alk hit 6.7k beause of this salt.

Amatuer21 · 01/13/2019, 05:27 PM

Good point. I tested some pre made saltwater at 1.026 and Alk was 8.3 and Ca at 340?

outssider · 01/13/2019, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amatuer21

Good point. I tested some pre made saltwater at 1.026 and Alk was 8.3 and Ca at 340?

340 right out of the box sounds pretty low....make sure your cal test is accurate....if it is, Id complain to the manufacturer

mcgyvr · 01/14/2019, 11:14 AM

Your numbers don't jive with what the manufacturer says the salt should be..
So either you got a bad batch or you aren't measuring properly or your test kits are inaccurate..
Red Sea Coral Pro to 35ppt should be
Cal 450ppm
Alk 11dkh

I'd get a second opinion on those tests from your local fish store or something..
Dosing at this point is dangerous and unlikely to be needed..

I second you remove the GFO..
Its a beneficial nutrient and GFO can strip a tank.. Too little is just as bad as too much..
GFO should ONLY be used in response to a known phosphate problem..

Amatuer21 · 01/14/2019, 06:44 PM

Nononono. Sorry guys false alarm im an idiot. Hence why my name is mispelled. The entire time my refractometer was off. I had a great idea to re-calibrate and found that my tank is reading 1.015-1.017. That would explain my low levels. I did quit the gfo. Thanks for the advice you guys help tremendously!!! Now, how to safely raise my salinity?

Daddi0 · 01/14/2019, 07:14 PM

Add saltwater instead of R/O for topping off til it is correct.
Cheers! Mark

outssider · 01/15/2019, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amatuer21

found that my tank is reading 1.015-1.017

I think you could be in line for the Fu$k- up of the year award !!

Amatuer21 · 01/15/2019, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outssider

I think you could be in line for the Fu$k- up of the year award !!

Lmao

01/13/2019, 10:57 AM	#1
Amatuer21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cuyahoga Falls Posts: 1,303	Alk and Cal My Alk(6.7)and Ca(330)seem to be pretty low with a specific gravity of 1.025. This is a newly established tank (BOD 12/3) i use red sea coral pro. I dont have a mag test kit yet so i cant report any #’s on it. All other parameters look good ph8.3, p04-0. Is this normal? I feel that my Alk and Cal should be higher. I have 0 corals and 4 chromis, 1 firefish goby. I was going to add my first corals like a LPS or softie but I decided not to yet. I plan for a mixed reef with a few easier to keep sps. Oh and i run gfo, skimmer is running and i have lots of Chateo. And thoughts? Or am i good? Thanks in advance __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: Waterbox

01/13/2019, 11:14 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Right now GFO is not needed, it is really not a good idea to shoot for -0-. Just as there needs to be some nitrate there needs to be some PO4, albeit minimum. Bionic dosing sounds like the right choice for you @ this point to bring your levels up. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

01/13/2019, 11:15 AM	#3
Amatuer21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cuyahoga Falls Posts: 1,303	Sorry posted in the wrong page :/ __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: Waterbox

01/13/2019, 11:19 AM	#4
Amatuer21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cuyahoga Falls Posts: 1,303	Ok. I thought running gfo right from the starting line would give me an advantage over any new start up algae blooms etc. So like a two part dosing regiment? __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: Waterbox

01/13/2019, 11:28 AM	#5
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Your tank has to cycle, that includes algae. Your bio load is very minimal as should be your feeding. Yes a 2 part regiment. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

01/13/2019, 11:48 AM	#6
Amatuer21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cuyahoga Falls Posts: 1,303	Ok thank you for the quick reply __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: Waterbox

01/13/2019, 03:30 PM	#7
scrapz Saturation+100 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,555	Double check your salt and if its a bad batch, exchange it..Buddy of mine crashed his talk when his sps tank when alk hit 6.7k beause of this salt.

01/13/2019, 05:27 PM	#8
Amatuer21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cuyahoga Falls Posts: 1,303	Good point. I tested some pre made saltwater at 1.026 and Alk was 8.3 and Ca at 340? __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: Waterbox

01/14/2019, 11:14 AM	#10
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Your numbers don't jive with what the manufacturer says the salt should be.. So either you got a bad batch or you aren't measuring properly or your test kits are inaccurate.. Red Sea Coral Pro to 35ppt should be Cal 450ppm Alk 11dkh I'd get a second opinion on those tests from your local fish store or something.. Dosing at this point is dangerous and unlikely to be needed.. I second you remove the GFO.. Its a beneficial nutrient and GFO can strip a tank.. Too little is just as bad as too much.. GFO should ONLY be used in response to a known phosphate problem.. __________________ Who me?

01/14/2019, 06:44 PM	#11
Amatuer21 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cuyahoga Falls Posts: 1,303	Nononono. Sorry guys false alarm im an idiot. Hence why my name is mispelled. The entire time my refractometer was off. I had a great idea to re-calibrate and found that my tank is reading 1.015-1.017. That would explain my low levels. I did quit the gfo. Thanks for the advice you guys help tremendously!!! Now, how to safely raise my salinity? __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: Waterbox

01/14/2019, 07:14 PM	#12
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	Add saltwater instead of R/O for topping off til it is correct. Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater