I think all my levels are too low

[rocketlily]

Here's the results from my testing this morning:
Salinity - 1.022
PH - 8.01
Nitrites - Undetectable
Nitrates - Undetectable
Phosphate - Undetectable
Iodine - None
Iodide - None
Calcium - 300 mg/L
Carbonate/KH - 70 ppm or 3.9 DKH

I am using purchased RO water. Due to the quality of our well water I cannot make our own RO water. I am using Red Sea Coral Pro salt for RO water, but nearly out so I could make a change.
I have:
Seachem Reef Complete - Liquid form for raising calcium
Seachem Advantage Calcium - Powder form for raising calcium
Seachem Reef Builder - Powder form for raising carbonate alkalinity

I don't mind adding daily, at this point I'm not looking to add any eqipment, but some of my levels are way too low. What should I add, how much and how often to bring the tank up to acceptable levels?

[digital-audiophile]

It's your KH that scares me, that is so very low. I would use a buffer to bring that up, allthough a quick change up will take a hit on your low Ca.

[xtreme]

Try using this calculator. It should give you an idea how much dosing will be required, but make sure to raise your levels slowly.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

[rocketlily]

Try using this calculator. It should give you an idea how much dosing will be required, but make sure to raise your levels slowly.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

Thank you. What an excellent calculator. Should I be striving to raise levels over the next week or would a two week period be safer?

[mark]

Sure you numbers are accurate before start doing large changes?

Here's NSW (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php)valves to give an idea what to match to.

[Myka]

Raise your specific gravity before you do anything as that will add calcium and alkalinity. Your specific gravity should be 1.026 for a reef. You should buy a magnesium test kit as well because it is the third part of the triangle, and you need to monitor its level just as much as your calcium and alkalinity. I would say you should take about a week to raise your levels up to the proper amounts, just add a little each day. Take what the calculator tells you to add, and add 1/6th everyday or even 1/10th everyday until they are good.

Take a red through the guide in my signature for more info. :)

[Aquattro]

Raise your specific gravity before you do anything as that will add calcium and alkalinity.

Good advice!

[rocketlily]

Thank you all. Looks like I'm on a mission this week.

[Dolf]

"The lower salinity limit that most reef animals can tolerate at for at least a few hours is about 30 ppt. This represents the salinity normally found in estuaries, or around river mouths or, periodically, in some lagoons after substantial rainfall. Coral reefs are generally located in areas that have salinities in the range of 35 ppt to 38 ppt. Most of our corals, and the associated fauna including fishes, will live best at those conditions."

Comes from an excellent article on salinity and temperature here... http://www.ronshimek.com/salinity_temperature.html

Check the accuracy of what you are using to measure and know that temperature can affect (in a small way) some forms of measuring salinity...

[Myka]

Oh I forgot to mention that if you are using a plastic swing arm hydrometer you should check its accuracy against either a refactometer (your LFS should be willing to do this for you), or calibrate it yourself (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php) as hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate.

[Dolf]

I found the article I was looking for which discusses salinity and how to measure it by Randy Holmes Farley... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php . I only include it because your salinity seems so low that I question if it is an accurate reading. The begining discusses salinity and the end the different ways to measure it.

[Snappy]

When keeping stoney corals I would recommend an SG no lower that 1.024 and keep in mind natural sea water is about 7 DKH & ca is close to 400. Unless running zeo I suggest keeping the alk closer to 8-9 DHK and ca 420-440. Your fish will be fine & your corals will be happy.