Liquid Reactor question
 

I got some liquid reactor about a week ago in hopes of jacking up my Ca levels.

Apr 14 Ca 390 ppm alk 9.8 dKh (3.52 mEq/L)
Apr 17 Ca 370 ppm alk 9.6 dKh (3.42 mEq/L)
Apr 20 Ca 380 ppm alk 9.0 dKh (3.2 mEq/L)
Apr 23 Ca 370 ppm alk 7.9 dKh (2.85 mEq/L)

Now I may be a dummy, but I thought that adding the liquid would increase both my Ca and alk, not decrease both. I am adding 4 capfulls nightly to my 90 gallon as it recommends.

Can someone explain to me what is happening?

DanTheMan

Your demand is just higher than the "reccomended dose" so just add more product. Take it as a coral-growing compliment.

Also, make sure that you stir up the sediment in the bottom of the bottle... sometimes this requires a stick. :mrgreen:

That's about it!

Should the alk be dropping that rapidly?

With coral growth, yes.

befor I make a guess on weather this is a normal drop or not, how big of tank do you have and what do you have in it for coral, rock, and lighting.

Steve

Currently, 90 g with 20 g sump

montipora capricormis, montipora digitata, horn coral, crocea clam, umbrella leather, frogspawn, bubble coral, hammer coral, colt, elegance, turbinia, moon, tongue, 2 rose anemones, green star polyps, zoos, mushrooms.

yellow tang, regal tang, perc, tomato, coral beauty

Hope this helps

DTM

sounds a little high of a consumption but then again I don't know how big all thoes corals are, but it suprises me you are droping so fast.

Steve

reply
 

How are your magnesium levels? I have found that if they aren't up to snuff they might actually mask the other levels, giving an incorrect reading. What kind of test kit do you use?
BTW, I think your Calcium levels are right on par, only the Alk seems a bit low.

Re: Liquid Reactor question
 

I'm going through the exact same thing right now. I can't get it above 400 no matter how much I add.

I've been addingt he recommended dosage daily for 2-3 weeks now. Alk OK at 9.9 dKh but Ca will not go above 370 ppm.

I have been adding Mg periodically but haven't checked it recently.

Should I be trying other additives?

try dripping kalk along with the LR. also what brand of salt are you using?

Liquid Reactor
 

I've been adding 4 cap fulls of Liquid Reactor every night or every other night and even though I can't seem to get my Ca and Alk up (it sits around Ca-350 and Alk-7.5), the thick brown sludgey algae that was growing on the back wall is disappearing rapidly more and more each night. Could this be because the alk is increasing and it is harder for algae to survive? I don't have a Mg test kit so I can't test to see if that's what's throwing it off. Sorry to hijack, sounds related though.