Dosing Questions
 

Ok so I just got a test kit to test the water, here are my readings:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - Very low, near 0
pH - between 8.1 and 8.3 (probably closer to 8.3)
Calcium - < 340 > 320
Phosphate - 0 - 0.25
Magnesium - < 1150
kH - < 120 mg/L CaCo3
Iron - I didnt test for this but could if needed.

So I bought two additives to correct my obviously low Calcium, Magnesium and Kh.

So what Im going to do is put in 10 teaspoons of the calcium which should raise my whole system about 24 ppm for calcium. Thatd put me in the 350 range. I'll then retest my system for mg, ca, kh and ph and see what all the levels are at. Then I'll add more if needed, which is likely the case, but I just wanted to go slow.

Good idea or what do you guys think?

I bought Reef Advantage Calcium and Tailored Aquatics Magnesium.

The calcium says it also increase magnesium levels and wont effect pH.

I have a 200G system and so Im going to dose in

Alkalinty and kH are the same thing. Try to raise it and your calcium together a bit at a time. All three (mg,ca and kH) need to be balanced to make maintaining the proper levels easier.

Alk = KH

There's a relationship between Ca and Mg (1:3) to be aware of.

Bring levels up slow. Might also want to check your new SW before a change, often the mixes need a little supplement.

So was raising my Calcium by 24 ppm first a strong move seeing as how that product says it also raises Mg slightly? How do I adjust Kh? What product?

Here is a handy calculator to use to figure how much dosing is necessary.

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

Ok Im just going to use this thread as a log until I can get my levels in a good range.

So after dosing my tank with 10 teaspoons of reef advantage calcium here are my new readings two days later:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - Very low, near 0
pH - between 8.1 and 8.3 (probably closer to 8.3) -->8.3
Calcium - < 340 > 320--> <400 > 380
Phosphate - 0 - 0.25
Magnesium - < 1150 --> 1150
kH - < 120 mg/L CaCo3 --> < 110 mg/L CaCo3
Iron - I didnt test for this but could if needed.

So what I added today was 10 capfuls of the magnesium product I bought and will take more readings tomorrow to see how it effected the levels.

This is a great calculator, I use it when I need to. I would recommend you entering your parameters and follow the directions for the Dosing you bought.

It is also a good idea to raise you calcium and kH together ie dose alkalinity in the morning and calcium in the evening daily to keep your levels in check once you reach NSW levels.

What does NSW levels stand for?

Also what is a good product to raise alkalinity? I havent got one yet. Thanks guys, I didnt use that calculator cause the mg product I bought wasnt one of the listed ones on the calculator :/

NSW= normal salt water
or was that natural salt water?