I have been battling Dinoflagellates for the past 10 months.
I have my nitrates and phosphates down to immeasurable levels according to Salifert test kits. Reduced my tank feeding (only pellets) and been siphoning them out 3-4 times a week. I have done a couple 72 hour complete blackouts and only have the MH lights on 4-6 hrs daily. They keep growing back. This article by Randy Holmes Farley recommending raising PH to 8.5
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php
I was able to borrow a Milwaukkee PH monitor and checked my current PH and it was 8.00 with lights on. Mixed 10 tsp of kalk to a 5G jug of RO water. Over the course of Saturday I added 4 cups of kalk solution 5 times (1.5 G total) and was only able to raise PH to 8.19. Does this sound about right? Parameters are below...
System - 160 G total water
Alk = 8.0 dKH
Ca = 420
Mg = 1400
NO3 & Phosphates = very low (no color period - Salifert test kits)
I just wanna make sure that I am on the right track as I've never played with raising PH before.
Or is there a better way to raise PH to 8.5 - 8.6?
Thanks, Tyler