Help! I need some suggestions to fix my dKH levels

[michika]

I'm using Seachem's Carbonate product in liquid form. It does work, its just not having a staying power. There is a upward movement in dKH after dosing, I just can't get the levels high enough, or get them to stay. I also tested just the product in freshwaster (before dosing), and it gives me a high dKH reading. I assume that means my product is okay.

I think I also need to do something about the fact that the salt I'm using starts out with low dKH. How do I address this?

I have tried using Baking Soda in the past, granted it was on a larger system, and I had to dose continually with it as well. At that time I was using a different salt brand.

So to sum up the suggestions so far:
- stop dosing to raise dKH, and instead focus on raising my Mg levels.
- look into if my additive is defective. Done.
- change the dosage in my reactor. Does this mean change the drip rate, or the strength of the additive entering the water?

I'm starting to think my problem is that I'm starting with low dKH (thanks to my salt mix), and once that is in my tank a lot of it, and the Ca is being used up because the tank is filled with SPS, and clams.

I guess the question is now how is the best way to raise and keep my dKH at appropriate levels? A reactor? A dosing pump?

[Ruth]

What I would do - I think - is to stop adding anything directly to the tank. I would mix up change water and make sure that the levels in your change water are where you want them to be - so in other words add the "stuff" to your change water. Let the water sit for a couple of days to make sure it is going to maintain the appropriate levels - then do water changes. I would be worried that with all the additions to your tank you are actually damaging the balance and causing fluctuations. IMO it is not the corals and clams that are sucking the calcium out too fast. In my 110g cube I only dose with C-balance and do weekly 20% water changes. It is filled with SPS coral and 5 large clams (6-8"). I am using Tropic Marin salt on this tank.
If your salt is what is causing you the problem with this tank it might be cheaper to change salt now and lose $50 (or however much it is) than lose your corals and clams which are probably worth a fair bit more. Besides someone with a softies or FOWLR tank might want to buy your unused salt.

[reeferaddict]

I couldn't agree more with Ruth here. If your livestock is showing no signs of distress, I would do it this way until all your levels are where you want them. My system uses controlled evaporation to adjust the amount of Kalk I dose daily, but eventually it ends up Magnesium deficient like yours, and Calcium and Alk are hard to maintain once your Magnesium goes under 1000pm.

I would liken it to pouring your Ca+ and Alk supplements down a drain if they are precipitating to where Mag is supposed to be. The Randy Holmes Farley article posted is about as explanatory as it gets too... I would do water changes with extra Mag in the water and once these levels get back up to 1250 - 1300 ppm I am almost certain your Alk and Ca problems will go away.

One other thing - getting your S.G. up to 1.025 from where you are at should take your Calcium concentration up around 20ppm due to the extra dissolved salts in the water. Your dKH may be a little higher because of this as well.

As for making your water the right levels... I use Kent Osmo-Prep Marine with my RO/DI water and Instant Ocean salt. After mixing, Calcium is right around 400ppm and Alk is at 8-9 dKH. Maybe try this before you change salts?

[kwirky]

when my tank's levels were way outa whack (6.0 dkh and 330 calcium) I dosed baked baking soda and quick kalk over the course of a week to get it back on track. Needed almost 1/2 a cup of each to correct it.

Don't know how to correct the magnesium though, as I use a salt that's super high in Mg already.

[michika]

Today's levels are:
Temp 81.2
pH 8.2
SG 1.023, I'm still raising this slowly, and its on the verge of 1.024
Ca 400ppm
dKH 6
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Mg 1110ppm

The only thing that has changed is that I added Seachem's Carbonate to raise my dKH, and that was before I posed the original post. Calcium is up 60ppm, dkH is up 2 points, and Mg is up 150ppm. My tank is confusing me!

So my tentative plan is to do nothing for the next few days, as it seems like most of the levels are starting to fall into place. I'm also moving tomorrow, so it wouldn't be practical do to anything.

So my plan after moving is:
- get my SG back to 1.025
- adjust my top off water so that it has the appropriate dKH, I worry though because my kalk. reactor is in my topoff pail and draws directly from there.
- if needed then I'll raise my Mg levels, and finally my Ca levels.

Does this sound like a good plan?

If I raise the dKH in my topoff water can I still keep drawing that water for use in my kalk. reactor?

[reeferaddict]

Originally Posted by michika

Today's levels are:
Does this sound like a good plan?

If I raise the dKH in my topoff water can I still keep drawing that water for use in my kalk. reactor?

Yes I think you're on the right track... just go slow...

Check on dosing an Alk supplement... baking soda or whatever you are using... with Kalk... if my memory is correct I think Calcium Hydroxide and Sodium Bicarbonate will precipitate out of solution when mixed to form Calcium Carbonate just a little too soon for our corals...

[michika]

I didn't have any luck on finding my answer on the Seachem website in regards to using topoff water with a higher dKH for my kalk. reactor. I sent off an email asking this, so hopefully I'll hear something back.

I know you need to leave at least 30 minutes between dosing alk, and ca, at least according to the bottles. But that being said, it doesn't help me with my question.

I'm thinking I will try to raise the dKH levels in my topoff water over the course of two or so weeks. I need to first figure out how the move to a new environment will affect my tank, e.g. evaporation levels, etc.