I think all my levels are too low

[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]

Originally Posted by 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

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 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]

Originally Posted by Myka

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...