Ca\Alk Question

[Carpentersreef]

Check your Mg level. It can affect your Ca reading.

Mitch

 

[stilmas]

Ok, then what after that? I mean what is the Mg supposed to be, and in what way does it effect the Ca? Thanks again.

 

[Carpentersreef]

Mg should be >1300 ppm. Use the search function on this board for magnesium calcium. I just did and it came back with 19 threads. Mg helps Ca stay in solution in SW, or something like that.
Use Salifert test kits.

Mitch

 

[stilmas]

I seem to be having somewhat of a problem keeping Ca levels above 365 without driving the Alk way up. I was using B-Ionic but switched to Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium powder to see if I can just raise Ca. But that seems to raise Alk as well. I dosed the powder this morning and at midnight the Ca is 390 and Alk is 18.4dKH. Bfore the dosing the Ca=360 Alk=15.2dKH. Any suggestions??

 

[randy holmes-farley]

Here's the relationship between calcium and magnesium:

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/library/articleview2.asp?Section=&RecordNo=2856

 

[stilmas]

Hey, thanks for the replies. I am using Salifert kits. I'll look into your suggestions. Thanks again!

 

[Carpentersreef]

yer welcome!

glad Randy included that link. I've now bookmarked it myself!

Mitch

 

[stilmas]

ok, I just read Randy's Article.Correct me if I got it backwards. I'm having trouble raising Ca over 390 let's say. It usually stays around 360-390 even after dosing for consecutive days. But the Alk continues to climb, so this means that I may have a low Mg level? or is it the other way around? I know, I know...Test for it..But until I get a test kit what would you guys recommend doing? Would a dKh level of 18.4 be way too high? I could lower it with water changes, which I do every weekend anyway. Everything looks just fine with it that high, but it's only been a few days. Any more thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. OK....I just tested again..18hrs later I get Ca=380 Alk=17.6...Seems that everything is on the downslope again. Everything from what it sounds like points to Mg. Anyone agree?? I need to test for that. Thanks again fellas!

 

[stilmas]

^^^

 

[mariner]

Isn't there something you can do with vinegar to balance the alk out when dosing kalk? I thought I saw a post on that before.

 

[randy holmes-farley]

No. If magnesium is low, you will (may) be unable to maintain even normal levels of both calcium and alkalinity.

Under any circumstance (such as OK magnesium) if either calcium is too high or alkalinity is too high, the other will (may) be undesirably low.

Think of it this way: multiplying calcium times alkalinity cannot exceed a certain value. If both are normal, that's OK. If one is high, the other must be low, and vice versa.

In your case, alkalinity is too high, and that's why you can't boost calcium easily.

 

[stilmas]

ok, thanks Randy, you've been a big help. Here's my plan then...I'll just stop adding stuff until I can get the levels more in range then start again. I'm also going to get an Mg test kit to see if that's what may be getting in the way. Thanks again!