Horrible time with calcium

[nin0]

theres a recent thread about it...i think its called alk/cal. There's a big discussion about how PH readings are affected, giving false PH readings..or was it alk?? Anyway which test kit are u using? Try a different brand of it and if the calcium reading comes out the same then maybe try the kalk/vinegar solution...IMO i never had much success personally with vinegar...the livestock didnt look good after dosing it.

 

[kipreefer]

I use red sea test kits. I would rather use salfriet but i can get a dicount on the red seas at my work. I havent read alot of reviews on the red sea kits but some times i see they make them with out giving exact readings they just say bad good to high and so on.

 

[Poolewald]

I would be more likely to point toward your test kit if you have only used the Red Sea version. Test kits are at best unreliable. Take a sample to a LFS and see what their readings say. You might be surprised.

 

[smokin reefer]

Kip, I totally agree you need to use a new test kit as stated above. Ph kit also. Here are a few threads to read that may help you out.

http://www.reefs.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=027125&p=

http://www.reefs.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=028005

Good luck

 

[Old Guy]

Toss the red sea, Tested 3 of the Ca test kits against a Salifert, Gave all 3 back to the LFS. I know Salifert and better seem expensive but at least they work.

For what its worth.

 

[kipreefer]

For it seems like all eternity i have been having a problem with calcium. I have never been able to get it up. It has always been around 350 or lower. I forever was dripping kalk but that stopped working im guessing i dripped to fast and the calcium percipitated out. So i ordered B-ionic i add 3 ml per gallon per day but that isnt working. I checked my PH today in the morning and it was a 8.4 so if i drip more kalk it will percipitate out again. I checked Alkalinity and it was ok but for some reason my calcium wont rise. I dont have a Mg test kit but i do 5 gallon water changes on my 90 each week. I just cant figure it out i really am gettin got the point were i want to give up and give my life stock to friends. I have tried plain kalk, kalk plus by WM, and B-ionic. I feel like i am startving my corals out of calcium. I really need some help i am going crazy. The thing that bothers me the most is that a guy i know who cant tell the diffrence between hammer coral and monipora has his calcium perfect. He constantly asks "hey randy how si the calcium doing" i just want to punch the guy. I have posted many times on the before over the last few months can someone help me. I first need to figure out how to get my PH down so i the calcium can be absorbed.

 

[Anonymous]

Have you tried the kalk - dissolved in vinegar - solution?
There's a good thread on the subject in the archives here. I think the thread's subject is Kalkwasser. It'll tell you the hows and whys.
That method may get the pesky pH problem fixed for you.

 

[kipreefer]

Wont that raise the PH though or does it make the liquid come out at a lower PH becasue of the vinager.

 

[Anonymous]

The kalk+vinegar solution has a lower pH.
Check out the thread. It explains it all far better than I ever could.
Maybe Randy Holmes Farley or bReefcase will chime in and restate the pH values for us all.