Dive, dive, dive...

[reefkeep1]

My calcium levels are diving!!! From 450 to 300 ppm in 1-2 weeks. I have green all over my live rock (its algae but it forms no strands, just discolors the rock and look's terrible). My alkalinity is ~ 4 meq/L and pH is ~8.2 to 8.3. I add turbo calcium, Kent Marine strontium (liquid), and Seachem strontium (granules). I also add Part A/B buffer. I have a Korallin calcium reactor running into the sump with the effluent pH = 6.5, alkalinity = 12-13 meq/L, Ca+2 = 425 ppm.

The tank is about 2 months old. Any theories for the radical drop in Ca+2?

I'm adding a picture of the green discoloration on the live rock.

RK1

 

[Anonymous]

Overdosing Ca & ALK (buffer) would be my guess.

You might consider testing for Magesium as well.

Test your PH reading several times in the same day to see what kind of range you have. If PH gets too high then Calcium can precipitate.

Look at your heaters and see if you have any crusting on them.

In such a young tank you don't need to dose so much stuff.

Are you testing your Strontium level before you dose it?

 

[reefkeep1]

Guy:

If I had to guess I would say you are in the ball park. I have been adding too much too soon. I tested Ca+2 in the morning, added my normal regimen of additives, and by tonight the Ca+2 level had dropped even more. My pH has never been above 8.3, I have a Pinpoint monitor that I continuously read during the day.

Today I ordered a magnesium and strontium test kit, so I won't know levels until then. I'm going to stop the additions until I know what the levels are. Did you see the pic I posted of the green discoloration on the rock. Maybe this is related to the loss of Ca+2 in some way since the coralline appears stunted.

RK1

 

[LA-Lawman]

on the coraline color.... does your tank get exposed to sunlight at all.... I have a buddy with perfect params... his tank gets 15mins of afternoon sun and it bleaches all of his coraline... but it continues to grow...

I agree with guy.... too much stuff.... what magnessium are you using... if you use the techM from kent they provide a general dose in case you are not testing....

when was the last time you calibrated r tested your ph monitor.???

 

[reefkeep1]

LA-Lawman:

I'm using Kent Marine Strontium & Molybdenum liquid supplement. I've just ordered test kits for magnesium and strontium. I added more supplements yesterday and today noticed a dramatic drop in Ca+2. The level has gone from 450 to 250 ppm in 1-2 weeks! I used a pH kit to confirm pH of ~8.2 - 8.3 during the day.

Any advice on next steps? I continue to run my calcium reactor but have discontinued all other supplements until I can resolve the Ca+2 drop. I need a plan for raising the Ca+2 without causing the opposite effect. The LR looks bad at this stage, and is discolored (green). Should I do another H20 change? I just changed 20% of the tank and it seemed to make things worse. Should I continue to run the Ca+2 reactor?

RK1

 

[Anonymous]

oooof....stop dosing everything!

water changes will set most levels where they need to be. The only thing you should use is a good buffer like b-ionic 2 part.

 

[reefkeep1]

The strange thing is after a 20% water change the rock looked worse, with more green discoloration. I started using Seachem reef salt. Has anyone had negative experiences with this salt? It didn't cause the initial discoloration, but the water change seemed to make it worse.

RK1