Results after 50% Water Change - 24g Nano

[mstrofdisaster]

Water Parameters

Prior to 50% W/C -------------------After 50% W/C (24 hours later)
SG: 1.025 ------------------------------same
pH: 8.6----------------------------------8.3
Ca: 200 ppm ---------------------------350ppm
Mg: 1200 ppm------------------------- 1320ppm
NO3: <.01 -----------------------------<0.1
Amm: <.05 ----------------------------must recheck
PO4: 0 ppm ----------------------------0ppm
Alk: 8.6 meq/L ------------------------6.4meq/L [18dKH]
(tests performed with salifert, except for Ca, done with Seachem)

So now that I'm here I'm asking for some advice on how to safely raise Calcium and reduce Alk.

Someone had mentioned ESV Calcium:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~EV2120.html
Something like this?

 

[bigbris1]

Just add the calcium part a little at a time (over the course of a few days) until you reach where you want to be.

 

[Sean]

looking good how are all the fish and coral looking?

 

[mstrofdisaster]

looking good how are all the fish and coral looking?

The fish never seemed troubled, no losses occurred prior.

Soft corals are looking better, some are still showing stress, mostly in the
form of closed polyps. Keeping my fingers crossed. SPS seems fine.

 

[MO~IDOL]

So now that I'm here I'm asking for some advice on how to safely raise Calcium and reduce Alk.

you use the chemistry calculator...
http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

 

[mstrofdisaster]

Nice calculator there Moidol, thank you!

 

[CancerverO]

Good job.:thrash:.. just keep adding slowly Ca and Alk will go down..

 

[latino277]

If I were you, aside from making adjustment with ESV, do another large water change in a few days... that should sqaure you off a little more.

 

[MO~IDOL]

you welcome try to match the tank parameter before wc.

 

[mstrofdisaster]

If I were you, aside from making adjustment with ESV, do another large water change in a few days... that should sqaure you off a little more.

latino277 - I did 50% last time, this time what - 30%, another 50%?

Moidol - You mean get params where I always want them then do the w/c?
btw - that calc is sweeeeet.

Thanks guys,

Chris

 

[MO~IDOL]

once u get all the par up the way u want, next time match it before change.
i usually premix mater over night then add wut ever u need to match then change. it takes longer but save that way.

 

[latino277]

what he said... going forward get your WC water to the #'s that you want before doing the WC. This will help. All so, seeing that you have done 3 large water changes you should now go back to doing your normal WC.

 

[aaron23]

i would do another water change until it is down to where you want it, 18 is still EXTREMELY HIGH and im wondering how the acros are still living...

 

[vanceny]

How are you getting the 18dkh for Alk? Are you refilling the syringe and adding up the vaules?

 

[juiceguy]

i would double check that test kit, salifert had issues with some of their alk kits.....i don't remember the lot #'s but check on R/C, there was a list of bad kits that were producing higher than normal results.

 

[mstrofdisaster]

How are you getting the 18dkh for Alk? Are you refilling the syringe and adding up the vaules?

Absolutely not, thats just what the endpoint is after titration of reagent, not adding anymore reagent.

It came right off the instructions included. I will test it again once I get home today.

 

[aaron23]

you might want to get another test kit to compare...

 

[mstrofdisaster]

you might want to get another test kit to compare...

It measured the Oceanic (the fresh mixed) Alk @ 4.58 meq/L...which I know is a bit high. I'll try my Red Sea test kit to see if there are any significant variations.

 

[mstrofdisaster]

I'm a little confused right now from the member's advice here.

• Some say to bring up the Ca slowly, which will reduce the Alk.
• Some say to do another big w/c to balance everything.

Choices, choices, choices...

 

[aaron23]

i think both options are terrible towards you sps, but you have no choice..

the fluctuation of parameters from doing another water change will screw everything but get it on the right path

and

increasing Ca slowly reducing alk will take a fair amount of time, we arent talking 1 or 3 DKH off that is terrible on its own but your at 18 DKH.. which will have a negative effect as well.