Recent content by gdtpgh

It's a good news/bad news update. Here are the results of my latest tests after making an addition of 1 gallon of Randy's Magnesium solution. I'm frustrated. This is like fixing your car door only to have the bumper fall off. I've been at this for months and now for some reason my copper...

I rec'd my latest test results. It's been about a month of dosing calc chloride and occasionally some buffer recently. Calcium is up as is alkalinity. I still need to fix Magnesium though. About 2 weeks ago it was at its lowest 910. Apparently I need quite a bit of supplement to make an...

I heard back on this from the seller who confirmed with ESV that all of the products should be fine. The 2-part I ordered was the concentrate and after adding RO/DI water it should still be fine. For what it's worth, I ordered the product from Marine Depot. They got back to me in a very timely...

All are defrosted however the alkalinity part 2 is still solid...not frozen but solid. There is some liquid in it but for the most part it's still solid.

I ordered some ESV B-Ionic (Parts 1 and 2), Potassium Iodide and Magnesium. All were frozen when delivered. The B-Ionic Alkalinity said that it should be stored at no less than 60degrees. I assume it's not usable. I am not sure about the other liquid supplements. What do you think? I've...

ChrisRD, I planned on double checking the actual teaspoons but thanks for pointing it out. Wade, What product would I use to add magnesium? ....just a better salt mix with a higher concentration of Magnesium? Until I get trough the two part additive article and start making my own, is there a...

I do seem to be in a see-saw battle with alk and calcium. I also noticed my magnesium went down 300 points in a month. So, my best course of action is to: short term 1. hold off on large water change 2. add the Calcium Chloride (81 teaspoons over several days) 3. while keeping an eye on...

ChrisRD, I may have to buy some more ESV....What would be a good regimen of adding that much calcium? What would be the max teaspoons per day? What will happen to alk as I add that much calcium? Won't that drive alk down? George

So there's the crux of the situation....did I lose my acros to parasites (I saw no redbugs) or the low calcium level? I was testing the levels since July using the Lamotte kit and assumed I was around 400. With a relatively light load AND dosing kalk AND adding the calcium chloride thise last...

One correction on the water changes, I typically do 5 gal per week. My initial post said two changes in...I started adding the calcium after the second one but continued to do the 5gal/week. I will do some larger changes and "try" to get the alk and calcium to where they need to be before...

The tank was setup in July and the contents of old 55 were moved to this tank. You're the second person who said my ammonia and nitrites are high. What's the issue there? All rock was well seasoned and I had live sand, skimmer produces lots of skimate every 4-5 days, I feed sparingly, flow seems...

I am having major problems trying to get my alk and calcium to the proper levels. Apparently I may be inept at using test kits at home because they were measuring close to where I needed to be. I thought I was ok until I saw some issues with some corals so I sent a water sample to Aquarium Water...

I have a pH meter that I calibrate monthly. There is a swing in the pH between day and night. Its high is around 8.2 and the low 7.9. The temp is 80 with the lights on and at night falls a degree sometimes two but it's a slow transition. In the summer it was a bit higher even with my air...

Ammonia at .011ppm and Nitrite at .002ppm is too high? I'll take your word for it but that just seems to go against what I use as my benchmark...Randy Holmes Farley's recommendations here http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php I understand they should be zero but can I even get...

I am not sure why but my calcium level dropped below 300. I was dosing kalk and doing small 5 gal water changes every week. I was testing calcium using a lamotte's kit and thought I was around 400+ and everything was good until I lost two acroporas. I sent a sample to Aquarium Water Testing and...