Can't get levels right???

[Michael_Lambert]

So my test kits where screwed.. lol, So i went out and spent a ton on new test kits..

and im having issues with my CAL and ALK... When i got the new kits these where way off! .. and i have been using KALK so i have switched to B-Ionic and started using that a week ago..

I have gotten my levels up to

CAL 430
ALK 7.7 DKH

And they have leveled off, Now i know the CAL is fine.. But i can not get the ALK up anymore? Anyone know why?

Thanks
Michael

[AustinReef]

i dont know why you cant get them up, but alk of 7.7 isnt that far off. What is you pH. Maybe try putting in more of the first part of Bionic.

[Michael_Lambert]

Well i have been adding 30 ML of each daily, its a 100g reef tank..

I just added another 30 ML ( Cap full ) and i will check the levels in an hour.. Im just afraid to add too much.

Other water peramiters are..

Salility 1.024
PH 8.4
Water temp 80'

[AustinReef]

is your salinty tested by a refractometer or hydrometer. i learned the hard way that your levels will not test accurately unless your salinity is 35ppm (1.025-1.026) Your tank has some good buffering capacity if your pH remains stable at 8.4 I dose kalk as well. I test everything weekly. If i find my calcium to be low at the end of the week, I add kent liquid calcium along with a small dose of both 1 and 2 BIONIC. If my alk level is low, I add JUST the first part of Bionic. There are all kinds of buffers you can add to raise alk, but i have great success using either or both of the BIONICS. Hope this helps. Also test you new salt water before you add it to the tank during water changes. My new salt water is very low in both calcium and alk. ( Instant Ocean mix) so I find it neccessary to add an equal amount of both Bionics to raise it up to the levels of my tank

[Hooked]

Well, according to the experts, at a SG of 1.025, your calcium should be 385 and your alk 7.5. So to be balanced you actually need your calcium lower. And to do that, I believe you do nothing, except monitor until it falls to the desired level and then begin your dosing regime again.

Have you heard the bowl of marbles analogy? I think your alk won't go up because there are too many calcium marbles in the bowl.

I've been having pH issues lately and have been reading up on these issues--here's a couple that might help--

Here's the marbles thread

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/...1255#post21255

a good, easy to understand article about dealing with calcium/alk problems

http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

This is my current problem

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/...1255#post21255


I found this stuff helpful, I hope you do too.

[EdgeKrusher]

It sounds like you're fine. Your levels are all within the optimal ranges. Give it a week and then test again, to see where you are at then. The more you mess with it before the system can balance it out the more problems can be caused. Also a couple of big water changes should help you balance the system out, but I'd only do that if one of the two were way out of whack. Those links that hooked provided are great, and a must read.

[Icebox]

Looks very interesting hooked,

Thanks for the info...