ALK of 7 good??

DPdsny · 06-24-2005, 07:46 PM

I want to start growing coraline better then I have in the past. My CA is 395. I want to bring it up a little more but my ALK is at 7dhk.
I tested with Salifert kits. I use Kent's liquid calcium to bring the calcium up. but that brings the ALK down. now I don't want to start a big debate, but what do you think my next move should be. is a 7dhk to low, should I try to bring it up a little,should I be using a different additive ect ect.
The tank is a 75 FOWLR bare bottom.
thanks for any info
Danny

Rougiem · 06-24-2005, 08:12 PM

Heya Danny:

Your Ca is just a little low (400 is good), but your alk sounds alright. You know these affect each other? What do you have in your tank?

I will give the credit where credit is do...This is from Woodstock (good read on the subject): http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Hope that helps you and I am sure others will add to this as well!

Cheers

Woodstock · 06-24-2005, 08:49 PM

LOL Rodger.. If I had a dime for everytime I gave that link to someone, I'd dance~

DPdsn: 7 dhk divided by 2.8 = 2.5 meg/l, per the chart below taken from the link Rougiem gave you, you are in great shape! You are actually right at the blue dot

Quote:

Figure 1. A graph showing possible values for calcium and alkalinity in marine aquaria. The red zone is the recommended target, and the blue dot represents values in natural seawater. Each numbered zone outside of the target area has a specific set of directions to get back to the target.

I wouldn't do anything right now. However, if you have a tank full of Ca demanding corals/clams/coralline/halimeda, etc... you may want to bump both the Ca and Alk up just a tad to allow extra for the demand. Using kalkwasser for all evaporated top offs would more than suffice. If not, you'd need a calcium reactor.

Woodstock · 06-24-2005, 08:54 PM

BTW... kalkwasser is a good balanced additive for both the Ca and Alk (but you'll read about that in the link).

DPdsny · 06-24-2005, 09:06 PM

Rougiem-thanks for that link, I just need some time to really give it a good reading.

Woodstock- I don't have any Ca demanding corals its a fish only tank, I just want to get the coraline really going good, I recently switched to B/B and I got a piece of starboard on the bottom that I want the coraline to cover.

DPdsny · 06-24-2005, 09:10 PM

Woodstock----what was that little math thing you did back there? took the 7 divided by 2.8 ........... or did I forget to do a step with the Salifert kit???

Woodstock · 06-24-2005, 09:10 PM

Bump the ca/alk up with kalkwasser, use ro/di water for all water changes and use a phosphate absorbent media. The ro/di and po4 media will lower the phosphates in the water. Po4 hinders calcification (ie coralline/hard coral growth).

Woodstock · 06-24-2005, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPdsny

Woodstock----what was that little math thing you did back there? took the 7 divided by 2.8 ........... or did I forget to do a step with the Salifert kit???

#dhk divided by 2.8 equals #mg/l.

That was so you could use the chart which shows ALK in mg/l.

DPdsny · 06-24-2005, 09:31 PM

ok I see :smck:
I only use rodi water. right now im running Phos-ban
Thanks for all your help and fast replys

06-24-2005, 07:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
DPdsny Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Staten Island New York Posts: 132 View Gallery Karma Komment	ALK of 7 good?? I want to start growing coraline better then I have in the past. My CA is 395. I want to bring it up a little more but my ALK is at 7dhk. I tested with Salifert kits. I use Kent's liquid calcium to bring the calcium up. but that brings the ALK down. now I don't want to start a big debate, but what do you think my next move should be. is a 7dhk to low, should I try to bring it up a little,should I be using a different additive ect ect. The tank is a 75 FOWLR bare bottom. thanks for any info Danny __________________ ----------------75gal FOWLR --------------------- I used to mountain bike , snowboard, surf, golf, hang out with friends, go out to eat, go to the movies, go on long vacations, go on weekend trips. But then .....................I got a fish tank!!!! -------------------------------------------------- THIS NEVER HAPPEND TO WOOGY.... This NEVER happend to woogy...(Somthing about Mary)

06-24-2005, 08:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rougiem Ichthy Inquisitor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Biggest Little City In The World Posts: 2,904 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Heya Danny: Your Ca is just a little low (400 is good), but your alk sounds alright. You know these affect each other? What do you have in your tank? I will give the credit where credit is do...This is from Woodstock (good read on the subject): http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm Hope that helps you and I am sure others will add to this as well! Cheers __________________ "Apes don't read philosophy." "Yes they do Otto, they just don't understand it." Intial School Tank Set Up and Progress

06-24-2005, 08:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,501 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	BTW... kalkwasser is a good balanced additive for both the Ca and Alk (but you'll read about that in the link). __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

06-24-2005, 09:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
DPdsny Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Staten Island New York Posts: 132 View Gallery Karma Komment	Rougiem-thanks for that link, I just need some time to really give it a good reading. Woodstock- I don't have any Ca demanding corals its a fish only tank, I just want to get the coraline really going good, I recently switched to B/B and I got a piece of starboard on the bottom that I want the coraline to cover. __________________ ----------------75gal FOWLR --------------------- I used to mountain bike , snowboard, surf, golf, hang out with friends, go out to eat, go to the movies, go on long vacations, go on weekend trips. But then .....................I got a fish tank!!!! -------------------------------------------------- THIS NEVER HAPPEND TO WOOGY.... This NEVER happend to woogy...(Somthing about Mary)

06-24-2005, 09:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
DPdsny Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Staten Island New York Posts: 132 View Gallery Karma Komment	Woodstock----what was that little math thing you did back there? took the 7 divided by 2.8 ........... or did I forget to do a step with the Salifert kit??? __________________ ----------------75gal FOWLR --------------------- I used to mountain bike , snowboard, surf, golf, hang out with friends, go out to eat, go to the movies, go on long vacations, go on weekend trips. But then .....................I got a fish tank!!!! -------------------------------------------------- THIS NEVER HAPPEND TO WOOGY.... This NEVER happend to woogy...(Somthing about Mary)

06-24-2005, 09:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,501 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Bump the ca/alk up with kalkwasser, use ro/di water for all water changes and use a phosphate absorbent media. The ro/di and po4 media will lower the phosphates in the water. Po4 hinders calcification (ie coralline/hard coral growth). __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

06-24-2005, 09:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
DPdsny Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Staten Island New York Posts: 132 View Gallery Karma Komment	ok I see :smck: I only use rodi water. right now im running Phos-ban Thanks for all your help and fast replys __________________ ----------------75gal FOWLR --------------------- I used to mountain bike , snowboard, surf, golf, hang out with friends, go out to eat, go to the movies, go on long vacations, go on weekend trips. But then .....................I got a fish tank!!!! -------------------------------------------------- THIS NEVER HAPPEND TO WOOGY.... This NEVER happend to woogy...(Somthing about Mary)

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