KH, PH, and Calcium.....

[nickmg]

Hey everyone, I tested my water and was wondering why it would not hold a solid PH and Calcium.

My test as follows

90 KH
320 Ca
7.9 pH
.5 phos
0 Nitrates


I have in my hand ESV Bionic two part wondering if this will solve my problems as far as keeping my water parameters stable.

 

[jessezm]

Is it me or is your KH out of whack? Aside from that, you need to make sure your magnesium levels are in check. Mg plays an important role in the inhibition of calcium precipitation, and in turn helps stabilize and maintain a proper pH while keeping Ca and alk where you want it (or something like that..). levels should be around 1200-1300ppm. You can increase Mg levels using epsom salt (mag sulfate) or mag. chloride, but you have to use a lot to bring your levels up usually. Make sure you do some research and include water changes, especially if adding a lot of epsom salts, as you can raise your sulfate levels with significant dosing...

 

[stickx911]

w/ RO topoffs your PH can drop esp if you have a rather new tank as ro water has a ph of like 6, so adding that onto a tank can dilute....you get the idea. ditto what everyone else said tho.

 

[nickmg]

The test was done with a hagen test kit and they measure it in ppm, dont know what that converts into

 

[zapped82]

nickmg;199410 wrote: The test was done with a hagen test kit and they measure it in ppm, dont know what that converts into

I believe the conversion is 50ppm Calcium Carbonate = 2.8dKH which means you're around 5.0 dKH which is low.

 

[budsreef]

You divide ppm/17.9 to get dKH. So 90ppm would be 5dKH which is really low.

 

[ralph atl]

your're not dosing enough daily. Don't just pour it in, but you need to increase your dosage daily until in check!
Example: 20 milileter am 25 pm
Next day: 25 ml am 30 pm and so on until you hit target. Also, your phosphate is screwed.

 

[nickmg]

well my phosphate was in-between the 0 and .5 i just put some chemipure elite in.

 

[ralph atl]

what's in your tank? Fowlr?

 

[nickmg]

LPS: Frogspawn, Galaxy
SPS: Monti Cap
Clam: Crocea
Softies: GSP, Leather
Zoos

 

[ralph atl]

do you have algae yet?

 

[ralph atl]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php">http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php</a>

[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php</a>

[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php</a>

[IMG]http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm</a>


<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Phosphate reduction/ removal and high trates could be the answer. If you cannot get a fuge or sump (you can maybe make a "rubbermaid sump with chaeto in it for a few bucks) you can get a $35.00 hangon phosphate reactor for your tank and put some Phosar HC in there (or other). In the future, you'll most likely need a refugium with Macro algae. At first you’ll need to change your Iron based media in the phosphate reactor more often. Your media will get saturated in 2 weeks or so depending upon how much is bound up in your rocks, tank, algae, etc. Use less media, change every 2 weeks. Use a great test kit like DD Merck, Hack, Elos, or colormeter or send to AWT. If you already have a fuge & reactor, be aggressive & change the media every 2 weeks.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">when you do your water change, take the end of the hose and suck all the algae down like a vaccum. It'll take a few water changes, but it works (especially after the phosphate remover kicks in)</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">You must export the same or more nutrients than you put in. Overfeeding, tap water, high phosphate foods, etc. Use a phosphate reactor with some phosar or ROWA or whatever, and something to lower nitrates like a fuge, AZNO3, or whatever. </span></span>

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">check out:</span></span>
[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #800080;">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php</span></span></span></a>

[IMG]http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...st2003/chem.htm"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...st2003/chem.htm</span></span></span></a>


[IMG]http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #800080;">http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php</span></span></span></a>


[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/eb/index.php"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/eb/index.php</span></span></span></a>

[IMG]http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm</span></span></span></a>

 

[nickmg]

no algae what so ever, like i said the test kit measured between 0 and .5 Thank you for your concern about my phosphates though. I am going to work on the KH. Thanks guys

 

[ralph atl]

phosphates at that level will eventually cause you many problems, so please don't just discard that info. Phosphates should be at or below 0.024 measured by a test kit that can measure low phates such as DD Merck, HACH, Colormeter, and maybe ELOS. I agree you need to tackle KH & Calcium first.

 

[skriz]

stickx911;199397 wrote: w/ RO topoffs your PH can drop esp if you have a rather new tank as ro water has a ph of like 6, so adding that onto a tank can dilute....you get the idea. ditto what everyone else said tho.

RO should be 7.0, but that won't normally affect your tank ph.

I would do some frequent water changes to stabilize your parameters. Then, get your dosing in check. It is easier to do a lot of water changes than it is to chase one parameter.