CA and ALK Help needed

[serge]

Hello everyone,

I've been strugling keeping my CA and ALK at the proper levels using B-Ionic and other buffers. I don't know where these 2 are disappearing into. My Mag is fine at 1400 but I find myself using 3/4 of 32oz bottles of each in 4 days. When added I see the increase but next day it is back 340-360 CA and 6.2 ALK. I add 30ml of each to my 29 gal biocube way more than i should.

I just can't see my SPS using up this much in 1 day. I also have Kalk in my ATO and that doesn't help.

I have 1 small bird tree and 2 hollywood stunners size of a coffee cup (diameter). All LPS and softies doing great

Frog
ACAN
GSP
Branching GSP
Mushrooms
polyps/zoas
kenyas
zenias

And I think i'm starting to get calcification. inside of my GFO reactor is all white film and GFO are getting white as well. Any suggestions?

[[Cruzer]]

could be that the testers are going bad??

[serge]

could be that the testers are going bad??

Thanks for reply

I thought about it, but used that same test to test seawater from scripps and water from another tank. So kit is good. Also stonies are not as happy as softies and pink algae won't grow. So CA issues for sure.

[Bogg]

Ca rxtr time!
Are you adding them at the same time?

[serge]

Ca rxtr time!
Are you adding them at the same time?

Just like the bottle says, add comp 1 then 2. I wait about 15 min. Done for last 5 yrs this way never a problem.

[Bogg]

15m between the two right
Ive just heard that at the same time additions can hinder the effects

[serge]

15m between the two right
Ive just heard that at the same time additions can hinder the effects

Yes I did too. This problem drives me nuts.

[Bogg]

I would do a nice 25% water change get some new kits (elos) new supplements and go from there

[calreef18]

When you add 30ml, immediately after, how high does your alk/cal spike?

[serge]

30 ml of component 1 increasing by 1 point and 30 ml of component 2 increases ca by 40 points.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

[serge]

This is from last night

MAG 1350

CA 930pm 380 ppm, added 30 ml CA raised to 420 at 10pm today at 9am 360 930am after ATO 380

ALK 930pm 6.5 added 60ml component 1 10pm 4.5 today 9am 6.5 and didn't bother adding another 60ml.

This is my headache. Just going to do 10 gal water change tonight from scripps add some mag and see CA/ALK levels.

[serge]

Bringing back this old topic as I still have this problem. Still using 30+ ml of both parts each day.

Does anyone know if the CA buildup in pipes and hoses maybe sand also, after a major snow, can absorb the CA/ALK from water?

[pigpimpc]

eutrophication?

i just did a quick google on alk and ca hard to maintain; old tank syndrome? Thats what i found I am no expert.

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6...up-205062.html

[ChouDawg]

Just double checking, you're adding part 1 aka alkalinity first right? You listed mag then calcium. 60 mL is a lot of part 1 alk to add are you monitoring your pH that must be a massive swing. I have 53 gallons net volume and I only dose 15.7 mL of alk per day. Also it doesn't make sense so I'm guessing it's a typo but how do you go from 930PM 6.5 dkh, add 60 mL and end up at 4.5 dkh at 10PM..?

Might I suggest reading this article a few times as well, I still reference it from time to time.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

[DaveMorris]

What is your ph? If your ph isn't right, that will screw with the tank's ability to utilize calcium. Also, I would switch to BRS supplements instead of B-Ionic and see what happens. The BRS supplements are exactly what they say, nothing more, nothing less. Calcium chloride and soda ash. Could be a bad batch of chemicals, bad test kits, or another chemical type issue in the water. If you get some Scripps water, test some in a bucket, add the B-Ionic, and test again. See if the bucket of Scripps water exhibits the same characteristics that your tank does. If it does, then it is your tests or B-Ionic. If it is different then the problem is within the tank.