best way to bring up Calcium? and Alk down

[maxfischer]

My Ca is a little low 390 and my alk is kinda high 14 what the best way to correct this? my ph is 8.3

 

[JohnK]

How do you maintain the levels normally? If you use a Ca reactor, I'd shut off the Co2 for a bit, and manually add a Ca additive until the levels balance out where you want them.

That said, I wouldn't really worry about those numbers unless the tank seems unhappy. The Ca is fine, I doubt that the high alk would be much of a problem?

 

[FinzAquatics]

well alk and calcium play a direct roll with one another. typically you get the seesaw effect when one of them is excessively high or low.

by adding calcium additive, such as tech a, should raise your calcium.. dont use a alk buffer and it should fall. and im pretty sure when alk reaches 8--9dkh and calcium is at 425 u should be good to continue with regular dosing of tech a and b unless u use a reactor

i could be a bit wrong, but i think thats how it goes

 

[Crib]

My Ca is a little low 390 and my alk is kinda high 14 what the best way to correct this? my ph is 8.3

check out this link
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[wrassefan]

couple of 30% water changes a few days apart supplementing with dowflake to bump up the calcium

 

[penguinsix]

What is your magnesium at?

 

[Aquaman_68]

couple of 30% water changes a few days apart supplementing with dowflake to bump up the calcium

I agree..with ya andy...Mag levels when low can cause Ca levels to drop due to percipitation (spelling??)

 

[JohnK]

Second on that, low Mg will make for an odd Ca/alk balance.

Mine was low for yrs and I always saw similar numbers. I reccently got a Mg test kit and supplement, once the Mg was up a bit my Ca went up and Alk down a tiny bit.

 

[maxfischer]

couple of 30% water changes a few days apart supplementing with dowflake to bump up the calcium

thanks andy will do