Calcium, dKH, pH...and all that stuff

[Bettencourt]

Tank is running 7mo now. Doing well. 75g, fish, 50+lbs, LR, Skimmer, a couple of pulsating polyps. Also canister filter......(I know will ditch when I can set up a sump). I do bi/weekly water changes. I understand most water paramaters, but the Calcium, dKH and PH confuse me to no end. My numbers this week are; Calcium 400, dKH 11, and pH 8.0-8.2. What should I be doing to maintaine these? I use R/O. I have B-Ionic two part Alk and Ca as well as a pH buffer but cannot get the hang of when/if to add. Is this a daily/weekly addition. Oh, I do use RO.
Nitrates are a fight 5-10....I over feed. For the first time checked Phospahte=.5
I read and read and read.....but could use some BASIC info.
Thanks in advance. Tom

 

[Blueflu1]

Calcium could be a bit higher but it is still good. I wouldn't raise your alk anymore. That is a bit high. PH is good. You shouldn't have any nitrates in your tank at this point. Ammonia, nitrates and nitrites are usually zero on an established tank. cut back on feeding.

You can dose daily but you probably don't need to. I would try dosing a few times a week and see if your numbers go up or down.

 

[Bettencourt]

Dose with both?

Should I try dosing with both parts of the two part B-Ionic, or only us the Calcium bottle. He lays part of my problem....I am of the understanding that I must always use both. Am I wrong?

 

[Blueflu1]

I don't think you have to use both. I was told by an experienced reefer when my alk was high, just to use the calcium occasionally but to dose them both most of the time. Don't just dose the calcium all of the time.

 

[dcforester1]

Dont worry about it. If you dont have much stuff in your tank, you wont need to dose anything. Use your test kits, and if you are low you can use this link, someone posted it for me. Most important, just relax, and try to enjoy your tank.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

 

[Bettencourt]

Thank you....all Tom

 

[MikeG]

take a read through this
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

and then maybe this
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm