chem questions

[41South]

Today I had my water tested by the local store and they said my calcium is low and I should add buffer for kh level. Can you help translate what this means and how I deal with it? Thank you!

 

[biggyclops]

how low was it?

 

[afboundguy]

Sounds like your alkalinity and calcium are low. Alk helps keep pH steady and helps corals grow. Calcium is needed to help grow corals they turn it into their skeleton (LPS and SPS)

Chances are if you calcium and alkalinity are low your magnesium is low. Low magnesium prevents you from keeping steady calcium...

Did your LFS test for mag?

 

[41South]

They didn't give me an exact reading.

So that you know - we are talking about a 55 gallon tank, about 3 months old.

 

[biggyclops]

i wouldn't go back there if they couldn't even tell you what your calcium was at.. you need to invest in a good test kit... you will def need it! are you still cycling your tank?

 

[41South]

No, the levels have all been very good for a while. Nitrates, Nitrite, Ammonia is all at 0.

I have a good test kit, but it does not test for calcium. It tests for nitrite, pH, ammonia, and nitrate. Do I need to test other levels as well?

 

[jbishop]

You need Ca, Alk, and mag test kits.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There is nothing you can or should do until you get actual numbers.

 

[biggyclops]

MG, Calcium, alk is something you will test more frequently in the hobby.. once your tank is set...

AlK and cacium is pretty easy.. Mg is a little more labor some.. pending on the test kit..

 

[jbishop]

There is nothing you can or should do until you get actual numbers.

Agreed.

 

[Moe_K]

No, the levels have all been very good for a while. Nitrates, Nitrite, Ammonia is all at 0.

I have a good test kit, but it does not test for calcium. It tests for nitrite, pH, ammonia, and nitrate. Do I need to test other levels as well?

Yeah, now that you have some corals, you are going to want to test for alkalinity (what the LFS is calling the buffer for KH), and for calcium.

Alkalinity is easy and cheap to supplement: just dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda (not baking powder) in RO or RO/DI water, and slowly pour into the tank. Wait a few hours and test again. Repeat as needed.

Calcium can also be easy to supplement. Many of us dissolve Dowflake (sometimes available in Home Depot as a driveway ice melter) in RO/DI water and add to the tank as needed. You could go with a commercial product like Kent's Liquid Calcium or Sea Chem's Reef Calcium (I think that's the powder to mix with RODI water).

Magnesium? Dissolve a teaspoon of Epsom salts in RO/DI water and add to tank as needed. Mg test kits are a bit pricey.

 

[41South]

Do you recommend any specific test kits?

 

[Moe_K]

Mark, here's an old thread that may be helpful:
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7430&highlight=kalk*

I agree with Randy - get the test kits or good results first so you know how much you need (or to first confirm the need).

 

[Moe_K]

This old thread might be more helpful:
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6476

 

[jbishop]

Elos, they're expensive but accurate.

 

[coralcor]

Elos, they're expensive but accurate.

if you dont got the $$ for them id say AIP.... there good. its what i use.



but im a noob

 

[Moe_K]

Does Salifert still make test kits? I used to use them.

 

[41South]

I tested the levels I have test kits for. As far as what I can measure things look very good:
ph = 8.2
ammonia= 0
nitrites = 0
nitrates = 0

So they recommended buffer and calcium. I have Kent Marine Buffer dKH and Kent Marine Essential Elements. They are not to be used together, but the LFS told me that I should add both.

I know I need to get test kits so I can measure. Until I measure, what do you recommend? Leave it, or add which one of the two?

 

[Blueflu1]

I tested the levels I have test kits for. As far as what I can measure things look very good:
ph = 8.2
ammonia= 0
nitrites = 0
nitrates = 0

So they recommended buffer and calcium. I have Kent Marine Buffer dKH and Kent Marine Essential Elements. They are not to be used together, but the LFS told me that I should add both.

I know I need to get test kits so I can measure. Until I measure, what do you recommend? Leave it, or add which one of the two?

Again don't add anything until you have numbers. You need to know where your levels are as a baseline to see how much you need to go up. You don't want to overdose the tank

 

[JohnK]

What Randy said.

Don't do anything until you get test kits.

When you do, you can start to make any corrections. If you start adding supplements without knowing how much you need your likely to cause more harm than good.

In the future, I'd stay away from those overpriced kent additives. Something like this will be better and cheaper (there are many deccent "two part" additives like this on the market).
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...twater_Aquarium_Supplies&vendor=&child=EV1115

Down the road, you may want to look into home made 2 part based on Randy's recipes. www.bulkreefsupply.com is a great place for one stop shopping for all you need.

Here's Randy's original 2 part recipe article (IIRC he's revised it since though);
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm