40GallonReef Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 So I am having a problem with my Alkalinity rising. I have been testing for a couple weeks now and usually it is about 8 - 10. I having been dosing small amounts of calcium to try and keep it above 400. I did a water change on Friday (10 %) and when I tested my KH on Saturday it was at 11. Then I tested it on Sunday and it was at 12. I tried to add a little more calcium ( I think it should make my KH go down, correct me if I am wrong) and no change. Please help. Thank you for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Well there is a fine balance in our tanks between alk and calcium. Then we go and throw in magnesium, which helps keep them in balance, and now we have a whole bunch of stuff to test!!! (laugh) To be able to help you out we need to know your calcium and it would really help to know your magnesium. How often are you doing WCs? How old is the tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40GallonReef Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 So my calcium is now at 420. I am not sure what my magnesium is because I do not have a test. I am doing 10% weekly water changes. I have about 55 gallons in my total system. My tank is 3 months old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 With the weekly WCs that should help keeps things balance. Do you have any livestock other than a cleanup crew? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40GallonReef Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 Oh yes. I have a small yellow tang, small blue tang, 2 clowns, goby. I also have a frogspawn, hammer coral, torch coral, green star polyp, and a small Pom Pom Xenia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Ok so things need to be done slow obviously I think your alk is a little high, some people run it that high but natural has alk of 7-8dKH. I would refrain from adding anything for a few days, but keep testing. I think you are just throwing things a little more out of whack. Here is a good calculator for anytime you need to adjust. I use this all the time. http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html And take some of your water over to Garrett and have him test it for ya, that way we know and have confirmation of all your parameters. Then we can make adjustments from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40GallonReef Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 Thank you very much impur for the help, obviously I am still new at this. But I am trying to figure things out. I have been doing pretty well up until this point, with help from the forum. I will keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 My pleasure, you'll get it worked out. Its all part of the fun Let me know what you find out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 your alk could be comming from your source water when you do water changes. check the level before you put the water in your tank to see where its at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocboat Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 I agree that your newly mixed saltwater must be higher in alk than you want. Have you ever tested your newly made water for alk? It is not possible for your tank to increase in alkalinity unless you are adding it somehow through chemicals or water changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40GallonReef Posted October 11, 2011 Author Share Posted October 11, 2011 So I tested my water last night and my KH was at 10. I will continue to monitor my system and not add anything. Thank you guys for all of the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Good deal, calcium staying steady? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40GallonReef Posted October 11, 2011 Author Share Posted October 11, 2011 Yes my calcium is staying steady. For the last two days at least. I will test it all again when I get home today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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