Alkalinity question!

[JPfish]

Just started yesterday with B-Ionic 2 part solution to boost the Calcium in my tank.

before B-Ionic:
ph=7.7
dKH=7
cal=280 ppm
amm,no2,no3=0
SG=1.024
temp=81F

After 1st day of adding B-Ionic:
ph=8.0
dKH=13.4 !
cal=275
SG=1.024
temp=81.3F

My concern is,
ESV B-Ionic's instruction specifically say: Maintain alkalinity between 3.0 and 3.75 meq/liter (8.4 and 10.5 dKH) by testing daily and adjusting dose accordingly.

Now what does this mean? That I shouldn't add Component No.1 (Alkalinity) tomorrow morning and add only the calcium part No. 2? Sorry for the lack of knowledge here, but I want to do this right.

Thanks!

[Rick O]

How much of each part did you put in?

[JPfish]

13.75 ml for a 55 gal tank.

[rabeiler]

JPfish,

You should check out this site and search for posts on water quality. There is a ton of information out there. Currently your calcium levels are too low and you cannot add equal parts of the additive that you have. You need to bring the calcium level up and you could do that with a calcium additive. You should plan on taking several days to bring the level closer to 400. Keep checking your alkalinity along the way.

I am on the road and away from my home pc which had the links to the water quality articles. I found them very beneficial and printed them out and keep them with a set of notes for the tank. Alkalinity, calcium, and PH are all interrelated in a reef tank.

Good luck.

Ross

[JPfish]

Should I use Kent's Turbo Calcium at this point, or just continue with the ESV B-Ionic Calcium part? Please remember that I barely started dosing calcium this week for the first time in my tank.

Thanks

[rabeiler]

JP

Here is the link that I was telling you about.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

It really helped me and others get there chemistry back in line.

Ross

[Doug1]

I would start out at half the recommended dose and test daily for a week or so to see where the trend is heading. BTW get really good calc and alk test kits(Salifert or Hach).
If at all possible a pH monitor is better than a test kit. Any way after monitoring for a week you should have a better idea whats going on then deal with specifics, ie low Calcium /High Alkalinity

[CAT]

I never got B-Ionic to boost calcium when I used it - I think it's meant to maintain it. I use Seachem Reef complete to raise Calcium but Kent's turbo calcium works as well. You'll also have to get a product to maintain alk while you're trying to raise the calcium. Once your system is where you want it, the B-Ionic should work to keep it there.

A 20% water change might help to stabilize the tank right now and I'd keep on testing so you know what's happening. As Ross says, pH, alk and calcium are all related and if one is really low it can't 'balance' another and you end up with a swing.

[JPfish]

Can't I just use the Alk part of the B-ionic to do this?

[rabeiler]

JP,

You are really better off using the individual additives and water changes to get chemistry in line. The two part ionics are really meant to be used to keep the chemistry in line once you have reached to proper equilibrium point.

You will be much happier once you get the "balanced" point. Your readings indicate that you are not where you need to be. I use Seachem chemicals because I have always had good luck with them and one of the marine bioligists at my lfs recommended them a several years ago. Monitor you pH, Alk, and Calcium once a day. You will find that the water changes will help, but you should also test your make-up water, unless you are using RO/DI water. Get Calcium and ALk where they need to be. It looks like you should only be adding Ca right now until they get in line. You pH should get in the proper range once you have this stuff aligned.

Ross