High calcium- low alkalinity

[Mike Murphy]

Have been working on getting my calcium level up. Kalswater (sp)? mix was not doing it so I used the second part of a 2 part mix to increase calcium which is now at 440. Couple of inverts died for no reason and caulerpa is looking a little ragged so I checked alkalinity it is suddenly low. Aside from a water change that I'm about to do what would you reccomend? Add some of the 2 part stuff #1 to raise alkalinity?


Thanks in advance.

OK an hour has elapsed since I posted this and I have had an opportunity to get logical on the situation. Prior to performing a water change tonight as I had planned anyway I added some buffer and got it back up where it needs to be.

[rayjay]

I'm curious as to why you only added part 2 of the 2 part additive for calcium and alk?
Kalk is used mainly to maintain calcium and alkalinity levels so if you need to increase instead of maintaining your levels you have to add something else.
The purpose of the two part systems is to maintain both calcium and alkalinity, but if they get out of balance, you can add just the part you need.
If the two are balanced before you need to increase the calcium, then you have to add both parts of the additives to maintain a chemical balance after raising the calcium. If they are not ionically balanced before attempting to raise the calcium, use the Chem Calculator to determ just now much of each to get you to your target limits.
CHEM CALCULATOR-CALCIUM, ALKALINITY, MAGNESIUM

[morgan.d]

Those agents are for keeping Calcium and alk balanced. Kalk is not very good at raising calcium levels. You can use part 2, however the problem I have with the 2 part additives is that you get to many other additves in them and cause an algae bloom. I suggest using seachem reef builder. It will boost your alk without making your pH jump to high. Add it at night when the pH of the tank drops.

[goodfortune]

Mike:

I agree with what the others have said; you have to use both parts 1 and 2 (or parts A & B depending on the brand of your supplement) to keep Ca and Alk in balanced proportions. Depending on the kind of corals you are keeping, their growth rate, and your tank's evaporation rate, Kalkwassser may not be able to keep pace with your tank's Ca and Alk demand.

After you have been dosing Ca and Alk by hand for a while, you will likely find yourself consistently adding a certain amount of both parts 1 (or A) and 2 (or B) to maintain your tank's Alk and Ca balance. Until then, test before you dose either, and try to keep records of when, and how much of each you have to dose to keep things in balance.

HTH,
Michael

P.S. - If you have done all of the above and you still find yourself struggling with maintaining and balancing Ca and Alk, check your Mg...

[Mike Murphy]

Until now alkalinity has not been a problem but just getting my calcium level up was. I'm due for a water change anyway but I'm using IO salt which may not have a high calcium level anyway. I tried Kalkwasser mix early on but it did nothing to increase my calcium just the alkalinity thus I went with part 2 of the Bi-onic mix which has worked pretty good. I think I know why a calcium reactor is a good idea but is it really? I have always taken the approach that less is better and try to keep things simple without going to over board extremes with high tech this and that.

[whatevva]

I think I know why a calcium reactor is a good idea but is it really?

This would depend on what you would like to keep in your tank. If you want stonies and clams, then you'll need to replenish the calcium that they'll use up.