KH and CALCIUM

[Seaweed88]

I just tested my 90 today and came out with Calcium at 500 and my KH at 11.5. Both were on the Salifert kits. I know both are high but how do I fix them?
Thanks

[Fat Tony]

are you supllementing the calcium and alk in anyway other than waterchanges? If yes, lower your supplement levels and let the tank fall on it's own.

[Seaweed88]

Thanks. I have been doing two part every other day but I will wait till it drops to start again.

[ckusnierek]

Just let them drop on their own.
Wait a week or so and try cutting your dosing in 1/2

[rookie reefer]

could he just dose the same amount just do it once a week, or is it better to dose small amounts more often

[Fat Tony]

small amounts more often... it keeps the tank more stable.

[Seaweed88]

How often do you check? And what do you check?
Thanks

[fox2589]

i dont know much about it but i would test frequently until you have some idea of how long it takes for your tank to use it up..then go from there-drew

[Seaweed88]

It has been 10 days, I did a 25 gallon water change this weekend using Reef Crystals salt. I tested this morning and my numbers are still as high as they were 10 days ago. I have not done any daily dosing, salinity is at 1.024, i have not checked ph. I tested Mg this morning also. The numbers are either very high or the kit is bad because I could not get any color change with the first syringe of solution with a Salifert kit. Any Ideas?

[Seaweed88]

What am I missing here?

[SWINGRRRR]

Whats in your tank? Is there stuff in there to uptake the chemicals? What do you top off with FW or Kalk? You may just have a high enough demand. I have a 135 with probably 25-30 small frags. I don't need to supplement anything because my demand is low, and I top off with Kalk.

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by Seaweed88

What am I missing here?

Sounds to me like the system is stable rigt now and that you don't have much demand for hermatypics right now. Every time you change the water with Reef Crystals, you replace stuff that might be otherwise consumed it you had a umber of clams or stony corals, as RC is intended for systems that are using a good bit of calcium and alk. If your system is not heavily populated with hermatypic organisms, then IO might be a better salt mix for you. If you switch to IO, then you can continue as you have in the past, but don't add any Ca++ or alk.


HTH

[Seaweed88]

I do not have much that would require the extra calcium. Do I just let things run there course? Will the numbers come down If I change salts and do some massive water changes? Or will the big numbers not matter? Thanks for the help!

[chrisd]

if you switch salts just do regular water changes and let the tank settle on its own.

[Seaweed88]

Thanks all for the help!