all right what am I missing here!

Ok as all know I have been struggling getting my alk and ca to get to normal levels again. Well I tested tonight and my ca is 450ppm and my alk is still at 7dkh. I have never had them so out of balance and I am getting concerned for my livestock. My alk test is running low so I did a back up test with a dip strip, I know these aren't the best but I needed to know if it's my tester. It's not, my alk is low. What other causes are there for low alk?

 

Those number do not look that bad to me. What are you shooting for?

J

 

Well my alk should be between 8 -12 dkh, calcium is fine.

 

Personally, I wouldn't sweat a level of 7dKH with that level of calcium unless there were signs that something was suffering.
What kit do you measure your calcium with? Very few calcium kits proved to be accurate in Randy Holme's Farley's calcium tests with the various kits available.
Salifert was pretty well on the money, and I think Seachem actually consistantly read about 50 less than actual, with the others faring much worse, if memory serves me right.

 

Magnesium is where I'd look sounds like its low to me. Have any epsom salts ir Reef magnesium ?

 

I just tested my mag late last week, it was 1500 and it's a salifert test. I immediately thought that was my problem so I got the mag test and the last 2 times I've tested it's been consistant at 1500. How do you know if anything is suffering?

 

If the mag is O.K just add more buffer double upon what you are adding if you are following label directions you are wasting your time and money . in a tank your size I'd toss in a couple heaping Tbls spoons . what you are experiencing is most likely coralline growth and corals are also consuming it then you hit a break even point of where the up take is more then the amount being supplied to the system.. I have to increase the Ca. Reactor every several weeks even as what was fine a few months ago will not even register today. Its never static .Add double or even triple the amount you have been dosing.

 

Thanks Tangster Will Do.