another calcium problem

I can see by the water and rocks the DKH or Carbonates are way way low.. as is the ca. Yes get the water tested ASAP and adjust the levels .

 

The last time I tested the dkh it was 6

Thanks for the comment on the tank, I built the stand about 2 months ago.

 

here are pics taken with my sony alpha dslr

 

I came close to my guess I was going to say about 5 maybe .. Its way low at 6 last time you tested kick that and the Ca up along with the mag . Have any Epsom salts in the house ? I'd toss in a good full cup to start then bring that up to 1400 ppm then the Ca should hit to near 400 Ppm and then DKH up to 12.. Just get the Mag right first then bring the others up steadily and together.. Add one supplement then wait 4 hrs then the other then do that daily until it get to where it needs to be. You will see that green looking algae on the rocks start to fade away and the coralline you have will start to take off the Coraline's remove more of the Mag and Ca and Carbonate's then many think about or even realize .

 

What does the epsom salt do?

So I should get the mag up, how do I do that?

I have been using the kent superbuffer dkh to get that up but it does not seem to be working.

 

Epsom salts is magnesium chloride so you can use it as a magnesium supplement. I wouldn't start supplementing anything until you know what your alk and mag levels are though. If you try to raise your dkh or calcium when your magnesium is low, they will fight each other and you will not be able to raise them both to the levels you want.

 

Epsom Salts (MgSO4) is Magnesium sulphate one is just as good as the other Kents tech M is a mixture of them both

 

Ca and Carbonates are oppositely charged Ions and really act as Oil and water when it comes to keeping them mix and in solution . Oil and water will also mix when the proper emulsifier is used and the Mag acts at the bonding emulsifier . And if you try to raise there levels and have not the proper levels of Magnesium then they will fall out of solution in what is called a snow storm in the tank. Brain is dead as to what the carbonate precipitation is now called . Ding Ding its forms calcium carbonate and that is useless to you and the tank and makes a huge mess. As for dosing and moving the levels put the spoon away and get a scoop . Triple the label directions But get the magnesium corrected first. Or you will have a mess

 

I am getting a magnesium and dkh test kit tomorrow first then I will work on them both.

 

I just used a test strip that measure alkalinity in ppm and the strip shows it is high, the color of the pad is blue and the highest the chart goes is olive green and that is 240 ppm I am not sure but maybe this is saying my alkalinity is too high do you think? At 200 ppm the dkh is 11.2, at 240 it is 13.4 I think my alk is igher then that. could this be causing the problem with the calcium staying low at 320?