Calcium/Alkalinity

My tank just finished cycling and I am in the process of getting my calcium and alk in order. My calcium is currently at 270 and my alkalinity is currently at 2.5. I just purchased the ESV 2 part solution. I used the calculators provided on here. It is instructing me to add 14 fl oz of part 1 (alk) and 68 fl oz of part 2 (calcium). How much of a time period should I dose this over? I'm guessing the longer the better. Thanks!

 

Your cal is way low. What salt are you using. In a new tank I wouldn't think you would have anything in there to consume it like that. Are you sure your numbers are correct?

 

You never want to increase your Ca by more than 50ppm a day, well you could but it is in your best interest to keep it under 50ppm a day. Same with alk, I wouldn't go and increase it by more than 1-2dkH and 2 IME could be pushing it depending on the system.
I say you could theoretically bring your alk and Ca up to snuff in about 3-4 days safely, longer if you wanted to be more cautious.

I agree with scenario, what salt are you using or at least test kits?

Happy supplementing!

 

I use instant ocean. Its been cycling for a month with no water changes. I plan on doing a 15% change at the end of the week. I started dosing each supplement and my parameters are coming up slowly. Thanks!

 

Good advice I think. Also, if you have the need to increase both alk and ca, never increase both dramatically during the same 24 hour period. If you do, your water will become cloudy and your glass will develop a scale that will require a razor blade to combat.

Of course, this didn't happen to me--I heard about it through the grapevine.

 

Ditto.. did you do the test again? You shouldn't have to be adding those supplements at this point. A new tank with proper salt level should have a normal amount of calcium already.

 

That depends upon what preparation you use.

For me, IO contained only about 350 ppm. Cal. That doesn't match seawater levels. I go for about 440.

 

Could you please explain why to bring up slowly. Thanks.

 

If you bring the calcium up too rapidly, you risk getting into a precipitation situation. The water will become cloudy with precipitated calcium crystals. Since reef water is supersaturated with calcium, your endpoint (after precipitation) might even have less dissolved calcium than before you started.

 

Thanks. When I bought the tank, my friend told me his regiment of dosing. Every other day stuff. I thought that was silly. Dosed both and had a little blizzard in my tank. Read the direction, then FOLLOWED them.;D