Chem Help

Hey all. I posted this to another forum but I wanted to see if a pro could take a look, so I came here. Now that the obligatory butt-kissing is out of the way, I have a few questions. (And Im totally kidding I really respect the people who are good at this stuff, as it is especially challenging for me to grasp.

I have a 14 gallon BioCube. I re-established it after the previous owner did not maintain it. It currently has 15# of live rock, a 5-6" elegance coral, and a smaller leather whose name escapes me. This is my first salt tank, i have done brackish puffers, Oscars, and I currently have a Mississippi Map Turtle, so I have experience.

Ok, here's where I stand:

Temp - 80
SG - 1.023
Ph - 8.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - <5
Calcium - 380
Kh - 22!!!! yikes!
phosphates - 8!!!

Just so you know what chems I have put in the tank:
Kent's Part A and Part B (I was told to use this once a month) (added yesterday)
PH Reef Buffer 8.3 - (Added yesterday)
Purple Up - (half cap every day)
Tropic Marin Salt

My initial water source was the previous owner's tank water. I used 50% of that, and 50% of RO water.
Like an idiot though, I used 2.5 gallons of bottled water to do water change #1. I dont think that helped my readings.

What do you think? Do I want to go and get 5 gallons of RO in the morning, mix it, and water change at night???

Also, how do I lower the KH/phosphates while raising the calcium?

I need a game plan.

Thanks in advance.

 

I just spent the last hour reading the forums and re-reading the back of my supplements, and I have concluded these supplements (PH Buffer/Kents A&B/Purple Up) are jacking up my KH.

I added these as per the LFS and the previous owner's advice without really understanding, and I think I committed the fatal flaw of merging their advice.

It is now apparent that

#1 I cant use bottled water
#2 I need to do a large water change (50%) with nothing but RO and salt
#3 Let tank stabilize for 3-4 hours
#4 ReTest
#5 Create a plan of action

I expect the phosphates, ALK, and PH to drop dramatically if I change 50% of the water.

Then I will report my new readings and make a game plan from there.

Feel free to chime in still, but I learned a lot from other posters and I think I know what I need to do.

 

adding chemicals without knowing how they interact can have devasting results. I would do a water change ASAP even if you have to use dechlorinated tap water. Then test your tank agin. I use to buy distilled water until they didnt change out their filters for some reason and started getting a lot of phosphates and lovely red slime. I use dechrloinated tap water as my cities water is actually pretty good. We tested it with a TDS meter and it was like 54ppm, which RO water acceptable range is up to 10ppm, and I have heard most peoples tap water supply being anywhere from 200ppm and up. I always test tap water for nitrates and phosphates before I it and its always at zero. The downside to using tap in the summer is a lot of times they add copper to cut down on algae growth in the outdoor holding tanks which can harm your inverts, but I am on their email list for when they add it so I know not to use it for a few weeks when they add it.

 

Very interesting about the town contacting you.

Since I am only using a 14 gallon BioCube reef, I am more than happy to pickup 10 gallons of RO 2x a month.

As far as adding chems without knowing how they interact...

I totally agree. I never added anything to my turtle's tank. I just started to put this tank together and the LFS sold me the PH buffer and Purple Up. Tell me something...

If the water is typically fine if you use (1) RO (2) Quality Salt (3) Parts A&B (4) Water Changes and Filtration, what is the need for the PH Buffers and Calcium supplements?

It just seems like there are too many things that the LFS is willing to sell you. If I were that guy, I would have sold me the hydrometer, salt, RO water, and said "come back with your readings in 3 days."

I honestly dont think I will need this $15 bottle of PH buffer since I have the Kent A&B.

Big business I guess...

 

Quit using those additives! - You do not need them if using a quality salt mix, as you are.

You will be doing a lot of chasing your tail if you keep adding this stuff.

With a nano, if water params not where you like, just do a significant water change. If regular water changes made, need for frequent testing goes away.

 

You need to be testing for Magnesium and Iodine since you have been adding Purple Up. Bet the iodine is off the charts. If you Mag is down it will be why you can't get the Ca up.
Chemistry and the Aquarium
Have fun reading!

 

I don't think a huge water change is needed. I would wait it out and you will watch your ALK drop. keep with your normal water change amount but try to read the new water levels before you add them to the tank. Trust me you will feel better once you know what your are putting in.
you can still use those products but instead of adding them without reason. Test test and more tests

J

 

Amen on that! ;D Good one Jason!

 

+2 on that

Always test your water before supplementing. Purple says you can use it daily, but thats not dosing anything else. If you dose other things, you need to test for everything before dosing.

 

What does he have in the tank that will lower the kh or calcium? IMHO forget all of the additives for now, your lps coral and the leather do not need a ton of calcium like a sps tank. So, what am I saying? I guess the same thing everybody else said. Do a small water change and let your tank stabilize over the course of the next month and and test again.

Jim