Why is this

Okay finally my calcium and alk were at normal levels 400ppm/10dkh. Well I am adding the calcium part of esv a few times a week and when I tested my alk it had dropped to 8 dkh and my ca was 420ppm. So of course I have added the alk part on it's own for 2 days. I tested tonight and my ca went up from 420 - 440ppm in 2 days, I never added any calcium in those 2 days, my alk is back to 9dkh. Why would the Ca go up?

Can I stop adding the esv now and test once a week to see how often I need to add it or is it best to just add it 2 times a week.

 

Have you done any water changes lately?

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the ESV product so I can't advise you on that.

 

That's ESV B-Ionic part A and Part B.

As to why the Calcium went up, it most likely didn't. More likely than not, one of your tests was wrong. Either when it was 420 or when it was 440. That's why I got into the habit of testing twice to see if both came close to each other.

I would just test midweek to see how you are doing without dosing. Your tank is very new and you don't have a lot of items drawing down your levels yet. After a couple of weeks of testing twice a week, you'll know how much to add with less testing.

 

Ca. and Carbonates are totally different in there make up and trying to keep them in a level constant solution is like sticking the opposing sides of a magnet together. The calcium got a bit higher because the Carbonates fell off to a lower level. Add some Epsom salts yep the stuff old granny used to soak her feet in 1.00 a pound or buy some watered down Magnesium additive like 25.00 a 1/2 gallon and add to the tank.. The magnesium act as a emulsifier to keep them mixed and playing well together in the same sand box LOL

Like oil and water they can be mixed if the proper emulsifier is used. Mag needs to be at 1400 ppm and no less then 1,000 ppm . If the ca ever gets above the Carbonates then the carbonates will be harder to get back up as-well. Magnesium is the key to this problem..and Not all 2 part products are equal and all that simple to use ..As the manufactures would like to make you think.. Read the label and follow it closely i have seem more problem with the ca particulate fall out from the use of these then about any other way to add and maintain proper levels of Ca and Carbonates to a system.
Also the DKH and Cal. will Valry in the loss of each of them as the uptake demands of the creatures in the system demands