Tank Journal Archive

[aussieant32]

ok, another issue.

So a few weeks ago I noticed one of my cats was in the process of releasing from its 'rock'. All levels seemed ok, did some reading and apparently can happen if the coral isn't happy, so I moved it but no luck, once it released I removed it. Everything else was fine for a week or 2, then noticed a small hammer I have had for ages was doing the same. Another test and calcium was through the roof. I had turned it down to 1ml per day, guess it was too much. Also my Po4 had gone way up to 0.4!

So did a few decent water changes and running GFO at 50% recommended level to try slowly bring the Po4 down and monitoring the calcium. My NSW is at around 430ppm, tank is over 500ppm and doesn't seem to be dropping even with around 70% water changed. Have turned all dosing etc off completely now, will carry on monitoring.

Anyone got any ideas on how to bring calcium down or see any issues below? Apart from the obvious.

Ph 7.5
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 1
Po4 0.4
Calc 500+
Alk 2.8
Mag 1250

 

[aussieant32]

after 2 days of running GFO Po4 is down to 0.03

 

[MTG]

alk 2.8? bring the mag up to 1400, my calc allways hovers around the 400 and i dont even add it. probly the substrate slowly releasing calcium

 

[aussieant32]

meq. Around 8dkh or so. I generally follow RHF with parameters he says to go no higher than 1350 for mag? 1250-1350 is his recommended range, below is what I have been working off.

Parameters critical to control in reef aquaria.
Parameter:
Calcium 380-450 ppm
Alkalinity 2.5-4 meq/l. 7-11 dKH
Salinity 35 ppt sg = 1.026
pH 7.8-8.5 OK. 8.1-8.3 is better
Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm


The problem with the calcium was me, I had 2 big clams so was dosing about 60ml a day just to keep up, they both died and I forgot to stop the dosing. Just having problems reducing it.

Did another 20% water change just now

 

[Brekel]

All tanks are different, and it depends on what/how you dose, but I know with mine even with alkalinity at 2.8 my pH would be well above 7.5 unless there was something else serious going on. What are you checking the levels with?

 

[MTG]

how i run mine
ph 8
mag 1400-1500
calc 450(i dont even add calc)
alk 7dkh
salinity 1.025

 

[aussieant32]

Po4 - Hanna
Alk - Coral Pro
Calc - Salifert and Hanna
Mag - Coral Pro
Ph is just a drop test, Sera I think, tested Ph about 3 times in 10 years so reading may be wrong but not worried about that level anyway.

Up to 1500ppm for mag!? My 2 test kits max out at 1500!

 

[MTG]

Po4 - Hanna
Alk - Coral Pro
Calc - Salifert and Hanna
Mag - Coral Pro
Ph is just a drop test, Sera I think, tested Ph about 3 times in 10 years so reading may be wrong but not worried about that level anyway.

Up to 1500ppm for mag!? My 2 test kits max out at 1500!

Yeah have allways run it high I know a lot of people that run it high to keep algae to a minimum , I've ran it at that for a few years with no issues

 

[aussieant32]

I am hesitant to as I have followed the same levels since day one. RHF levels have always worked for me, it was my fault the calc went so high. I don't doubt what you are saying though, only have to look at your tank to see it works!

Any suggestions on lowering calc or WC the only real way apart from natural uptake? I don't want to mess with the other levels while dropping it as I don't know how they will react

 

[MTG]

i would just keep doing weekly water changes and let it drop itself slowly, wont cause to much of an issue. there was a while there my tank was at 600 calc, misjudged the mixture for my dosing pump.

just let it slowly use it up and dont add any more. :D

 

[aussieant32]

Hanna now showing it at 479. Will keep an eye on it. Everything is looking fine at least