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Author Topic: Low everything  (Read 743 times)

Teric

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Low everything
« on: November 07, 2009, 01:28:28 PM »
This week I have had low Ca and now low dKH and pH now. Ca= 300ppm, dKH=6, pH=7.8 as of this morning. A couple corals are looking stressed. I'm dosing Ca to get it up. I have done 2 water changes this week nothing has really changed. Anything else I should be doing?
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oldsaint

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2009, 07:09:41 PM »
What salt are you using and do you have a Mg and Sal reading?
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Teric

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2009, 07:38:35 PM »
I don't have a mg test kit. Sg is 1.024.
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oldsaint

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2009, 08:03:53 PM »
I'd check the Mg see if it's at least 3.15x your Ca. Maybe bump up the Sg to 1.025 the next water change.
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Frogfish

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2009, 08:11:08 PM »
what have you changed?  Something is obviously causing this when it hadn't happened before.

Have you turned on the heat in the house?  Could you have too much CO2 in the system that is inhibiting the pH?  Which could also cause other problems.  Take a cup full of water and put it outside, preferrably with an airpump, for an hour then test pH again.  If it changes this could be your problem.
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Teric

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2009, 09:50:47 PM »
Could CO2 cause drops in Ca or dKH?
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Frogfish

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2009, 09:53:37 PM »
dunno, I know as much about chemistry as I do nuclear physics
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michael

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2009, 11:22:23 AM »
i could give my view on it teric, but the man here says it all, have a good look at this article 

http://web.archive.org/web/20021127040526/http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

as for the ph, imo 7.8 isnt a problem, although near the low end limit, dont attempt to raise it simply by using alk boosting supplements, you could end up in trouble, also as the man mentions magnesium isnt always the reason why calcium and alk are low, although in a lot of cases it can be a good reason,especially if dosing calcium and still it wont raise up, id suggest buying a magnesium test kit to illiminate mag as the reason, then a basic supplement of 2 part may be all thats needed, nice bed time reading this article, oh and my advice, stop dosing calcium for now until you get to the bottom of why it wont raise up
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michael

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2009, 11:24:04 AM »
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Teric

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2009, 11:06:25 PM »
Today I tested the Ca and I got it up to 380ppm.
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Teric

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #10 on: November 10, 2009, 03:11:38 PM »
Today, Ca=380ppm, pH=7.8, dKH=8, and mag=1350
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michael

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #11 on: November 11, 2009, 01:01:13 AM »
well thats better for sure, dont worry too much about the ph teric, 7.8 is ok, and the calcium level isnt far away now either
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SeattlesDarko

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #12 on: November 11, 2009, 12:11:07 PM »
Have you said what type of salt you are using? Maybe I missed it, with 2 water changes and a 'Good' salt it should have helped? IMO Instant Ocean is a great reliable and readily available salt, if you are not already I would recommend switching, it will replenish your tank elements better then dosing will. If I keep up on my water changed the only thing I dose regularly cal. everything else is good with water changes... For the most part anyways.
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Teric

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #13 on: November 11, 2009, 02:18:53 PM »
I use Oceanic salt. The readings from that are Ca=400ppm, dKH=12
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Teric

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Re: Low everything
« Reply #14 on: November 11, 2009, 02:20:28 PM »
I tested the Ca last night and it was up around 400-420ppm. I'll check later today when I get off work.
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