[prow]

hey everyone been adjusting the Ca+, dkh/alk, ph. will give the going ons during the last month. tank is only 3 months old. i do all readings before the water change.

6-7: temp=79, sal=1.023, Ca+=428, dkh/alk=12/4.3, ph=8.2, 5gal water change.

6-15: temp=82, sal=1.023, 5gal water change.

6-21: 5gal water change. added 65lbs of fresh live rock to 100lbs of cured rock already in the tank for 2 months. tested this 12hours after. temp=80, sal 1.023, Ca+420, dkh/alk=14/5, ph=8.2, added 55ml of calcium chloride to bring the Ca+ in balance with the alk. over the day not all at once.

6-22: 5gal water change
6-23: temp=79, sal.=1.024, 5gal water change

6-24: temp=80, sal=1.024, Ca+=468, dkh/alk=12/4.3, ph=8.0, NH3=1.0+(off the cart), NO2=0.5, NO3=0, 10gal water change added carbon.

6-25: temp=80, sal.=1.024, carbon removed.10gal water change

6-26: temp=79, sal=1.024 ph=8.0, NH3=0, NO2=0.3, NO3=20. 10gal water change

6-27: temp=80, dkh/alk=11/3.9. 10gal water change

6-28: temp=78, sal.=1.024, Ca+=444, dkh/alk=11/3.9, ph=8.0 NH3=0, NO2=0, NO3=0 (7 day cycle not bad). 10gal water change.

7-2: gone for the holiday

7-6: temp=79, sal.=1.025, Ca+=432, dkh/alk=10/3.6, ph=8.0, 0 on all others. 5gal water change.

from what i think i know, everything is all good. i want to add more calcium chloride to boost my Ca+ up to 450 and bring up the ph and lower the dkh. mainly worried about the effect on the ph. i think the high alk with the lower ph is ok. but the thing is as the Ca+ and dkh come down the ph remains steady. by adding calcium chloride what will the overall effect be. any thoughts.

[smpolyp]

I would not try to push the calcium to hard. If you want it higher add the chlor. in small amounts each day and test the cal and alk an hour after. I would stay with a high alkalinity level. If you double your alk from natural seawater you double your coral growth. Doubling the alk from NSW is not recomended though. The statement above is to show you alk impact on a scale. I would not push the alk much higher than 4.5 meg/L. If you want to really push the numbers up make sure you magnesium level is above 1250ppm. get it up to 1400ppm-1500ppm and things will really take off.
Also check your new mix of seawater to make sure things such as calcium,alk, and mag. Some people find the levels are lower than they would like.

Originally Posted by prow

hey everyone been adjusting the Ca+, dkh/alk, ph. will give the going ons during the last month. tank is only 3 months old. i do all readings before the water change.

6-7: temp=79, sal=1.023, Ca+=428, dkh/alk=12/4.3, ph=8.2, 5gal water change.

6-15: temp=82, sal=1.023, 5gal water change.

6-21: 5gal water change. added 65lbs of fresh live rock to 100lbs of cured rock already in the tank for 2 months. tested this 12hours after. temp=80, sal 1.023, Ca+420, dkh/alk=14/5, ph=8.2, added 55ml of calcium chloride to bring the Ca+ in balance with the alk. over the day not all at once.

6-22: 5gal water change
6-23: temp=79, sal.=1.024, 5gal water change

6-24: temp=80, sal=1.024, Ca+=468, dkh/alk=12/4.3, ph=8.0, NH3=1.0+(off the cart), NO2=0.5, NO3=0, 10gal water change added carbon.

6-25: temp=80, sal.=1.024, carbon removed.10gal water change

6-26: temp=79, sal=1.024 ph=8.0, NH3=0, NO2=0.3, NO3=20. 10gal water change

6-27: temp=80, dkh/alk=11/3.9. 10gal water change

6-28: temp=78, sal.=1.024, Ca+=444, dkh/alk=11/3.9, ph=8.0 NH3=0, NO2=0, NO3=0 (7 day cycle not bad). 10gal water change.

7-2: gone for the holiday

7-6: temp=79, sal.=1.025, Ca+=432, dkh/alk=10/3.6, ph=8.0, 0 on all others. 5gal water change.

from what i think i know, everything is all good. i want to add more calcium chloride to boost my Ca+ up to 450 and bring up the ph and lower the dkh. mainly worried about the effect on the ph. i think the high alk with the lower ph is ok. but the thing is as the Ca+ and dkh come down the ph remains steady. by adding calcium chloride what will the overall effect be. any thoughts.

[prow]

thanks, i do understand how they work(for the most part). i am just worried about the ph at 8.0. i know the high dkh and low ph are compinsating for each other, but, as the alk comes down the ph has remain the same. could it be that the alk has not came down enough to affect the ph? i just added my macro algae hope this will help with the ph. i am just trying to grow coraline right now but it will be full reef(will add corals in about 4 more months). will be getting a Mg test kit this weekend, had to wait. i use IO salt so i am pretty sure the mg is around 1000. i have seen some coraline growth but will be adding Mg after i get the test kit. i am think i should wait till the Ca+ is at 415-420 and dkh is at 8-9, watch the ph and hope it comes up then dose with tropic marin bio-calcium. i have also heard i should keep the alk and Ca high togather and not worry about the ph unless it goes to 7.8, does this sound right?

[smpolyp]

What time are you testing the pH? Your pH will be lower just before the lights turn off and highest just before the lights go off. This is due to the algae producing oxygen during light hours.
If you find you still have low pH levels you can do a simple test. Take a glass of tank water test the pH. Then add a airate with an airstone for 1 hour. If the pH goes up you have co2 issue. This may not be from low water movement in the tank but low ox levels in the room. You can take you intake of the skimmer and run it outside(a carbon filer on the inlet is recomended).

Originally Posted by prow

thanks, i do understand how they work(for the most part). i am just worried about the ph at 8.0. i know the high dkh and low ph are compinsating for each other, but, as the alk comes down the ph has remain the same. could it be that the alk has not came down enough to affect the ph? i just added my macro algae hope this will help with the ph. i am just trying to grow coraline right now but it will be full reef(will add corals in about 4 more months). will be getting a Mg test kit this weekend, had to wait. i use IO salt so i am pretty sure the mg is around 1000. i have seen some coraline growth but will be adding Mg after i get the test kit. i am think i should wait till the Ca+ is at 415-420 and dkh is at 8-9, watch the ph and hope it comes up then dose with tropic marin bio-calcium. i have also heard i should keep the alk and Ca high togather and not worry about the ph unless it goes to 7.8, does this sound right?

[prow]

Originally Posted by smpolyp

Your pH will be lower just before the lights turn off and highest just before the lights go off.

lol o really. now i am very confused. j/k. good info on the CO2 testing for excess. i know this test. just been a little lazy about doing it. thanks for the help. i decided to do nothing and just watch. i just added my macro a couple days ago. hoping this will bring the ph up a couple of tenths. if not i will check for excess CO2 when i do next ph reading. might be it because i have like 4 300gph power heads a 600gph pump and a 1200gph pump all sumerged. room is well vented and lots of surface aggitation. we will see. thanks again for the help.