[j_man]

I'm guessing I may need to add magnesium to my system. I always start running low ph. 7.6-7.8 but my alklinity and calcium are highnormal. But I figure I should test before I just dose. Also will the pickling lime increase my magnesium lvls significantly. my calcium sits between 420-500 and kh of 12-14

[Reefland]

Your calcium and alkalinity look just fine. Be sure to test your magnesium before dosing anything, I think you'll find that you won't need to after testing. Try a Salifert Magnesium test kit.

[j_man]

will the kalkwasser help stablize my ph, even if I am high on calcium, also what are the negatives with running high CA?

[scubadude]

Originally Posted by j_man

will the kalkwasser help stablize my ph, even if I am high on calcium

Absolutely!

Originally Posted by j_man

also what are the negatives with running high CA?

Its not so much a negative but I have seen others that run higher calcium seems to have a much faster metabolism thus they go through media, or 2part much quicker, so in essence it could be considered more costly. It really has alot to do with how quick you want things to grow too and how you can balance it all. With that being said though I dont think there is a problem with growth rates with Ca around 380-400 with an equilibrium of Alk too of course. I definately think there is a little more risk at higher levels for most people because they slowly ramp up their calcium needs and find it adequate/adaptable at lower levels...so they have very rarely seen the higher level affects if at all.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by j_man

Also will the pickling lime increase my magnesium lvls significantly.

There is no magnesium in limewater; therefore, it will have no effect on your magnesium. Tanks that use only limewater for maintenance of calcium and alkalinity tend to run low on magnesium. One of the nice things about a calcium reactor is that all of the elements are added in just the right ratio.

my calcium sits between 420-500 and kh of 12-14

These numbers are fine! You would not want your Calcium to rise above 500 ppm and you would not want your alkalinity to go above 14 dKH.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by j_man

will the kalkwasser help stablize my ph

You can use limewater (Kalkwasser) to mitigate the daily swings in pH that happen because of the nature of photosynthesis. In the presence of light, photosynthesis results in a net production of oxygen (raising pH), whereas in the absence of light, respiration results in a net production of carbon dioxide (lowering pH). If you drip your limewater slowing during the nighttime hours, this will result in the pH not dropping as much as it otherwise would have because saturated limewater has a pH of 12.4.

[j_man]

N E idea why my ph isn't raising then?