[saltyfishdude]

2 / 19 /07
okay, so I've updated my test reults...........I was also wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to drop my high alkalinity..............

Hello Everyone, My name is Neal and I'm in Grover Beach, CA and I just found this forum! I've been on a couple forums for maybe a week now, (just recently got a computer and joined the modern age), but when I came across this one I loved all the features and traffic of info and people that I had to join, so here I am. I am putting up some info on my system and I am hoping some of the more experienced opiniions here could lay some on me. I know some things are not perfect and downright too high on one of my water parameters, but I need to hear some good advice...........If your interested in passing your word along, then read on.......................either way, it's nice to meet you all!

So I'm puting up some info of my reef style system. It isn't really a full reef becuase I don't really have proper lighting and I only have a few soft corals.

It is 100 gallons, 48x24x21h, with a 20 gal refugium (lots of live sand and caulerpa)

equipment setup completed and cycling began on May 23, 2006

water quality as of february 19, 2007:
ph 8.4
nitrates 15 - 25 ppm
ammonia / nitrites: 0
calcium; 400 - 430 ppm
phosphates: less then .25 ppm
magnesium: 1260 - 1300 ppm
alkalinity: I know, this is far to high, 10 meq /L, definatly working on it

I am currently changing 15 gallons a week, for a lone time I was only doing 5 gallons and adding buffer every week without checking the the alkalinity and it rose way to high................
...............................I know, I'm a dumbass.

specs:
approx 175 lbs live tonga branching and fiji rock
80 lbs live sand
265 watt coralife compact flourescents
65 watt coralife compact flourescents for refugium
prizm 100 protein skimmer
200 watt visitherm heater
aquaclear 70 powerhead, 400 gph
maxijet 1200 powerhead, 270 gph
maxijet 900 powerhead, 230 gph
rio 20 submersible pump, 980 gph

inhabitants:

(3) oscellaris clowns - 2" each
chocolate shouldered surgeon (chocolate tang) - 5"
pacifac blue tang (juv) - 4 1/2"
vlamingee tang (juv)- less than 3"
foxface rabbitfish - 4 1/2"
coral beauty angel - 3 1/2"
diadema dottyback - 1 1/2"
lawnmower blenny - 3"
sixline wrasse - 2"

sally lightfoot crab - med. size
black sea cucumber - 4" to 6"
pink sea cucmber - 3" to 4"
2 peppermint shrimp - 1 1/2"
coral banded shrimp - large
skunk cleaner shrimp - large
2 bristle stars (1 white w/ 11" dia., 1 black w/ 9" dia.)
serpent star - 8" dia.
sand sifting star - 5" dia.
electric blue legged hermit
half a dozen or so assorted snails
approx. 1 dozen smaller hermits
hawaiian feather duster - one of the larger I've seen
decorator sea urchin - 3 1/2" dia.
rock boring urchin - grew in tank, 1 1/2" dia.

small yellow colony polyps - 9 polyps
brown polyps - 10 to 15 scattered around, and 25 to 30 on one frag
assorted button polyps - approx 70 to 80 on one rock
pulsing xenia

[Ninong]

If your alkalinity is really 10 mEq/L (28 dKH), then maybe you should do about a 30% water change?

Check out the following articles by Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley:

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php