Water Parameters w/ Ca. Reactor?

[drilldr]

Hi all
I recently placed a Korallin Ca reactor on my tank ( ~ 1 mo. ago). I have approx 1-2 bubbles CO2/sec and a fairly steady drip from my effluent. My ca is meas. at ~400 and my dKH is 12.8 or 4.57 meq/L. My pH has been steadly ranging between 8.1 and 8.25. All other paramters are normal. My questions are as follows:
Is my dKH value to high to facillitate coraline algae growth? I've got it starting on my powerheads and a little trace on my rocks. My tanks is about 7 months old. Does my Ca need to be higher? I have mostly soft corals and ~ 6 small fish. The instructions for setting up the reactor or not real great. Thanks for any imput.

Shawn

[Ninong]

My target range is 10-12 dKH for alkalinity and 425-450 ppm Calcium.

Your present 400 ppm Calcium is fine but 425-450 would be better in my opinion. Alkalinity below 14 dKH is not a problem. Once it gets much higher than that it can cause the calcium to go down.

[drilldr]

My target range is 10-12 dKH for alkalinity and 425-450 ppm Calcium.

Your present 400 ppm Calcium is fine but 425-450 would be better in my opinion. Alkalinity below 14 dKH is not a problem. Once it gets much higher than that it can cause the calcium to go down.

Thanks for the reply. I have tried 'tweeking' the reactor without much luck. Too much gas and it creates a pocket in the chamber. Should I slow my effluent down? I'm also frustrated with the needle valve that came with this unit as it is very tough to be precise with it. Often times its either all or none with a setting. Your thoughts?

[Ninong]

Thanks for the reply. I have tried 'tweeking' the reactor without much luck. Too much gas and it creates a pocket in the chamber. Should I slow my effluent down? I'm also frustrated with the needle valve that came with this unit as it is very tough to be precise with it. Often times its either all or none with a setting. Your thoughts?

I hate to give advice on how to run calcium reactors since I don't have one but what you could do to raise your calcium levels would be to add a small amount of calcium chloride daily until you reached the desired level of calcium. Or you could add just the calcium component of one of the two-part supplements like B-Ionic or C-Balance. Or you could use Kent Marine liquid calcium but be careful because it is highly concentrated.

If you use one of the two-part products, add about 1 Tbsp of the calcium component daily and see what that does to your readings. If you use Kent Marine liquid calcium, add about 1/2 tsp daily.

P.S. -- Yes, I know the size of your tank. It's in your profile.

[drilldr]

I hate to give advice on how to run calcium reactors since I don't have one but what you could do to raise your calcium levels would be to add a small amount of calcium chloride daily until you reached the desired level of calcium. Or you could add just the calcium component of one of the two-part supplements like B-Ionic or C-Balance. Or you could use Kent Marine liquid calcium but be careful because it is highly concentrated.

If you use one of the two-part products, add about 1 Tbsp of the calcium component daily and see what that does to your readings. If you use Kent Marine liquid calcium, add about 1/2 tsp daily.

P.S. -- Yes, I know the size of your tank. It's in your profile.

Ok, Thanks again and I'll try to manually dose to that level. Perhaps the reactor can maintain it. When did you have significant coraline algae start to develope?

[Ninong]

When did you have significant coraline algae start to develope?

About 2-3 months after starting the tank. From that point on it required weekly maintenance to remove it from unwanted places.

I use only Kalkwasser at present and my calcium runs 450-475 ppm and my alkalinity runs 10.6 - 11.1 dKH. My tank is exactly 7 months old today. For the first several weeks I used a two-part calcium/buffer additive but I always had to add more of the calcium component than the alkalinity component because my calcium was low for the first several weeks.

[JB NY]

Hi Ninong,

Your values are within range for good growth of coralline. I run about 430 ca and Alk of 12.2 dKH. I am running and MTC reactor. Coralline can be frustating, in that sometimes it grows like a madman and other times it seems to take forever to get it to grow. I have found a little addition of strontium for a month or so can help with boosting one coralline algae. I add about 1 tsp a day on my 180 gal, 250 total gal system. I use Kent's liquid Strontium and Molybdenum.