fine tuneing my water params

[Brandon8521]

Just wanted to get some info on what i need to do to raise my calcium and lower my phosphates with out messing with my Dkh and Ph.

My current water params are completely stable at these params with no fluctations even after water changes (the only acception being nitrate.)

SG 1.023
Amm/trite 0
nitrate <10
Ph 8.1
Dkh 11
calcium 380
phosphates <.25

I just recently finished removeing all of my bio-media in my AC filter freeing it up for some phosphate removal media and either carbon or purigen, and my caclium isnt where I want it yet. I dont use RO/DI water these are the params i get from my well water. Phosphates stay the same in my tank and tap water. Its not quite .25 but its not 0 either so im thinking that i can get rid of it with some sort of phophate removal in my AC. Im wanting to raise my calcium but dont know what is a good suppliment to add without messing with my Dkh or Ph. I am wanting to know what everyone else is useing and what kind of success you all are haveing.

[Mek0ng]

I would get BulkReefSupplys 2part + mag kit and some GFO. I would highly recommend bulkreefsupply, great prices and great customer service.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/pro ... all-2.html

It comes with everything you need to balance and maintain your levels, including handy dispensing and measuring jug/cups. With two part you can add appropriate amounts to dial in ideal water parameters. Check you mag levels as that also play a crucial role.

Your phosphate is still too high, get some GFO and you can run it in the AC filter, if you dont have a bag to run it in, a stocking will work and is cheap.

When my tank was up and running I topped of almost 100% kalkwasser with a drip line. Every month my alk and/or calc was slightly off so I added some two part to even it out. Mag was also needed. The monitpora caps and digitas, derasa clam, coraline and most everything grew like weeds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydoufmBW ... r_embedded

Also check out this chemistry guide from reef keeping magazine

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

[Brandon8521]

Thnx for the read im not going with a full on reef just simple softies and at most some easy LSP. The primary reason for wanting my calcium up is for corine algea growth and of course the phosphates need to go down so i dont have plagues of algea when i upgrade my lights next week.

[Mek0ng]

Even softies will benefit from having the parameters right on and will probably require periodic additions of calc/alk/mag. The concern with stony corals is that they suck up the calc/alk/mag much faster creating the imbalance.

Either way good luck!

[Pufferpunk]

I use Pedlow pellets to keep my Ca at 450 & DIY alk to keep it around 8-9 7 Epsom salt for Mag of 1400:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#4

Vitamin C will keep your phosphate & nitrate at 0, always:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13501

[Brandon8521]

Thnx PP thats what i was looking for. Since my kh and ph is naturally high in my water supply I need a way to control them seperatly.

[Mek0ng]

Since my kh and ph is naturally high in my water supply I need a way to control them seperatly.

That is the idea of 2 part... They are in two different bottles so you can add separately in required amounts...

[Brandon8521]

Since my kh and ph is naturally high in my water supply I need a way to control them seperatly.

That is the idea of 2 part... They are in two different bottles so you can add separately in required amounts...

I ment my calcium. Im not trying to adjust my kh or ph right now. If i get into harder to keep corals which may require a higher ph I will also have to raise my salinity which in turn will effect my ph.

[Mek0ng]

I ment my calcium. Im not trying to adjust my kh or ph right now.

Yeah so you get 2 part and just add the calcium part.

If i get into harder to keep corals which may require a higher ph I will also have to raise my salinity which in turn will effect my ph.

Whats you salinity at now? If you have ANY inverts the salinity should be at 1.025-1.026, even just a snail or a piece of live rock. There is absolutely no reason to have it lower and is detrimental to all invert life if it is lower. pH is less important, many reefs run on the high or low end of the spectrum, 7.8-8.5, if in that range all that matters is consistency.

[Brandon8521]

Mine stays at 1.023. I have had 3 snails (2 left from the puffer haveing his way with them) and the 3 hermits that I have gotten are still in there and molt normally.

[Brandon8521]

I use Pedlow pellets to keep my Ca at 450 & DIY alk to keep it around 8-9 7 Epsom salt for Mag of 1400:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#4

Vitamin C will keep your phosphate & nitrate at 0, always:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13501

PP, is it safe to dose with out useing a sump. I just want to make sure the extra booms im gong to get will be taken care of with just a skimmer.

[Pufferpunk]

I'm not sure, I dump it in the end where the water drops down into the sump (where it's most agitated) & by the time it's pumped back to the tank, it's totally dissolved. IDK that I'd put those pellets directly into the tank.

[Brandon8521]

Im not sure either maybe I can figure out a way to use it in top off water or something. I just dont want it to either get picked right up by my skimmer or not desolve properly and cause precipitation.

[Pufferpunk]

If you're going to add to top off water, then use Kalkwasser.

[Brandon8521]

what about adding the pellets to the ac filter and let the filter desove them. That should work right?