adjusting ca and kh

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slaine

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Not sure if i have a problem or not .
ph :8.2-8.4
ca : 340
kh : 7
The kh and ca seem on the low side . Have a system running a kalk stirrer ...no carx . have a few sps and some softies . have read optimum parameters are supposed to be kh 7-10 and ca between 400 and 450. What could i do to increase ca and kh ?is it nessicerry ? And can it be done with a diy suppliment ?
Thanks
 
Slaine - there's no problem so far. Just as long as your dKh does not drop any lower.

You could perhaps up your calcium a bit though. BUT - do you have any corals in the tank at all? If not - don't bother at all.... Then everything is hunky-dory.
 
You right Bushwacker - Slaine - the Calcium levels are slightly too low for the SPS......

I would suggest adding some kalkwasser to your tank/system to increase the calcium levels.

Add about 1 tee spoon of calcium hydroxide (slaked lime / "Gebluste kalk") to +-175ml of white spirit vinegar - then to this, add another +-800ml of RO water..... mix well, but try not to get too much air into the mixture.

Then dose +-30ml of this total RO/Ca-OH/vinegar mixture into the tank, in the morning, and evening - measure your Ca every time BEFORE you dose, to see what the Ca levels are like.... if the Ca is indeed increasing, continue to dose, until you reach a Ca level of 420. Then, only dose te 30ml once a day. If the Ca is not increasing at all, then increase the dosage SLIGHTLY....
 
bushwacker_69 said:
explain the vinegar please??
Click to expand...

Vinegar assists in getting "larger" amounts of kalk to dissolve.

It also introduces Bacteria into your system.

Becareful, rather use a RO and Kalk solution initially and if you see you need more kalk then go the vinegar route.
 
Another quick question...or 2 .Do u suggest also dosing with baking soda or will increasing the calcium with kalk also increase the alkalinity ? What affects will this have on ph?
 
bushwacker_69 said:
explain the vinegar please??
Click to expand...

Hi Bushwacker. Vinegar is an acetic acid. This acid breaks down calcium hydroxide to it's simplest forms, ie. calcium and oxygen and hydrogen.. the oxygen bonds with the hydrogen to form H2O again, and you have Ca as resultant ions...
 
slaine said:
Another quick question...or 2 .Do u suggest also dosing with baking soda or will increasing the calcium with kalk also increase the alkalinity ? What affects will this have on ph?
Click to expand...
No Slaine - don't dose with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) at this stage. Only after you have been able to increase your Calcium, then start looking at perhaps increasing your alkalinity.

Calcium hydroxide does indeed increase your pH - so, yes - just as well you mentioned it. Please monitor your pH as well.....
 
what about calcium chloride?Would this be a better bet or will it be much the same as using calcium hydroxide ?
 
Calcium chloride will increase calcium levels, but do nothing for your alk levels, best to raise them both together to avoid an imbalance of ions. kalk slurry as described above works very well.
 
Jacques has given good advice. Your Alk is perfect! You just need to get your Ca up.
An Alk of 6.5-8DKH is ideal for SPS. Ca 380-420. Try and keep these parameters constant and try and avoid fluctuations ;)
 
Thanks Mekaeel . have managed to keep it constant ...but constantly lower than needed .
 
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