rising calc and alk

[tetraodon]

so for a while i had an auto doser to keep my params in check, my tank had few problems recently and i decided to shut the doser off, ive been testing ever and noticed that both my calc and alk have been on the rise. ive repeated the tests several times and most of the tests read more or less the same. they are red sea tests and ive had them since January. could the tests be bad?

[Nano sapiens]

Without dosing, Ca and Alk *should* drop (unless one were to have very few calcifying organisms and did regular water changes).

 

If the tests are not expired, then I wouldn't expect them to bad. To be sure, can you double-check using a LFS's tests?

[tetraodon]

Without dosing, Ca and Alk *should* drop (unless one were to have very few calcifying organisms and did regular water changes).

 

If the tests are not expired, then I wouldn't expect them to bad. To be sure, can you double-check using a LFS's tests?

the lfs tests are API, i wonder if my coral have stalled growth due to some of the issues ive had recently

[Nano sapiens]

the lfs tests are API, i wonder if my coral have stalled growth due to some of the issues ive had recently

 

 

Sure, corals can and do stop growing if conditions are not favorable (survival trumps all).

[tetraodon]

 

 

Sure, corals can and do stop growing if conditions are not favorable (survival trumps all).

thought so, but i only do water changes maybe once or twice a month, and since i turned off the doser today was the only water change. would it be a good idea to get another test kit to see?

[tetraodon]

 

 

Sure, corals can and do stop growing if conditions are not favorable (survival trumps all).

im thinking i should stop using reef crystals for the time being, i think my calc and alk are rising due to adding full reef parameter to my reef that doesnt need more. i should also mark were 5 gallons is on my bucket for better measure and use my refractometer before i add it.

[Nano sapiens]

im thinking i should stop using reef crystals for the time being, i think my calc and alk are rising due to adding full reef parameter to my reef that doesnt need more. i should also mark were 5 gallons is on my bucket for better measure and use my refractometer before i add it.

 

To have full control of parameters, it's much better to have a salt mix that mixes close to the parameters you'd like for your tank. Then dose Ca and Alk (and possibly Mg) as needed to maintain stable levels between water changes.

 

You can also mix different salts to get the parameters desired. So, if you don't want to waste the RC that you currently have you could mix it with something closer to NSW parameters like RS Blue Bucket or Tropic Marin at whatever proportions give you the parameters desired.

[tetraodon]

 

To have full control of parameters, it's much better to have a salt mix that mixes close to the parameters you'd like for your tank. Then dose Ca and Alk (and possibly Mg) as needed to maintain stable levels between water changes.

 

You can also mix different salts to get the parameters desired. So, if you don't want to waste the RC that you currently have you could mix it with something closer to NSW parameters like RS Blue Bucket or Tropic Marin at whatever proportions give you the parameters desired.

thats the issue, ive halted dosing and the calc and alk still rise, so my thought was that the salt was the culprit,

[Nano sapiens]

thats the issue, ive halted dosing and the calc and alk still rise, so my thought was that the salt was the culprit,

 

Yes, RC has high parameters (especially Alk). Depending on the tank's Ca/Alk usage, you may just need to cut the RC with a different salt closer to NSW to keep levels stable (possibly without dosing if you get it 'just right')