Some help with pH and Calcium please ...
- Thread starter dot
- Start date
I had ph lower than yours about 3-4 months after I started. Adding baking soda brought the ph up to 8.4 then a week later the just before lights out ph was back down to 7.4 or lower.
In my case i added macro algae to the system and the ph was up to 8.4 the next day and has stayed there for about 2 years. Seems carbon dioxide lowers ph. So the macros consumed the carbon dioxide and brought the ph up. So actually ph was more a synptom than the cause. I have not had to dose anything since then.
but I do use crushed oyster shells with about 5x water flowing through them. Ca rose to and stayed ay 400ppm alk is about 2 meg/l.
In my case i added macro algae to the system and the ph was up to 8.4 the next day and has stayed there for about 2 years. Seems carbon dioxide lowers ph. So the macros consumed the carbon dioxide and brought the ph up. So actually ph was more a synptom than the cause. I have not had to dose anything since then.
but I do use crushed oyster shells with about 5x water flowing through them. Ca rose to and stayed ay 400ppm alk is about 2 meg/l.
dot,
first off, your ph will swing throughout the day.
some folks put their refugiums on a daylight schedule that is opposite of their main tank in order to minmize this swing.
secondly, i have never mixed my own two part and am not at all familiar with Randy's recipes. i can tell you that you should not add too much at one time.... and i think the calcium precipitation would be a side effect of dosing too much at a time.
wish i could be more help for you in this area but i quit using two parts as i wanted to have a life away from my tank too.
first off, your ph will swing throughout the day.
some folks put their refugiums on a daylight schedule that is opposite of their main tank in order to minmize this swing.
secondly, i have never mixed my own two part and am not at all familiar with Randy's recipes. i can tell you that you should not add too much at one time.... and i think the calcium precipitation would be a side effect of dosing too much at a time.
wish i could be more help for you in this area but i quit using two parts as i wanted to have a life away from my tank too.
From what I understand you measure then dose. And magnesium comes into play as well.
I have read the ocean is around 400-425 ca and 2.5-3 meg/l alk. And you should try for 1300ppm mag or so. When any of those get below then add the appropriate thing then recheck. But just make changes slowly. If say calcium was 300 don't try to add calcium to get 450 in one step. Get the calcium up a little then recheck alk and mag.
I have read the ocean is around 400-425 ca and 2.5-3 meg/l alk. And you should try for 1300ppm mag or so. When any of those get below then add the appropriate thing then recheck. But just make changes slowly. If say calcium was 300 don't try to add calcium to get 450 in one step. Get the calcium up a little then recheck alk and mag.
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