Kalkwasser

[Aquapalegic]

so i checked my calcium its at 352 magnesium and alk. are good to. Im useing kalkwasser in my topoff and just finished a 2 day mix. When is the best time to raise calcium? can i add it while im useing the kalk.? or should i wait like adding reef carbonate and calcium to avoid milkiness? any ideas???

[subielover]

What is your Mg. and Alk? Keeping your Mg. above 1300 helps to keep your levels more stable. What kind of salt are you using, and how often do you perform water changes? Are you using a 2-part or just kalk?

[Aquapalegic]

My friend tested my water n I'm not sure what the mag was. He said it was a little bit low. Salt I'm useing neo marine. Was useing seachem. I'm useing two little fishies kalk and seachem reef carbonate and seachem reef complete. I raised the calcium from 352 to around 400 last night. I noticed my ph dropped to about 8. I added carbonate today to raise alk a lil. Should I maybe dose some kalk with my top off n c if it raises the ph? Or should I n do I have to wait??

[subielover]

First thing I would do is buy a Mg., Alk. and Ca. test kit. I prefer Salifert, and SF carries them for a decent price. Once your Mg. is over 1300, then you can adjust alk. and ca. to proper levels. Once the parameters are where you want them, I would start dripping kalk, but not until then. Everyone does things differently, this is how I would do it.

[Aquapalegic]

ok so does it matter if i drip it into my tank direct or should i drip it into my sump? ya i need a test kit its been over two yrs now doseing n never had a test kit other than a basic one. i keep close eye on my ph tho atleast lol. n i know i gotta wait when i add the carbonate to add calcium so it dont make water milky. do i need to allow time when adding kalkwasser before adding any of the others?? is there any reactions that can b rather bad???

[subielover]

Don't add anything you do not test for.

[Aquapalegic]

Well I would tell people the same thing lol. But I've been fallowing the same routine for over two years now n I've never had no issues. The reasons for my questions now are because I'm trying new things. My questions aren't so much what do I do but how ut all works together. It's easy to follow directions on a bottle and instructions with a test kit. Anyone can match up the numbers n add till ey meet but I'm trying to understand more of y? I know the mag needs to b around there because of something about it bonding wit the calcium n something to fill it in so it won't precipitate out lol see I'm not sure n that's really where m question comes in. What's it all mean as a whole? Where does it all come in? What's kalk play in it all?

[CHINOSIR]

if you dont mind reading take a look at this link
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php
talk about calcium mag and alk. and how they interact with each other.
let me know if it was helpful.

[Aquapalegic]

Hey thanks alot for the post it was very very helpful. Still takin notes n rereading it lol. Lots of info exactly what I needed