[Reefmaster]

thanks for the replies guys.
although i'm no dummy i feel a bit like one which is why i've asked for the stupid steps because i've tried a lot of variations already. i know i want the calcium lower but i haven't yet figured out just how one goes about lowering the calcium levels if they can't raise the alk. ok - comments.
marc - i thought what you suggested was what was needed, but since i dialed up the co2 the pH is struggling to hold at 8.8 (ed. wooooaaah, 7.8! ooops, damn surgery!) in the evening. am sticking to my guns on your advise.
darren - ya the three are pretty stable, and i know the ca is suppressing the alk which in turn suppresses the pH, but trying to heal those that are suppressed is tough.
andrew - i spoke with mike at pm and he said those running the arm should get away with 7.0! what the heck is wrong with my setup?!? no, no dosing magnesium. have considered trying to see if that helps, but don't have a mg test kit. gas exchange on the surface is very good - i think those who have seen my system have commented on the surface area and oxygenation i get from two 40g top/bottom sumps located remotely from the tank. now the sumps are in the furnace room so whether you've touched on something there or not... hmm.
brad - nitrate is almost always undetectable, sometimes a faint trace, never since the tank was moved has it reached 5 ppm. although i don't even test that anymore, i will check tonight or tomorrow to confirm. interesting though.

to summarize, presently
60 ml effluent, 6.3 ph
7.6 to 7.8 tank ph
alk 3.4 meql
ca 500

thanks again, and any feedback is welcome. shane

[ 25 March 2002, 22:31: Message edited by: Reefmaster ]