HELP HELP HELP SERIOUS PROBLEM!!!!!

[Nano]

Look at my Alkalinity specifically I was using test strips before, newb mistake I KNOW!! But what do I do!?!?!
PARAMS
Salinity 1.0235
CA 320
ph 8.1
Ammonia 0 ppm
Alk/Kh 27???? WTF?
Phosphate less then .25
Nitrites 0 ppm
Nitrates 0 ppm

What do I do about my alkalinity? and my calcium is a bit low too! AHHHH I'M NEVER USING TEST STRIPS AGAIN! I am now using API liquid tests and ELOS SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!

[FitoPharmer]

Change some water is your best bet whenever something is wrong with your water parameters.

How did it get that high? dosing & poor quality tests?

High alk is not the worst thing to happen. If everything looks fine in your tank don't rush to change it back or you could cause more problems. Almost everything good happens slowly.

[Nano]

Originally Posted by FitoPharmer

Change some water is your best bet whenever something is wrong with your water parameters.

How did it get that high? dosing & poor quality tests?

High alk is not the worst thing to happen. If everything looks fine in your tank don't rush to change it back or you could cause more problems. Almost everything good happens slowly.

The only thing I was doing was dosing aragamilk cause I am new an big Als told me to for ph. I now find out its for calcium... I am so afraid I'm just f-ing things up! is my test kit bad? I just bought it this week! I checked 3 times on the alk, everything else was accurate to my other test kits, alk is the only kit I am having problems with and yeah its high, its more then twice what it should be. The test KIT is by "API"

[gregzz4]

I'm not an experienced reefer yet but from what I see, one of your tests is still off.
I found this on the web for you

Here's a chart that shows what alk should be in relation to calcium.

Alk meq/L Alk dKH Calcium ppm
0------------0-----------360
0.5----------1.4---------370
1------------2.8---------380
1.5----------4.2---------390
2------------5.6---------400
2.5----------7---------410
3------------8.4---------420
3.5----------9.8---------430
4------------11.2---------440
4.5----------12.6---------450
5------------14---------460
5.5----------15.4---------470
6------------16.8---------480
6.5----------18.2---------490
7------------19.6---------500

So either you alk test is off, or your calcium test
But wait to hear from others as I may be missing something
Good luck

[Nano]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I'm not an experienced reefer yet but from what I see, one of your tests is still off.
I found this on the web for you

Here's a chart that shows what alk should be in relation to calcium.

Alk meq/L Alk dKH Calcium ppm
0------------0-----------360
0.5----------1.4---------370
1------------2.8---------380
1.5----------4.2---------390
2------------5.6---------400
2.5----------7---------410
3------------8.4---------420
3.5----------9.8---------430
4------------11.2---------440
4.5----------12.6---------450
5------------14---------460
5.5----------15.4---------470
6------------16.8---------480
6.5----------18.2---------490
7------------19.6---------500

So either you alk test is off, or your calcium test
But wait to hear from others as I may be missing something
Good luck

BIG ALS YOU BETTER REFUND ME! I AM SO TICKED

[gregzz4]

Do you have a good LFS nearby? And I mean a true SW store
I'd be inclined to have someone test your water for you
Then you can crap on Big Als if it's deemed fair
Until then, do some more research tonight so you can sleep knowing you haven't nuked your guys

[Nano]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Do you have a good LFS nearby? And I mean a true SW store
I'd be inclined to have someone test your water for you
Then you can crap on Big Als if it's deemed fair
Until then, do some more research tonight so you can sleep knowing you haven't nuked your guys

I live out of the city(edmonton) but am going there tomorrow, big als was where I got my test kit cause they "seemed" to know what they were talking about.. now I'm so confused lol. I havent nuked my tank cause odds are its been like this since day one! everything is alive and well at the moment, but I'm concerned no and rightfully so

[Aquattro]

Do a water change, buy some good test kits (Elos or Salifert) and retest. If your alk was 27, everything would be dead, so it's not 27. Ca is way too low and if you're using any good brand name salt, your number is off there as well.
To confirm, test the new water you make and post the brand of salt and the values. And find a good LFS that will give you better advice.

[Aquattro]

And get that refractometer and get your salinity to 35ppt.

[Nano]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Do a water change, buy some good test kits (Elos or Salifert) and retest. If your alk was 27, everything would be dead, so it's not 27. Ca is way too low and if you're using any good brand name salt, your number is off there as well.
To confirm, test the new water you make and post the brand of salt and the values. And find a good LFS that will give you better advice.

Salt is instant ocean reef crystals, values are... I dont know? lol
Calcium at a SG 31.ppt salinity of 1.023(which I have) 405 ppm
and magnesium at the same salinity is 1200 ppm
these are the only values I can find..