Water Parameters Question

[Baldy]

all info here

Originally Posted by TheNewGuy

Hello all,

I just recieved the package with the rest of my test kits, and ran all the tests on my tank. It has been running for about 4 weeks now with nothing but substrate in it awaiting LR. All powerheads, skimmer, and canister filter ar working great. My question is regarding calcium and alkalinity levels. I mixed up RODI water with H2Ocean salt to a salinity of 1.0255 according to my hydrometer (yeah i know, a refractometer is next on the list), and my parameters as of today are:

Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrites = 0.1ppm
Nitrates = 0ppm
Phosphates = 0ppm
pH = 8.2
temp = 78 deg
salinity = 1.0255
alkalinity = 8 dKH
calcium = 480ppm

Im wondering how my calcium can be so high without a high alkalinity as well. according to mykas guide, i would need an alkalinity over 14 to balance properly. i bought a bottle of each seachem reef fusion (1 and 2), should i dose to bring the alkalinity up to where it should be?

Im picking up live rock today, and plan on starting with a couple clowns and maybe a couple zoa frags in the coming weeks/months, but i will be taking it slow with the additions.

Any advice?

[fishytime]

you dont even have rock in the tank yet bud......I wouldnt worry about what your levels are at right now......BTW you need to know what your Mg levels are at for things(the big three) to be balanced

[Baldy]

Lol, I actually got the rock in today. Looks so much better than the tank with just sand :P. I haven't read much about magnesium, but I've read into the relationship between alk and calcium. From what I've read if the alk isnt high enough, the calcium will precipitate out of the water. That is what lead to me asking about this in the first place. But I'm not having any problems so far, so I guess I'll just leave it for right now.

[Coleus]

you should watch this. This explains everything
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI52I...mbedded#at=169