Calcium and KH

My calcium levels and my KH is off the charts how can I lower these. I do 20% water changes every week and Im not adding any calcium supplements. I do use reef crystals.

 

What are the levels? Also, what is your Mag level?

 

Well the test kit that I have for calcium says its above 520 and for the KH the test says I should only have to put in 11 drops but I have to put in 15-16 i dont remember off the top of my head Ill test again when I get home. I need to go get another mag kit... I add mag every week though..

 

The Ca shouldn't present a problem...it just depends on how high your Alk and Mag are.  One just doesn't want to push the extremes on all those param's.  Here's a great article by Randy Holmes-Farley http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm  If you still have any questions let us know

 

Are you useing RO DI ?

 

Thanks sponge...

No fishbrain... I was planning on starting to get culligan water from work for my water changes for now on though.... I live in an apt I dont think I can hook up an ro di system in it

 

Do you think if I start using that would it take care of the KH

 

I also started using stress coat to remove chlorine from the tap water.... Would a water clarifier work the same as ro di system

 

Adog,

You can totally get a RODI system for your apartment. There are MANY to choose from depending on your needs. The first one that comes to mind is the Mighty Mite from Air Water Ice. This unit is small, portable, and can be hooked up without inflicting permanent 'damage' to your apartment.

Start with RODI water, and I am sure most of your water parameter problems will go away. Also once you start using RODI don't use stress coat.

There really is no point in buying clarifiers, additives, supplements, etc if you start with RODI and use Reefcrystals and a 20% change every week or two.

 

So you are useing tap water right now? If yes that is where the extra ca and alk is comeing from.

 

Alright thanks my next post will be seeing if anybody has one for sale lol.... But until then I will be going to walmart to get water...

 

I had the same problem a few years ago. My cal was up around 600, and couldn't get it lowered. What I ended up using was a different salt, Reef Cristals have a higher cal ppm. I used instant ocean for a while and made the salinity of the new water a little lower to.

 

Im almost out of the reef crystals and im getting an ro di system very soon but for now just gonna get water from culligan and finish up the reef crystals and then get dif salt mix

 

That's all I use is calliagan water but when u go to get it check the date that they last checked their filter

 

alright thanks... How much is it per gallon?

 

Culligan water will get you by but it still has a tds of 10 to 20. I buy it for drinking water and the expensive part is buying the jugs. After that refilling them is cheap. I tink I pay 79 cents for a 3gal jug refill.

 

At Walmart It's 29 cents a gal I had mine tested at local pet store and it was good

 

Ya thats what I did and my KH dropped /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif I did a 25% water change on it.... Getting ready to order an RO DI system from purewaterclub.com they have 100gpd for like $60 brand new