Low alkalinity high calcium with Reactor

Buh Buh Bacon

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 28, 2018
Messages
12
Reaction score
3
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I currently have slightly low alkalinity between 6.4 and 7 and high calcium (a little over 500). Things in the reef are thriving. I have heard you can set the reactor for the desired alkalinity and the calcium will fall into proper range since it’s all about balance. pH is fine (maybe a little low at 8.1) but hesitant to do anything about it since corals, fish and inverts and everything are healthy and happy. Reason I’m asking is I’d like the alkalinity to be higher just on personal preference and the alkalinity to be lower. Is it possible the reactor size in an issue as it’s a relativiely small one for the 140 gallon tank? IE if I was to go with a bigger reactor would the alkalinity and calcium fall into where I want them to be?
 

Brew12

Electrical Gru
View Badges
Joined
Aug 14, 2016
Messages
22,488
Reaction score
61,020
Location
Decatur, AL
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I currently have slightly low alkalinity between 6.4 and 7 and high calcium (a little over 500). Things in the reef are thriving. I have heard you can set the reactor for the desired alkalinity and the calcium will fall into proper range since it’s all about balance. pH is fine (maybe a little low at 8.1) but hesitant to do anything about it since corals, fish and inverts and everything are healthy and happy. Reason I’m asking is I’d like the alkalinity to be higher just on personal preference and the alkalinity to be lower. Is it possible the reactor size in an issue as it’s a relativiely small one for the 140 gallon tank? IE if I was to go with a bigger reactor would the alkalinity and calcium fall into where I want them to be?
Did you have everything in balance when you put the reactor online?
 

Denisk

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 6, 2016
Messages
1,552
Reaction score
1,858
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Does your calcium continue to rise?

You want to tune your calcium reactor based upon your alk consumption.
 
Last edited:

GoVols

Cobb / Webb - 1989
View Badges
Joined
Nov 29, 2016
Messages
13,078
Reaction score
37,560
Location
In-The-Boro, TN
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Welcome to Reef 2 Reef.

I caught an article about balancing out cal to alk with a cal calcium reactor and it had some of Randy's quotes in it.

It said that one thing to look at was to make sure that your reef as not lower than .35ppt in salinity, when running a cal reactor.
 

dimo

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 25, 2017
Messages
79
Reaction score
78
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The high calcium is probably coming from your salt mix and is kept extra high due to water changes. I have that same issue. Currently using RC which tests over 490 freshly mixed. When my current supply runs out I'm switching to a salt with less calcium.
 

krausean

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 5, 2017
Messages
29
Reaction score
19
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
As far as I know, it's normal for levels to go out of whack over longer periods of time. Corals, inverts, and other things depending on calcium & carbonate don't necessarily uptake the same ratio of alk/cal as the reactor spits out. Also, check your Magnesium level, if you haven't already.
 

saltyfilmfolks

Lights! Camera! Reef!
View Badges
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
28,739
Reaction score
40,932
Location
California
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The high calcium is probably coming from your salt mix and is kept extra high due to water changes. I have that same issue. Currently using RC which tests over 490 freshly mixed. When my current supply runs out I'm switching to a salt with less calcium.
This I believe.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

Reef Chemist
View Badges
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
66,527
Reaction score
62,818
Location
Arlington, Massachusetts, United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
What media are you using?

If it is lower in magnesium than the calcium carbonate that is being deposited in your tank, high calcium will result long term, just as it does dosing limewater/kalkwasser for calcium and alkalinity.
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 69 37.5%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 62 33.7%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 13.6%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 15.2%
  • Other.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
Back
Top