Low Calcium, little change. ATI Essentials Pro

[MrSkumfrog]

Hallo,

I have a 6 month old, minimal demand SPS reef; that is approximately 90 gallons.

Tropic Marin Reef Pro Parameters
(Alk 7/Cal 440/Mag 1350)

I’m having issues with low calcium. I initially started dosing 14.4 mL of Essential Pro #1 and 14.4 mL of Essential Pro #2 daily. Doses of #1 on odd hours, #2 on even hours.

My alkalinity has been very steady at 8.2. Unfortunately, my calcium has been 320. My Magnesium is 1320.

To increase my calcium; I started increasing the #2 solution and rechecking every week. My Essential Pro #1 bottle is still 14.4 mL a day and Essential Pro #2 is now 21.6 mL day.

My calcium is now only 340; however, my alkalinity is up to 9.6.
I don’t know why my alkalinity is going up when I’m dosing more of the Essential Pro #2?

I know I should be dosing #1 and #2 in equal parts; however, I don’t know what I should do to fix my low calcium levels.

I’ve checked newly made salt and the parameters match the label.

If you could give me advice; I’d really appreciate it.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Hi,

My first thought would be testing issues. You mentioned you tested a fresh batch and it came out fine. Sounds like you ruled out testing. I’m not familiar with ATI. I would hold off dosing more alk since it’s continuing to rise.

Maybe someone dosing ati or other info will stop by.

I attached Ati instruction and Randy’s calc in case you haven’t seen them. The calculator can help you dose Ca to get it raised safely.

http://zeoprs.jp/ATI%20Essencials/ATI-Essentials-v2.3%20english.pdf

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Hallo,

I have a 6 month old, minimal demand SPS reef; that is approximately 90 gallons.

Tropic Marin Reef Pro Parameters
(Alk 7/Cal 440/Mag 1350)

I’m having issues with low calcium. I initially started dosing 14.4 mL of Essential Pro #1 and 14.4 mL of Essential Pro #2 daily. Doses of #1 on odd hours, #2 on even hours.

My alkalinity has been very steady at 8.2. Unfortunately, my calcium has been 320. My Magnesium is 1320.

To increase my calcium; I started increasing the #2 solution and rechecking every week. My Essential Pro #1 bottle is still 14.4 mL a day and Essential Pro #2 is now 21.6 mL day.

My calcium is now only 340; however, my alkalinity is up to 9.6.
I don’t know why my alkalinity is going up when I’m dosing more of the Essential Pro #2?

I know I should be dosing #1 and #2 in equal parts; however, I don’t know what I should do to fix my low calcium levels.

I’ve checked newly made salt and the parameters match the label.

If you could give me advice; I’d really appreciate it.

What exactly are you dosing?

To fix this issue make a big correction, not an increase in the daily dose. Raise it 25 ppm calcium a day based on a calculated dose. Once you get where you want, resume normal dosing (assuming you are using a reasonable two part, i cannot tell from the name you give).

 

[Oldreefer44]

I agree with the potential for testing issues. I use Essentials Pro and have the opposite issue. Have to adjust CA dosing lower than KH to get below 450.

 

[gatorbait01]

I'm dosing essentials pro as well and have low calcium levels too. I was previously using their older 3 part for years w/ no issues. Checked my calcium yesterday and was shocked it was reading around 290ppm. Alk is fine. There are a few more people in the ATI sponsored section of R2R who have the same issue.