Montipora might not be looking so good.

[d2mini]

Ok, i had a brand new heater I was gonna use in a mixing container but since I don't have that set up yet I ganked it and put it in my sump.

So how do i get the kh up?

 

[JAG107]

reef builder or baking soda added to top off RO water.
kalk also helps balance kh and calc

 

[ccCapt]

Here's my full set of tests taken at 77.4 degrees.
Salinity 1.024
PH 8.4
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Mag 1250
Cal 420
kh 105ppm

105 ppm? That is extremely low and if that is right, that may be causing problems for your monti cap frag.
105ppm = 5.8dKH = 2.1meq/l
You should be at 180ppm or 10dKH or 3.5meq/l
You can use Arm&Hammer baking soda to raise your alk. Use this Reef Chemistry calculator to figure out how much you need to dose.

 

[d2mini]

How much is safe to dose at one time?

 

[ccCapt]

In 50g of water, you would need to dose 5 teaspoons of baking soda to riase alk from 5.8 to 10 dKH. You can mix the 5 teaspoons in a quart of RO water and add that over the course of 2-3 days.

 

[d2mini]

So i did the 5 teaspoons of baking soda over a couple days and I just did another test.
Mag is 1230.

wtf? :12:

 

[yote]

Your corals and coralline is using it.Which is what their supposed to do.And the more hard corals you have,the quicker its used.Then the mag,calc,and alk. are all connected.They'll try to balance themselves out.
Use that link to the reef calculator to figure out the dosage,and use epsom salt for your mag.

 

[d2mini]

Doh, i'm getting confused.
I meant to test for Alk.
It's up to 195-ish after the baking soda.
That's good, right?

 

[ccCapt]

It's up to 195-ish after the baking soda.
That's good, right?

Perfect :)

Now just bump that mag up to around 1300. You can use epsom salt.

 

[d2mini]

Cool, thanks!

 

[d2mini]

Awesome, looks like I'm at around 1350 for Mg as of tonite.
I'm like a marine biologist/chemist now. :mrgreen:
Thanks!

Except I had only put in half the epson salt that the reef calculator told me.
I'll keep an eye on it...