Dumb Mistake

[airbikebill]

Hi All. I'm new to the board, I have a 150 gal reef tank, 6 years old. I got my calcium too high and clouded the tank. I use all Seachem products. I did a couple small water changes and got the cloudyness out but cal is too low and alk is too high, How often and how much on the water changes would be safe on a 150 to get the water back in balance. Don't want to mess up the biological state to much. Thanks Bill.

[Tech Support LK]

To be honest with you, on a 6 year old tank, you would have difficulty significantly impacting the bio-filter due to water changes alone. I would change as much as you need in order to get the parameters in check. Can you be more specific as to "too high" alkalinity or "too low" calcium?

[airbikebill]

Thanks for the reply. The cal is down to 290, and the alk is 4.8 meq/l, and ph 8.0. I use advantage calcium and reef builder. On occassion I'll add reef calcium just to give the corals something different. Before the cloud my numbers ran 400 on cal and 4.0 on alk, and ph 8.2, that must have been pushing it because I didn't add much cal to make it cloud and the cloud was bad, couldn't see in the tank at all. Could low mag caused some of the problem of not taking the cal? I changed 30 gal first and now I'm changing 10 gal a day, this is the second day. numbers are already looking better. I love your Reef salt, numbers look great in it. I do small water changes each week so with your salt I don't have to dose much to the tank to keep it balanced. Thanks Bill.

[Tech Support LK]

We are glad to hear you are happy with the Reef Salt. It is quite nice not to have to supplement very much since the salt is well balanced already. Low magnesium can definitely cause calcium carbonate precipitation. It is good measure to make sure your magnesium levels are appropriate before trying to raise calcium or alkalinity.