TOOOOOMMMM...informative as usable. A lot of people always say what parameters you should have but rarely do they tell you what to do with those numbers. Good explanation
I totally agree Tom. Before i used 2 part and was chasing ph and Alk. Never gotten that right. Nowadays on my 500L tank i dose only kalkwasser (1250mL a day) trough an Aquacare (german quality brand ) kalkwasser reactor and dose pump 24/7. My apex shuts off the dosepump when ph raises above 8.3. That´s all i do. My Alk. sits at about 12, and i don´t mind at all. Ph is the clue when dosing kalkwasser, it regulates your tank over time all by itself, my corals never looked better.. next to the kalkwasser i use redsea color A/B/C/D program (sparingly!) to add minor trace elements. I stopped doing regular waterchanges, switched to only 10L /2months. Cheap, works like a charm and easy to set up. That´s what i call Old school modern reefing..
Hi Danny, haha, yea, we find our way and settle in to what works best. I know I have a lot new reef keepers, so I try to give them the easiest ways. Then if they want to explore, they can😊👍🏻
Hello Tom, hope you are gmdoing great. Thank you for an amazing video. I have a quick question my calcium is at 450, alkalinity is at 13.7 dkh at the moment. A week ago my calcium was 480 alkalinity was 14.4 i stopped dosing so it comes back to normal. My question is calcium is at 450ppm at the moment and alk is 13.7. I dose tropic marine all for reef. How much of all for reef dosage should be to balancr cal and alk, since calcium is at the border 450. Thank you in advance
Hi Mohammed, I might hold off on dosing until it comes down even more. I don’t know all for Reef in practice. Read directions to determine what it will raise your Calc and Alk. Either way, go slow 👍🏻😊
Tommy, you nailed the point and taught me well, where others failed... Thanks for the table graphic, I have not seen the correct levels in an associated form before... Honestly you are a great tutor, with great reefing content that teaches so clearly. So glad you are independent from BRS etc. Very glad to have seen this tutorial! EDIT: Do you test for magnesium with a view to balance the calcium to magnesium ratio too? Thanks Tom
Hi MB, 😊thanks for the positive comment. I don’t test for Mag very often. When I have in the past, under my controlled parameters from the 2 part dosing, I’ve always fell in the range. Never to low or high. Usually if Calc and alk are balanced mag is fine. I’ve never dosed magnesium ever. Kalkwasser and 2 part is all I’ve done. If I were keeping a sps dominant tank, I might pay more attention to Mag. 👍🏻
My Alkalinity is 15 and my Calcium is 520 and PH 8.09. I like my Alkalinity to be only 12, I am okay on High Calcium and Ph. And I am having hard time to lower my Alkalinity. Tip is very much appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Jackie K! Have you tried a simple large water change? If your fresh salt water doesn’t have a high alkalinity mixing it with your tank water will bring your alkalinity down. How are you controlling your Alk and Calcium?
Ive noticed that u can really get away with going really high with ur alkalinity and have zero problems as long as u get there slowly but the opposite is definitely not the case all it takes is dropping 1.5-2+dkh or dropping below 7.5 or so and shit can go horribly wrong quickly so i usually try to never let mine get below 8.5 and also try to keep my ph up to at n least 8 i tend to see issues with one type of coral or another when i have a lower ph
Quick question what could possibly be raising my DKH I don’t dose alk at all and i can do a water change then test and it’s at 8.8 or so I’ll re test two days later I get 9.8 my calcium is at 400. Alk I use a Hanna, cal I use the Red Sea test kit also I check my salinity and it’s at 1.25 on the dot I’m so confused tanks been running for over a year and I can’t seem to keep acros happy my guess is the high alk swings once a week up and down.
Hi Keith, test your magnesium level. Magnesium ions bind to calcium ions. If your mag. Is low, it could be having an effect on your alkalinity spiking. 9.8 is not overly high, but understand that you want to keep it more stable.
Tom, I'm kinda new to all this and have been having trouble alkalinity in my nano reef (about 7.5g). I see what you did but I have a question. Others show that there is a residue that floats on top of the water and on the bottom of container that you mix Kalkwasser in. It looks as if your mixing yours directly into your top off container. Is that correct and how are you handleing the residue?
Hi Mike, the excess kalkwasser that settles on the bottom is usually below your pump intake. So it won’t get sucked into the pump. It’s not a problem. The thin skin on the surface that forms is normal. It’s a CO2 thing. When the ATO is almost empty, you can dump it and start over with fresh Kalk. No worries 👍🏻 btw 7.5 is not that bad
@@TOMReefer Thanks for answering Tom but that is 7.5 gallons. My KH is 6. Also I have nitrates at 40ppm. I lost most of my coral and there's a good bit of algae growing on my rock. It's some form of macro algae I think. There is little left in the tank except a clown fish, a coral banded shrimp, two small frags of tree coral and a medium size rock covered with green star coral. I added a small protein skimmer and built a HOB refugium and added Chaetomorpha. Its only been a few weeks so I figure nothing is actually making a lot of difference yet. If you have any further suggestions feel free to share them. Thanks again for your time.
Hi. My ALK was at 5 and my CAL was sitting at 480. Ove been slowly loosing corals and my Zoas have been melting away. My candy cane is slowly receding and my dunan is no longer opening up. I did a large water change and tested all week and my ALK was still around 5-6 and my CAL around 470-480. I tested ALK and CAL from the fresh new salt water before doing the water change and ALK was at 8 and CAL at 420. I did multiple water changes and my perameters stayed the same. I did some research and i heard that i should be dozing ALK slowly and my calcium should drop. Ive been dosing ALK for 2 weeks and testing everyday. My ALK is now at 10.5 and my CAL at 470. My corals are still not looking happy. Im at a lost now. Any recommendations on what to do? Im using red sea black bucket for salt and using red sea ALK. Ive been testing with Salifert. Salt at 0.25.
2 weeks is not enough time to see progress. Your alk and Calc are ok now. You really need a few months to see improvement. Some of your corals still may die. Keep your Calc and alk stable. Dosing should do that👍🏻
Hi SLaw, no, pH is a different measurement than alkalinity. Alkalinity is measured in DKH, which in natural seawater ranges from 7 to 9DKH. So your reef tank can be in that range or even a bit higher then 9DKH
@@TOMReefer understand that yes.. I have a tank that has good ventilation next to a side door of my house and it seems like if I start to increase my alk above 7.7 several corals aren't happy.. im a little over a year on this tank im probably trying to chase numbers maybe
@slaw8609 maybe? if you’re corals don’t look happy at above 7.7, then stay where they look happy. Or test your other parameters when they don’t look happy. One other thing, if you’re increasing your alkalinity, go slow. 👍🏻
Hi Aksel, I’m assuming it’s hair type algae. remove as much as you can by hand, then get hermit crabs, 2 per gallon. You can also get Astrea snails for micro algae. 1 for every 3 gallons👍🏻
Hi Gmnjean. 13dkh is a bit high, but 440 ppm cal. Is ok. Try a larger water change. As long as your fresh saltwater mix is OK this should stabilize it.
Hi John, it could be a few possible things. 1. Test your salt water mix right after you mix it. 2. Make sure you have a reliable Alk test kit like a Hanna Checker. 3. If your salt mix is fine (8dkh or above) then preform a large 50% water change and test alk again. 👍🏻
The old Alkalinity still haunts Reef keepers! 😊
Great video man dude! Most people just tell you no, it's too high or low. Love that you dug into the PH and Calcium ratios.
Thanks Dean! 😂
TOOOOOMMMM...informative as usable. A lot of people always say what parameters you should have but rarely do they tell you what to do with those numbers. Good explanation
Thanks Brandon! 👍🏻😊
Great info Tom. Keep up the great work 👏🏻
Thanks QCRM😊👍🏻
Good one, Tom! I like the green 😃👍
Thanks xCaspow! 😃
Hi Tom. Very cool. I will check tomorrow my dkh. That could be interesting.
Hi Jean, yes check Dkh 😃👍🏻
I totally agree Tom. Before i used 2 part and was chasing ph and Alk. Never gotten that right. Nowadays on my 500L tank i dose only kalkwasser (1250mL a day) trough an Aquacare (german quality brand ) kalkwasser reactor and dose pump 24/7. My apex shuts off the dosepump when ph raises above 8.3. That´s all i do. My Alk. sits at about 12, and i don´t mind at all. Ph is the clue when dosing kalkwasser, it regulates your tank over time all by itself, my corals never looked better.. next to the kalkwasser i use redsea color A/B/C/D program (sparingly!) to add minor trace elements. I stopped doing regular waterchanges, switched to only 10L /2months. Cheap, works like a charm and easy to set up. That´s what i call Old school modern reefing..
Hi Danny, haha, yea, we find our way and settle in to what works best. I know I have a lot new reef keepers, so I try to give them the easiest ways. Then if they want to explore, they can😊👍🏻
Hi I'm Brazilian marine aquarist. I'm your fan
Hi Rodolfo! Thanks for being a fan! 😃
Hello Tom, hope you are gmdoing great. Thank you for an amazing video.
I have a quick question my calcium is at 450, alkalinity is at 13.7 dkh at the moment. A week ago my calcium was 480 alkalinity was 14.4 i stopped dosing so it comes back to normal. My question is calcium is at 450ppm at the moment and alk is 13.7. I dose tropic marine all for reef. How much of all for reef dosage should be to balancr cal and alk, since calcium is at the border 450.
Thank you in advance
Hi Mohammed, I might hold off on dosing until it comes down even more. I don’t know all for Reef in practice. Read directions to determine what it will raise your Calc and Alk. Either way, go slow 👍🏻😊
Just got a pink spotted watchman goby, do they eat a lot of food. Mine eats, but only seems a bite or two each feeding. Does that seem right?
Hi Ozzman, that’s fine, they eat a lot that you don’t see. As long as it’s eating some, your good 👍🏻😊
Tommy, you nailed the point and taught me well, where others failed... Thanks for the table graphic, I have not seen the correct levels in an associated form before... Honestly you are a great tutor, with great reefing content that teaches so clearly. So glad you are independent from BRS etc. Very glad to have seen this tutorial! EDIT: Do you test for magnesium with a view to balance the calcium to magnesium ratio too? Thanks Tom
Hi MB, 😊thanks for the positive comment. I don’t test for Mag very often. When I have in the past, under my controlled parameters from the 2 part dosing, I’ve always fell in the range. Never to low or high. Usually if Calc and alk are balanced mag is fine. I’ve never dosed magnesium ever. Kalkwasser and 2 part is all I’ve done. If I were keeping a sps dominant tank, I might pay more attention to Mag. 👍🏻
@@TOMReefer Thanks for your reply!
My Alkalinity is 15 and my Calcium is 520 and PH 8.09.
I like my Alkalinity to be only 12, I am okay on High Calcium and Ph.
And I am having hard time to lower my Alkalinity.
Tip is very much appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Jackie K! Have you tried a simple large water change? If your fresh salt water doesn’t have a high alkalinity mixing it with your tank water will bring your alkalinity down. How are you controlling your Alk and Calcium?
Ive noticed that u can really get away with going really high with ur alkalinity and have zero problems as long as u get there slowly but the opposite is definitely not the case all it takes is dropping 1.5-2+dkh or dropping below 7.5 or so and shit can go horribly wrong quickly so i usually try to never let mine get below 8.5 and also try to keep my ph up to at n least 8 i tend to see issues with one type of coral or another when i have a lower ph
Hi Josh, great observation. People panic when Dkh gets high, and it’s really fine. Thanks for watching! 👍🏻
It was helpful!
Happy to hear that David! 😊👍🏻thanks BTW!
Quick question what could possibly be raising my DKH I don’t dose alk at all and i can do a water change then test and it’s at 8.8 or so I’ll re test two days later I get 9.8 my calcium is at 400. Alk I use a Hanna, cal I use the Red Sea test kit also I check my salinity and it’s at 1.25 on the dot I’m so confused tanks been running for over a year and I can’t seem to keep acros happy my guess is the high alk swings once a week up and down.
Hi Keith, test your magnesium level. Magnesium ions bind to calcium ions. If your mag. Is low, it could be having an effect on your alkalinity spiking. 9.8 is not overly high, but understand that you want to keep it more stable.
I'm at 9.42 alk and 409 cal. Any recommendations?
Hi Leroy, Don’t do anything, they’re quite close to balanced. 😊👍🏻
@@TOMReefer awesome thanks gonna let it ride
Tom, I'm kinda new to all this and have been having trouble alkalinity in my nano reef (about 7.5g). I see what you did but I have a question. Others show that there is a residue that floats on top of the water and on the bottom of container that you mix Kalkwasser in. It looks as if your mixing yours directly into your top off container. Is that correct and how are you handleing the residue?
Hi Mike, the excess kalkwasser that settles on the bottom is usually below your pump intake. So it won’t get sucked into the pump. It’s not a problem. The thin skin on the surface that forms is normal. It’s a CO2 thing. When the ATO is almost empty, you can dump it and start over with fresh Kalk. No worries 👍🏻 btw 7.5 is not that bad
@@TOMReefer Thanks for answering Tom but that is 7.5 gallons. My KH is 6. Also I have nitrates at 40ppm. I lost most of my coral and there's a good bit of algae growing on my rock. It's some form of macro algae I think. There is little left in the tank except a clown fish, a coral banded shrimp, two small frags of tree coral and a medium size rock covered with green star coral. I added a small protein skimmer and built a HOB refugium and added Chaetomorpha. Its only been a few weeks so I figure nothing is actually making a lot of difference yet. If you have any further suggestions feel free to share them. Thanks again for your time.
Try a few bi weekly 50% water changes(2x week) test your phosphate. Manually remove as much algae as you can 👍🏻
@@TOMReefer Curretly im doing 2 gallons a week. I've been pulling the algae by hand. Phosphates are good right now
Hi. My ALK was at 5 and my CAL was sitting at 480. Ove been slowly loosing corals and my Zoas have been melting away. My candy cane is slowly receding and my dunan is no longer opening up. I did a large water change and tested all week and my ALK was still around 5-6 and my CAL around 470-480. I tested ALK and CAL from the fresh new salt water before doing the water change and ALK was at 8 and CAL at 420. I did multiple water changes and my perameters stayed the same. I did some research and i heard that i should be dozing ALK slowly and my calcium should drop. Ive been dosing ALK for 2 weeks and testing everyday. My ALK is now at 10.5 and my CAL at 470. My corals are still not looking happy. Im at a lost now. Any recommendations on what to do? Im using red sea black bucket for salt and using red sea ALK. Ive been testing with Salifert. Salt at 0.25.
2 weeks is not enough time to see progress. Your alk and Calc are ok now. You really need a few months to see improvement. Some of your corals still may die. Keep your Calc and alk stable. Dosing should do that👍🏻
Question.. if you have no problem keeping a stable ph of 8.2 , does the dkh have to be as high?
Hi SLaw, no, pH is a different measurement than alkalinity. Alkalinity is measured in DKH, which in natural seawater ranges from 7 to 9DKH. So your reef tank can be in that range or even a bit higher then 9DKH
@@TOMReefer understand that yes.. I have a tank that has good ventilation next to a side door of my house and it seems like if I start to increase my alk above 7.7 several corals aren't happy.. im a little over a year on this tank im probably trying to chase numbers maybe
My dkh likes to stay around 7.2 and I do water changes regularly.. am I forcing something I don't need to by chance?
@slaw8609 maybe? if you’re corals don’t look happy at above 7.7, then stay where they look happy. Or test your other parameters when they don’t look happy. One other thing, if you’re increasing your alkalinity, go slow. 👍🏻
@@TOMReefer thank you sir.. I always go slow but somethin has been telling me to stay around where I'm at.. you helped
This is unrelated I have a very big green algae infestation how could I decrease the amount of algae
Hi Aksel, I’m assuming it’s hair type algae. remove as much as you can by hand, then get hermit crabs, 2 per gallon. You can also get Astrea snails for micro algae. 1 for every 3 gallons👍🏻
It is hair algae but I only have one tank so I am hesitant to put in that many crabs when I have nowhere else to put them.
@@AkselLentz you leave the crabs in there. They will help control your algae after they eat what you have now.
@@TOMReefer I'm sorry to keep bothering you but it's only 29 gal and 58 crabs seems like a lot are there any other ways.
What’s are some accurate but cheaper calcium and magnesium tests?
Kh 13 and CA 440 is this bad
Hi Gmnjean. 13dkh is a bit high, but 440 ppm cal. Is ok. Try a larger water change. As long as your fresh saltwater mix is OK this should stabilize it.
👍
Thanks Aussie D😊
Wow 13 dkh is high no?
Yes High, but balanced with 475 calcium. I’m in a stop everything phase. I like it around 9-10 DKH 425 calcium😊
@@TOMReefer yea I been dosing all for reef. I’m within 8-9 right now. My corals are looking great.
My ALK is at 6 and calcium is at 400 ph is 7.9 I'm stumped
Hi John, it could be a few possible things. 1. Test your salt water mix right after you mix it. 2. Make sure you have a reliable Alk test kit like a Hanna Checker. 3. If your salt mix is fine (8dkh or above) then preform a large 50% water change and test alk again. 👍🏻