Calcium?

[nbd13]

Hey guys i just did a quick test and came up with the following, let me know what you think here.

for alk i got 8 dkh

for calcium i got 360 ppm

what do you think? i know the alk is right on target, but is the calcium fine?

i am only running my deltec pf500 calcium reactor for about 30 minutes right now and it is keeping these levels constant, i also am running about 1 bubble per minute.....

let me know.

thanks!

Nick

[Aquatic Image]

Nick IMO I would bump the CA up a bit to at least 400. I usually shoot for 420. Alk is right on.

[nbd13]

even with running zeo? so should i just add some calcium buffer to get it up to 400?

thanks!

Nick

[fkadir]

Yup, bump it up to 400-420. Those are actually the usual targets for running a tank with zeovit (NSW parameters).

Your reactor if funed properly will hold the values at 400-420 after u bumped it up. Let me get this rite, you are only running it for 30mins/day?

[nbd13]

yep well actually i think its abotu 45 minutes since i upgraded the tanks....

i am only running the CO2 into the reactor for 45 minutes a day.....

i will go ahead and bump it up then also...

thanks!

Nick

[fkadir]

Cool, Im running my reactor for 9 hours at ph 6.45 to keep CA/KH steady.

[nbd13]

yeah but your tank has alot more corals in it, haha....

once i get my tank stocked then i will have to bump it up i am sure...

Nick

[fkadir]

Yeah, i would imagine you have to bump it up pretty drastically once you have a tank full of calcium guzzling SPS/Clams etc etc.. Good choice of CA reactor btw.

[nbd13]

thanks it was just transfered over, it may or may not keep up when my tank is full...

do you run yours overnight? or just during the lighting period?

if this doesnt cut it, i am going schuran jetstream.....

hopefully this will work though.

Nick

[fkadir]

I run it during the lighting period since that when photsynthesis is happening and thus higher Ph values. I wouldnt want the ph to dip way down during lights-out and thus the CO2 is turned off.

[fkadir]

For illustration of my PH swing over a 24hr period:

[losmandy]

Hi Nick,

I run only CR only for 5 hrs a day.

I start the CO2 about 4 hrs after the mains lights turns on and stop the CO2 3 hrs after the main lights goes off. With this I can keep the pH of the tank at it's max.

When the consumption increase I just extend the running hrs and when consumption changes then I decrease the run time accordingly.

Here's the pH trend of my tank for the past 2 days.

[nbd13]

Thanks guys, those graphs are very useful!

what controller are you guys using?

Nick

[fkadir]

IKS

[nbd13]

nice, how do you like it? any draw backs? things you would change?

Nick