Ca Mg and Alk ok?

[kerry]

I've been experimenting with pouring the ca into the sump, without diluting it first. I already do that with the baking soda, and strontium.

I wanted to try putting straight vinegar and calcium hydroxide into a dosing pump but was not sure if it would work. Any thoughts on that? SM, do you have a cheap source for Str?

[SantaMonica]

Don't know.

I get Seachem str from md

[Floyd R Turbo]

Kerry, the only problem I see with that is that dripping that highly concentrated mixture directly into the saltwater could cause a small amount of localized precipitation, even if dripped into a high-flow area.

[joelespinoza]

Joelespinoza - with calcium and alkalinity on the high end, combined with no precipitation, sounds like your pH may be really low. Maybe worth rechecking this.

Its never less than 8.2 and never more than 8.5, it is currently between 8.2 and 8.3.

[Byron]

Hi Ace,
I didn't mean to imply "bouncing" around between 8 - 12 is OK in regards to Alk. I agree this would cause major problems for corals. I try to keep my tank around the 10 although i know other aquarist's quite happily keep there tank lower and higher than this range. I should a have been more specific in my reply, sorry for any confusion caused!
Cheers Ben

[kerry]

Kerry, the only problem I see with that is that dripping that highly concentrated mixture directly into the saltwater could cause a small amount of localized precipitation, even if dripped into a high-flow area.

I thought that might happen and end up putting white dust on everything.