Chemistry question and an Oops story

I dont think 7-8 is that bad.

Here is a little exeprt I copied from a Farly acticle on it.

Alkalinity2 (due to bicarbonate and carbonate but not borate, so those using Seachem salt must raise this value substantially to accommodate the borate being counted in standard alkalinity tests)

2.5 - 4 meq/L or 7 - 11 dKH or 125 - 200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents

Calcium:

380 – 450 ppm calcium ion or 950 - 1125 ppm CaCO3 equivalents





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If you are anywhere within these ranges for both parameters, you do not need to perform any correction on your tank chemistry, though you may choose to do so for other reasons. In this sense it makes no difference what the relationship is between the two values. If alkalinity is 4 meq/L, it is not inherently any “better” for calcium to be at 380 ppm or 450 ppm. Also, these ranges are somewhat arbitrary, especially at the high end. In fact, the primary reason for having a high end at all is that it is often difficult to keep one of these parameters above the minimum end of the range if the other is over the top end. So if one of these parameters is slightly above the high end, and the other is OK, that is not a problem worth worrying about.

 

If anything you can start dosing with Kalk. That will raise both your alk & calc & help keep your PH up.

 

The cloudiness was participitate, you basically added more alk than your water could absorb.
Are you measuring dKH or meq/l, if your reading 7 meq/l that is like 20dkh which is WAY high.


Also what test kit are you using? Is it old? Are you sure your doing it right?

 

Hmm you could try bumping you CA up to around 450 then see if you can get your KH up.

 

I can test it if you want to bring me a sample.