The parameters have been about 380 for Ca and 2.5 for Alk. pH fluctuates from 7.84 early morning to 8.14 highest in the late afternoon. I have in the past skipped one day of 2 part and had calcium drop to 360 and alk drop to 2, pH also drops to 7.75 early morning. As of yesterday I increased the amount that I normally dose. I was using the "suggested" amount from the bottle which made it about 7ml (1ml per 4 gallons.. 20g + 6g refugium) Yesterday I started adding 8ml. The readings tonight are 400 for Ca and 2.5 for Alk, the pH is now 8.28 So the additional ml has made a bit of difference. I imagine the pH tomorrow a.m. should be closer to 7.9 Test kit: Ca-API; Alk-Marineland.
The sand, not sure I bought it over a year ago when I set up the tank and I was really new and an LFS told me this is what I needed. Back in August to increase pod population I added about 2 cups SeaFlor puka shell substrate. In my softie nanos I used CaribSea Ocean Direct live sand. The 24g is an upgrade so has a mix of sand from my 10 gallon and added Ocean Direct for DSB for jawfish. The 12g zoanthid is fairly new so all CaribSea Ocean direct.
The sps & lps in the 20g are growing like mad. My sun corals continue to spawn and are pretty much scattered throughout the tank. My monti cap has pretty much doubled since 10/14/07 and so has my bird's nest that I got at the frag swap."]
Sounds like you're the one that should be giving the advice! You could probably add a little more of the alkalinity solution. That is the solution portion that will quickly cloud up and then dissipate. That should help your Alk. It is a little on the low side. Watch your pH, but everything sounds really happy! In reality watch your reef and not so much the numbers, however, Alk at 2.5 is on the low normal side and doesn't give you much buffer. That could account for your wide pH swings.
