High Nitrate and Alkalinity

I have added a CPR hang-on refugium to the tank a week ago and it is populated with Calerpa algea. I have the fuge on an opposite light schedule than the tank. The skimmer portion of the fuge is now skimming properly and I see it fill the collection area about half way every 5-6 days. I have to take my time on what else I can do as this is taking some money. I have to get a tester than can test the calcium levels as I can only test for nitrates, nitrites, Alkalinity, and pH. I hope that the fuge will help with some of these levels. I have stopped adding the Buffer and have noticed thatt the alkalinity is lowering slightly, but so is my PH. I did not know that all of these were linked, it makes it a little more challenging to keep them all in check.

-Mike

For the record Mike, I have found it a bit more difficult to maintain proper levels in a tank that has little uptake of calcium/bicarbonate. My 75g is spot-on, I dose B-ionic 2-part 20mL daily with Limewater top-off. I do not dose any Alkalinity buffer other than the 2-part. I dose the b-ionic 2 part with the focus on the alkalinity levels, then adjust the calcium with Kent Marine Liquid Calcium. my last test showed Ca at 480, alk at 11dkh. In the system, I have an abundance of soft corals, some LPS corals, and a few SPS corals.

My wife has a 55g with 4 RBTAs and one green, where the levels have been a bear to keep in check.

As for the Nitrate levels, how old are your test kits? Most kits have a shelf life of about 1 year. I use API test kits and I can tell you first hand that as the API Nitrate test kit ages, it gives off unusually high readings. I had a 2+ year old kit that tested at 20x the actual measure.