Calcium ?

[The Saltwater Kid]

Is there any easy way to increase my calcium without decreasing my alkalinity? I was dosing Kent Marine Liquid Calcium but it was dropping my alkalinity so I stopped. I do have a lot of coraline which I have scraped off the two sides and front of my tank as best I could but the rear is covered as are most of my live rocks. My calcium is at 380 and I'd like to get it up to at least 420. Any suggestions?

[rigleautomotive]

what is your alk,sg and any other parameters u can supply.a two part ionic balanced additive would be the way to go providing your alk and mg are within desired range.ie kalk,b ionic or randys formula.

[Craig Lambert]

You could do a one shot dose of Kent's Turbo Calcium to raise the level, and then return to dosing your two part solution or dripping kalk to maintain the levels. Here is a calculator to help you:


http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

[rigleautomotive]

turbo will lower alk so i would not add it unless your alk is high.your cal at 380 is fine where it is at as long as alk is within range.thats why i ask for parameters

[The Saltwater Kid]

My alk is around 8 or 9...it fluxuates a little because I am using PHOSaR phosphate remover and that lowers my alk a little at which point I add some alk booster (Kent Marine Super Buffer dKH) so it generally tests 8, 8.5 or 9. I am dosing B-Ionic twice per week...should I up that to 3 times per week? My LFS was saying my calcium should be at 450 but that seems a bit high for me and i think 420 is more realistic. I was thinking of adding a Blue Tuxedo Urchin to help eat some of the coraline and therefor it wouldn't use up as much calcium. My params last night were pH=8.2, Ammonia=0, Nitrite=0, Nitrate=5.0, PO4=.5, Calcium=380, Alk wasn't tested because my LFS couldn't find his test kit for that. My Salinity was high at 1.028 so I will be taking a couple gallons of water out and adding a couple gallons of straight R/O water.

[Genral72]

Tropic Marins Bio-Calcium increases both Alkalinity and Calcium. Here's what they say on their bottle "Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium is the ideal source of both Calcium for the corals and carbon dioxide for the zooxanthellae

[Travis L. Stevens]

Water change is my personal opinion. Depending on your other parameters, some form of Calcium Chloride is more likely needed.

[The Saltwater Kid]

I do 10% water changes weekly with larger 20% water changes once a month. I use only R/O water and Instant Ocean salt mix.

[Craig Lambert]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9691090#post9691090 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The Saltwater Kid
I do 10% water changes weekly with larger 20% water changes once a month. I use only R/O water and Instant Ocean salt mix.

IO salt is the reason you have low calcium. It mixes to around 380, so all the water changes in the world won't raise your calcium. It is also low in magnesium. When you mix a batch you need to boost the magnesium, and then boost the calcium before adding it to your tank. Many people on RC do this including myself.

[Travis L. Stevens]

FYI, 380 Calcium isn't bad. It's within the range that natural seawater is in certain areas. Having a little extra on hand isn't bad though.

[The Saltwater Kid]

So is there a better salt to use? What about Reef Crystals, is that better?

[Travis L. Stevens]

Reef Crystals has higher concentrations of the things most reef aquarists prefer.

[The Saltwater Kid]

So if reefs in nature are about 380 calcium why do we strive to achieve a reading between 420 - 450?

[rigleautomotive]

that was my point 8 posts ago

[The Saltwater Kid]

I guess I'm used to people saying your calcium needs to be in the 400's, I'm glad my calcium isn't too low then but I still am pondering the reasons why so many people tell you it needs to be close to 450 in our home reef systems when it naturally occurs at 380?

[rigleautomotive]

some people think more is better.i used to also until i realized my animals looked best with constant values rather than the unachievable magic numbers.cal 380 to 420 alk 8.5 to 9.5 and mg 1200 to 1400.work best for me if i keep it consistent.