Low Ca.?

[RTKBA308]

What would cause my tank to have a low Ca level? And how do I bring it up?? I don't dose anything. I feed twice a day.

Here are my parameters;

Temp; 80.0
Cal; 320
KH; 7.0
Alk.; 2.51
Nitrate; 0.2
Ammonia; 0
Nitrite; 0
PH; 8.1
Salinity; 1.025

4/14/07......10% water change

[jnfallon]

whats your magnesium level?

Mag of 1300-1350 is required to keep calcium from precipitating out.

[RTKBA308]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9762381#post9762381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnfallon
whats your magnesium level?

Mag of 1300-1350 is required to keep calcium from precipitating out.




Of coarse I don't have a Mag test kit:rolleyes: . I'll pick one up and give it a test.

Thanks!

[Billybeau1]

Well I know you are not using Instant Ocean because your alk would be much higher than 7. So you must be using a salt I'm not familiar with.

Lets start with what salt mix and what brand test kits. :)

Oh and you don't have to use the large fonts..... we can see just fine. :D

[RTKBA308]

I'am using IO and Salifert test kits. I also use RO/DI water.

[Billybeau1]

Wow, IO with low alk....... Well we know one thing for sure. Your magnesium level is probably about 1090 or so. Way too low.

What are we talking here. Fish only..... Reef..... If reef what stocking level. Low, Med or heavy ?

[RTKBA308]

Reef tank. Medium stock, I guess.

70lbs LR
20lbs? sand

Two cleaner shrimp
About thirty snails
Four Hermit Crabs
Starfish

One Blue Chromis
One Leopard Wrasse
One Scotts Fairy Wrasse
Lawnmower Blenny

One Frogspawn Coral
One Torch Coral
Misc. Zoa.
One Finger Leather


58 Gallon tank w/ 20 G. sump

[Billybeau1]

Well, OK. You can continue to use Instant Ocean (which is a very fine salt mix) but you'll have to supplement calcium and magnesium.

Better yet, if you switched to Reef Crystals (made by Instant Ocean) it has more calcium and magnesium than IO.

You still may need to supplement, but not as much. The choice is yours.

Randy (who swears by IO) would know exactly how to bump up his cal and mag to keep everything cool.

Us (non chemists) prefer to get a little help and Reef Crystals is the same quality as IO from bucket to bucket , but requires less supplementing, which is what I like.

With your medium load of corals, I would think that you could benefit from switching to Reef Crystals. At 1.0265 it comes in around 420 calcium, 12 dkh and 1260 mag.

[RTKBA308]

Wow, okay.

If I do switch to Reef Crystals, what's the best way to make the change? How about with 10% water changes every week with Reef Crystals?

[Billybeau1]

That would be fine.

But you will still need to supplement once in awhile to keep your parameters in check.

Remember, consistency is the key.

If you want to keep a reef tank happy and healthy, you will have to keep your parameters within the recommended levels.

These are

Reef Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Pay particular attention to the big three.

Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium.

These besides pH and Specific Gravity are the most important to keep an eye on if you want a thriving reef tank.

[RTKBA308]

Great, thanks for your help.

[Billybeau1]

:thumbsup: