Can't raise calcium.

[PirateLove]

Just checked water parameters. Alk is 10, Magnesium is just under 1300, but Calcium is only 320.

I saw calcium was low two weeks ago so I doubled dosing and now adding 20ml. Only 3 ml of ALK.

Does anyone know what is going on??

[Valentini89]

Originally Posted by PirateLove

Just checked water parameters. Alk is 10, Magnesium is just under 1300, but Calcium is only 320.

I saw calcium was low two weeks ago so I doubled dosing and now adding 20ml. Only 3 ml of ALK.

Does anyone know what is going on??

How big is the tank?

[PirateLove]

45-50 total gallons

[Bill_Moorman]

What are you dosing, i.e., 2 part, kalkwasser

Are you dosing alk and calc around the same time?

Are you adding the doses slowly over the day or all at once?


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[PirateLove]

I am dosing BRS 2 part.

I dose ALK three times at 1ml at 4am, 2ml at 6am, and 1ml at 8am. Calcium 20ml at 7pm.

Still will not raise.

I just mixed up a new batch of BRS calcium to see if that will help.

[Bill_Moorman]

BRS made a video you might find useful: https://youtu.be/hSg3KGTuRCo


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[PirateLove]

Thanks. Watched the video but their response was that people were adding too much calcium. I was only adding 6 ml's and it did not raise. Went to 20 ml's and still did not raise.

[Djbeasley05]

Originally Posted by PirateLove

Thanks. Watched the video but their response was that people were adding too much calcium. I was only adding 6 ml's and it did not raise. Went to 20 ml's and still did not raise.

What are your alk and mag readings?


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[PirateLove]

Alk is 10, Magnesium is just under 1300, but Calcium is only 320.

[wrott]

Do serial dilutions of your stock solution of CaCl2 to get a sample in range of your test kit.
Then back calculate to see how close your test kits really is.

[PirateLove]

Originally Posted by wrott

Do serial dilutions of your stock solution of CaCl2 to get a sample in range of your test kit.
Then back calculate to see how close your test kits really is.

Do you mind explaining a bit more? Tomorrow my LFS is open so I may take a sample into him.

[homer1475]

Umm...



Assuming your using the new Pharma pouches from BRS. To raise your CAL by 100PPM(320 to 420) will take about 511ml. your 20ml doses will do nothing. You need to bring it up to a proper level before trying to figure out a daily dose.



Are you using the BRS calc to figure out how much to add, or just blindly adding in hopes you see a change?




BRS calc:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator/


EDIT to add:
I would not add all that at once, your likely to see some precipitation. I would probably split it into 3 or 4 doses, but dose the entire thing in one day.

[rustyjames]

How big is the tank?

What are you dosing kalk, 2 part?

What are your alk mag readings?

Do you guys read? These were all answered in the first post.

Homer hit the nail on the head. You need a substantial amount to raise your level then figure out daily consumption.

[sde1500]

Originally Posted by rustyjames

How big is the tank?

What are you dosing kalk, 2 part?

What are your alk mag readings?

Do you guys read? These were all answered in the first post.

Homer hit the nail on the head. You need a substantial amount to raise your level then figure out daily consumption.

One guy asked a redundant question.... What he was using to dose wasn't answered in the first question, neither was his tank size. Why do you have a problem with people asking clarifying questions?


PirateLove, you definitely aren't dosing enough. What did you use to determine your current dosing amount? I'd also try bringing Mag up a bit, along with calcium.

[homer1475]

I believe he's bought into the whole equal amounts of 2 part. Thats where the 20ml is coming from since hes dosing 3ml of ALK, then doubled the dosing since he wasn't seeing an increase.



Still no where near enough. Equal amounts may apply once the level is brought up to a normal level.

[rustyjames]

Originally Posted by sde1500

One guy asked a redundant question.... What he was using to dose wasn't answered in the first question, neither was his tank size. Why do you have a problem with people asking clarifying questions?

Actually, it was. Op said he upped calcium which leads me to believe he's using two part as opposed to lime or reactor. And his tank size is in his current tank info, assuming that is correct.

If I came across harsh i apologize. Carry on.

[PirateLove]

Originally Posted by homer1475

Umm...



Assuming your using the new Pharma pouches from BRS. To raise your CAL by 100PPM(320 to 420) will take about 511ml. your 20ml doses will do nothing. You need to bring it up to a proper level before trying to figure out a daily dose.



Are you using the BRS calc to figure out how much to add, or just blindly adding in hopes you see a change?




BRS calc:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-calculator/


EDIT to add:
I would not add all that at once, your likely to see some precipitation. I would probably split it into 3 or 4 doses, but dose the entire thing in one day.

Taking your advice I just tested and it is still around 320 so I added 50ml. I am using the discontinued dry calcium additive from BRS. I started with 50ml tonight because they say do not raise more than 50ppm per day but you suggest to do it all in one day. Is there a reason why?

[PirateLove]

Total gallons, current tank readings, and what I am additive I am using were in my first three replies.

45-50 gallons, Alk is 10, Magnesium is just under 1400 now, but Calcium is only 320. Using BRS old 2 part and Red Sea test kits.

Thanks for the help everyone. I am testing again to see if I have any changes after adding 50 ml's.

[Bill_Moorman]

Yes report back with test results. I expect it to rise for sure.


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[PirateLove]

OK. I'm super confused and frustrated right now. My ALK has been steady at 10 for over a month. After adding Calcium to raise it to the proper level, the Calcium is now over 500 but ALK dropped to 9. I did not add enough calcium to raise it that much and why would my alk drop from 10 to 9 in one day??

[homer1475]

Testing error? Did you repeat the test and got the same numbers? What test kits are you using? (might be up there somewhere, but I'm to lazy to reread the entire thread)



Why are you just blindly adding supplements? We have calculators for a reason, use them.



Add whats needed(I have never had an issue raising 100ppm in a single day spread out over couple smaller doses), then test in a couple hours when it's all mixed up so you have a baseline. Only reason I say spread them out over a couple smaller doses is so it doesn't precipitate out like it would with one huge BOLUS dose. .



Test the next day(you want to test at roughly the same time every day to get consistent results), and the drop, if any, will give you your daily consumption.





FWIW 50ml in a 50G tank will in no way bring your cal up to 500 from 320. 51.1ML of liquid calcium chloride(discontinued jug) will only raise calcium by roughly 10ppm in 50G system. Again we have calculators for a reason, use them to your advantage.

[homer1475]

just reread the entire thread....


I think you might be confusing PPM with ML(maybe not?).


In BRS's video they say not to bring calcium up more then 50PPM in a day, not 50ML of solution. Not sure why as I have done 100ML in a day with 0 issue.



For your tank at 50G and 50ppm calcium that would equal out to 255ML of liquid solution. Your not adding anywhere near enough liquid solution to see any positive effect.