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05/07/2012, 09:31 PM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: San Antonio TX
Posts: 286
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Calcium Demands
Hi all,
I am in need of some collective wisdom. First a little background info. 300 gallon system(240 display) SPS and Clam dominated 3-175 MH 15k Iwasaki bulb (Luminarc mini reflectors) 3-15" Reefbrite XHO mounted to reflectors 2-Skimmers (needle wheel and beckett style) 25 gallon Xenia fuge, and 80 gallon sump/macro fuge Clams 1-18" Gigas (2/08) 1-8" Teardrop Maxima (6/03) 1-6" Squamosa (8/11) Question: What are you guys with the clam dominated tanks using for calcium? I am currently going through 2.5 gallons or 1-heaping tablespoon of Kalk every 2 days. This only brings my calcium to 240 I need to add an additional 1/4 cup of calcium chloride per day, and still that only brings me to 360. Several years ago I was running a Calcium reactor, but after I got the Gigas my calcium dropped from a stable 420-450 to 280 within a week or so. So I increased the CO2 and dripped to a steady stream. Just to see what the setting would need to be on the reactor just to keep up with the demands. I lost my nerve at the thought of the potential disaster that could await me if something went wrong. So I took it off line, and went to a simpler dosing pump system. |
05/08/2012, 04:53 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: smyrna
Posts: 3,536
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are you sure of the accuracy of your low ca measurements? what testing are you using? how's the mag, salinity, and ph. i use a geo reactor. np w/calcium. never dosed well, of course your clam load is bigger.
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not obsessse--scuse me gotta check on the tank Current Tank Info: 75 and 65gals plumbed together, clams 12 fish. lps corals/ aquaillumination leds on the 75 and lovin them. t5's |
05/08/2012, 07:58 AM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: San Antonio TX
Posts: 286
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Thank you for the response...
Because I've had issues with test kits before in the past I now buy 2 different Salifert kits with different exp. dates. The kits are reading within the margin of error. Mag: 1350 PH-8.3-8.4 (normally 8.1-8.2 Kalk has raised this a bit.) Salinity-.026-.027 (Instant Ocean Salt) Alk-9.6-10.4 |
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