Best Way to Raise Calcium

[btkrausen]

What would be the best and easiest way to raise and maintain calcium? I have been using Kalk for a long time now, and just get tired of having to mix and drip. I use a 2.5 gal dripper, and i guess it works ok, but i can't seem to get the calcium up past 400. I'm gonna start doing some Acropora, so I want to find the easiest, yet most effective, way to raise and keep calcium up. Are the two part Kent Marine TechCB good to use? Or the liquid reactor? Thanks.

 

[bertoni]

The 2-parts are fine. I've used B-Ionic, and liked it, although it gets expensive. This page discusses a DIY two-part:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

Another way to go would be a CO2-driven calcium reactor, which will require tuning, but not so much mixing.

Are you using the limewater as auto-topoff? I have found that to be very low maintenance and quite effective.

This article discusses a lot of Ca-alkalinity supplementation methods:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

 

[Paintbug]

i currently use Randy 2 Part Recipe from bertoni's link. heres the lastest recipe from Randy. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

i have also used B-ionic 2 Part. making my own is much cheaper. it also works as good if not better than B-ionic. you can even automate dosing with a double dosing pump.

calc reactor is another way of getting the job done but they can get expensive to start up.

 

[bjonesjr1]

what do you guys think about aragaMILK ???

 

[bertoni]

I don't think it'll work for most tanks. I think that it's mostly powdered calcium carbonate, which will show up on test kits, but animals can't use it. It will have a tiny amount of dissolved calcium, but not enough to help with any but the lightest calcium-alkalinity loads.

 

[btkrausen]

so the two part and the Kalk is the best solution?

 

[bjonesjr1]

is their anything else out their that I can buy over the counter that would be better than aragaMILK ???

 

[bertoni]

Hmm, if you can find B-Ionic, Kent Tech CB, or the TLF 2-part, they'd all be fine.

For the short term, any calcium chloride product like Turbo-Calcium plus baking soda should be okay. The problem with calcium chloride and baking soda is that it's easy to overdose one relative to the other, and end up in trouble. Also, you should definitely do some regular water changes, because that approach will shift the ionic balance more quickly than the 2-parts.

 

[bjonesjr1]

thanks john will look for those next visit to the LFS

 

[nightOwl]

I use Two Little Fishes C Balance daily in my tank and it keeps my calcium sitting at 450 ppm with ease. I have been using it for over 2 years now and it works great. Marine Depot has a pretty good price on it and is where I normally get mine from. Two Little Fishies C-Balance .

Hope that helps,
Henry

 

[Paintbug]

nevermid!

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6941160#post6941160 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni

For the short term, any calcium chloride product like Turbo-Calcium plus baking soda should be okay. The problem with calcium chloride and baking soda is that it's easy to overdose one relative to the other, and end up in trouble.

calcium chloride and baking soda are the 2 parts of randys recipe. Turbo Calcium is pretty much the same thing as Prestone Drivway Heat. now i dont have the test equipment like Randy. and i dont know if Randy has tested them both to see the differences but, i use Prestone Drivway Heat for the calcium part of the 2 part. i bought 9 lbs for $8 at Home Depot. Turbo Calcium was $14 for the 400g jar at the LFS. if i were to buy a premade product it would be B-ionic or Two Little Fishes C Balance.