Calcium Low?

[taillonjohn]

Hi, my calcium seems low, and I can't seem to get it up past 380. I did a water change yesterday afternoon, and last night it was 360. I know everything is related, so not sure how to proceed to get all the right param's. This is my tank now:
29g
150w MH 14000 k
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 5
ph 8.4
calcium 360
alk 6
sg 2.6
no fish now (tank got ick 2 weeks ago)
just inverts and a few soft corals

any idea's / suggestions . Tks

 

[barbra]

I would dose with a calcium supplement until you hit the mark, then maintain it that way. On your alk....what scale are you using? is that dKH or meg/L? You may need to alter that as well. Buffers work well.

 

[taillonjohn]

my alk is 6 meg/L. So just go ahead and dose with calcium? nothing else?

 

[barbra]

That's a very high alk reading if it is megs/L. High alk will depress your calcium levels. You need to get your alk down and calcium up. Kalkwasser or a two part supplement can do the trick for you.

Randy Holmes-Farley has a good article on reef water parameters and how to maintain them here:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[taillonjohn]

thanks

 

[drummereef]

Whoa! Your alk is crazy high. What are you dosing to get the alk that high? What test kit are you using for alk and calcium? Are you sure it's not dkh you are reading?

Target 2.5-4.0 meq/l (7-11dkh) for alkalinity and 380-450 for calcium.

Let the alk come down on its own, first. Then once the target number has been meet then I would deal with the calcium. Magnesium plays a vital role in keeping you calcium level up. If it's low it won't allow the calcium to raise and stay consistant. You can use Turbo Calcium to raise the Ca to the desired level then maintain with a 2-part suppliment after that.

Please Read:

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

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

Calculator for dosing:
Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

 

[taillonjohn]

thanks drummereef. yesterday is the first time I tested for alk. I'll double-check it again tonight

 

[taillonjohn]

ok, i checked last night. I have a Seachem test kit. my tank tested at 5meg/l yesterday, and calcium again at 360. I tested my QT tank, and the alk was 3meg/l. I read the articles provided by drummereef, and seems I just have to dose with liquid calcium. I have Kents liquid calcium at home, but never used it before. So I should just go ahead and start dosing the tank? never done that before.... any comments?

 

[papagimp]

start slowly, following the instruction on the label, and work from there. Dose, wait sufficient time, recheck levels. This can take a while to figure out a proper doesing regeme but once you figure out what your tanks needs, it'll be alot better for you and the tank. FYI, new tanks are riddled with instability, especially during the first 70days where calcium and alk levels can fluctuate excessivily. They should "stabalize" to a point after that 3 month mark, sooner for some. My Ca ran about 650ppm for the first 3 months my tank was running. Just GYI

 

[taillonjohn]

my tank is almost a year and half old. the calcium has never been above 400ppm. (I'm suspecting my salt mix maybe? I use instant ocean) I really wanna get a clam, so I know I gotta get the calcium up to about 440. maybe the alk is screwed now cause my tank got ick last month and all fish died? I don't know, but I'll start adding calcium slowly

 

[Avi]

Drummer has it right. If your calcium doesn't go up with the additions of the supplement, then the most likely explanation if your magnesium levels are insufficient. If that's the case, adding calcium will not be effective. So, your tank is out of balance and it ought to be addressed. Testing for magnesium is the answer...it doesn't have to be done frequently at all but it should be done, particularly if the calcium levels can't be corrected with calcium supplementation.

 

[drummereef]

Yes, need to check your mag levels along with alk and calcium. If the mag is low it won't allow you to raise the calcium at all, or for any length of time.

Target:
7-11dkh alkalinity
380-450 calcium
1250-1350 magnesium

 

[taillonjohn]

thanks. I don't have a mag test kit, I'll pick one up today, and try it tonight........ damn this is all so complicated, I wanna do one thing, but gotta check on 3 things to accomplish one thing. I'm trying, but it's hard to understand sometimes. I'll post the result tomorrow. Tks again for the help

 

[drummereef]

No problem. Just let us know where your levels are once you test. Once you get the hang of it, it's really easy. Using a balanced suppliment like 2-part will really take the headaches and guess work out of it. But first we have to nail down your levels.