Calcium

[Jarred1]

I am having a problem getting my calcium level back to where it should be. My parameters are: cal 300 ppm, alk 7.3 dkh, mag 1200 ppm. I was told that these three levels are balanced but I don't think the cal is high enough for a sps reef tank. I would like it around 400 ppm. I have been adding 20 ml of kent part A each week for the last few weeks and it has done nothing. The reef calculator is telling me to add 250 ml to get the calcium to 400 ppm. How much can you safely add at once? I also use kalk mixed with vinegar for top offs daily. Because I am carbon dosing I don't want my alk over 8 from what I have read in the past. Please help me, I have tried to read the articles by Randy Holmes Farley's articles but can't seem to find the right one. Point me in the right direction please!!!

Jarred

 

[rfequity]

What's wrong with Alk over 8 and carbon dosing?

 

[Jarred1]

I remember reading that the corals would begin to not do so well and get burned.

 

[malady]

I remember reading that the corals would begin to not do so well and get burned.

I read it was 8.5 but I could be wrong

I keep mine at around 8.5-8.7 with no problems

 

[Fishypapa]

I've been dosing vodka for a month now with ALK between 9-10 and both my SPS and LPS are still growing and colorful.

 

[tang daddy]

I had a similiar problem as you with the calcium at 350 and wouldn't budge. Although the difference being I was dosing 120ml of calcium daily. I solved the problem by dosing 180ml per day and it slowly raised the calcium up 30ppm per day. Once my calcium hit 450 I backed the dosing to 140 ml per day.

I am running a doser so my calcium is spread over 20x per day. If you are manual dosing try to add 1.5 caps in the morning and the same at night and see if it goes up. You should be testing at the same time daily so that your test will be accurate. You can safely raise ca by 20-30 ppm daily.

 

[Allmost]

Hello,
aim for higher calcium with daily dosing. '

420 is NSW, I find that SPS do best at 380 though !

 

[Acronic]

Agreed ^^ best colours at 395 ppm for me. Ive read conflicting info on cal in nsw... 420ppm or 400 mg/l Obviously it varies.

 

[Acronic]

What is your PH average?

 

[Jarred1]

I am not too sure on pH.

 

[animalkingdom]

raise your mag and you may see its easier to raise calcium

 

[LazRodriguez]

I use brightwell Reef Code A and B.
I dose 20ml of each daily.
Alk is 9.1 -9.3
Cal is 420-430
Mag stays at 1380
With weekly 10gal water change using reef Crystals.
All corals nice colors and growing well.

I have a 75gal mixed reef
Sps,lps , and soft corals