can't get calcium up

[supermarvin76]

My tank has been up now for over a year, with a visit about 6 months ago from hurricane Katrina, which killed all my fish.

Just this past week I have begun to monitor my calcium levels. Only live rock in the tank, 3 chromis, and 2 percs. I have coraline on the rock that it came with, but have not seen any coraline growth.

I am certain that this is due to my calcium which is around 240-260. I know I need it around 400, but can't seem to get it there. I am dosing Purple-Up which I belive has calcium in it, along with Kent liquid calcium.

Please help!!! I want my coraline!!!!!!!

Thanks ahead of time.

 

[Paintbug]

what are your alk and magnesium readings?

heres a couple of links
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2002/chem.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[WaterKeeper]

I love it when I see our reefing friends on the Gulf Coast getting up and running again. Randy's articles are great but I'm a little lost on why your Ca is so low. You really don't have much of a demand. You may want to try having someone else test you rater to confirm the level. It sounds a little suspect to me.
:thumbsup:

 

[a4twenty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6705738#post6705738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paintbug
what are your alk and magnesium readings?

agreed, also your pH could be helpfull. it sound like your adding calcium, but nothing you increase your alk, these two work hand in hand. if pH is really high and or your magnesium is really low it can affect your systems ability to take up both alk and calcium.

 

[WaterKeeper]

IIRC the Purple-Up stuff he is dosing contains magnesium but I'm not positive.

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6709442#post6709442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
IIRC the Purple-Up stuff he is dosing contains magnesium but I'm not positive.

it does but not in the proper amount. and it doses iodine, which if not monitored can crash the tank. i dont like that stuff!

 

[WaterKeeper]

Thanks Bug. I'm not sure what you mean though by proper amount. Unless the tank tests low in magnesium then it is hard to judge what amount is proper. I agree that adding iodine just for the heck of it is never a good idea.

It really shouldn't require anymore than normal tank husbandry practices and water changes to keep coralline alive. If I was going to do anything with Marvin's tank it might be to add KW to the topoff. Even then, I've seen tanks with pretty low calcium levels growing coralline on the glass.

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6710009#post6710009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
Thanks Bug. I'm not sure what you mean though by proper amount. Unless the tank tests low in magnesium then it is hard to judge what amount is proper.

let me rephrase, the amount of magnesium that Purple Up adds is very little.

 

[jimbo045]

You could use either Purple Up, or aragaMILK.They are great 16oz. dosers.

 

[Adam Rasmussen]

i just want to put my 2 cents in and say that i dont like to bash products but i've read and heard a lot bad things about that purple up . some say that it has killed corals and crashed systems .

 

[sjm817]

I agree. Use a decent ca/alk supplement like B-ionic, or baking soda and calcium chloride (Randy's 2 part). Be sure mag is at least 1200 first.

 

[WaterKeeper]

I'm with most of you here. I'm not fond of additives, especially when people blindly add them without proper testing. Even calcium additions should be based on chemical testing to determine need. In 99% of the cases water changes will correct most imbalances.