Help me dose Ca properly.

[dhalderman]

I have never dosed anything to my tank yet, but i'm debating starting to dose calcium. Mine so far is usually around 380, and my alk usually is on the lower side as well, around 8 or 7. This is another reason I was thinking about dosing. I had thought I remembered hearing that you should, or even have to, dose Calcium with something else but I forgot what that "something" was, and was pretty sure it was Alkalinity. Is this true, do you not dose Calcium alone generally speaking? Cuz dosing these two together would solve both my "problems", not that they are really problems.
2 additional questions, excuse me if they are dumb ones haha.....
"Alkalinity" = calcium carbonate?
How would dosing calcium and alkalinity affect my pH?
I am seeing great growth on the fleshy part of my corals, just literally nothing in the way of addition to the stony skeleton portion.
Thanks!!

 

[bertoni]

This article discusses alkalinity:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/2/chemistry

For our purposes, alkalinity measures mostly the amount of carbonate and bicarbonate in the water column, along with a bit of borate and other ions. We dose carbonate alkalinity because that's what corals and other calcifying organisms consume.

To get started with supplementation, a 2-part like B-Ionic is a good way to go. You can switch to a DIY 2-part or other form of supplementation at some point. This article discusses the tradeoffs:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

 

[dhalderman]

Thanks! Biiiiiig help.

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome.