How do you manage your calcium levels?

[Gary Majchrzak]

It's common for folks to concern themselves with Calcium levels and not alkalinity levels. I'm happy you are aware of the importance of both.

 

[blange3]

Thanks Gary,

Actually, I always check Alk, Ca and Mg at the same time.

I just switched back to IO from RC and my numbers were Ca 385ppm, Alk 3.6 meq and Mg 1230. That's why I was more concerned with the Ca than the Alk.

I dosed Ca and Mg to try to get up to 410 and 1285 respectively and I've started dripping Kalk for my balanced replenishment.

 

[PatMayo]

I drip kalk, Mrs. Wages, 24/7 which works out to about 3/4 gallon per day. It's still not enough. I have to dose Randy's 2 part, about 100 ml per day to keep alk around 3.0 meq/l and calcium at 410.

I don't have any problems with residual anything from Mrs. Wages. I make up 44 gallons of saturated kalk in a brute container and then let it settle for a couple of days. I then transfer it to a 5 gallon bucket and put it in via a medical dosing pump. The kalk is clear with nothing in it when I take it out of the brute container.

I wish I had enough evap to use the kalkwasser only but I don't.

I have 2 plate corals, 3 frogspawn heads and some mushrooms, and tons of coralline algae. I think the coralline is driving the high usage.

Regards,

Pat

 

[blange3]

Thanks for the info Pat.

Looks like Kalk drip may work for me. I started on Friday and I'm at 430 Ca, 4.11meq Alk, and 1320 Mg.

I dosed some Tropic Marin Calcium and Randy' new Mag formula on Friday to adjust the low numbers.

I'm working on the Kald strength now. I replace about 1/2 gallon a day using an Aquadose. Looks like 1/2 tsp of Kalk per gallon is my current usage.

If I can get to daily drip and once a week to test an adjust, that will work nicely.

 

[Seajuice]

I keep it very simple by using Kalk in my top off water. I too have a 90 gal. like PatMayo and my evap rate is about 2-3gal per day. I'll admit I'm not too scientific about it. I just mix the kalk in my evap. bin. (30g) and the float valve does the rest. Corals are growing very well. mostly LPS. Coraline is high maintenance for me at this point. If your planning to go to a SPS intense tank I'm sure you might have to supplement as well.
Oh, one other point, I'm not too fussy about the kalk. I mix it. and raise my pump in the vat a bit. That's it.

 

[ACBlinky]

I drip kalk (2tsp kalk:2tsp vinegar:1g RO), but about once a week I need to give the Ca and alk a boost with CaCl and buffer (separate days); like others here, I find kalk isn't always enough for the LPS -- some of these guys grow pretty quickly when they're well fed

 

[Seajuice]

I have to ask, what's the vinegar for? pH?

 

[ACBlinky]

Vinegar is basically a substitute for CO2. It makes things more efficient, preventing Ca ions from precipitating out as calcium carbonate (which happens if insufficient CO2 is present). It can also provide an inorganic carbon source for denitrifying bacteria, similar to adding sugar or vodka to the tank. I'm gradually increasing the amount of vinegar I use -- right now what I add isn't really enough, but I'm still new to using vinegar.
Here's an article that explains it much better than I can, with all the chemical equations

 

[blange3]

Thanks for the article AC, very interesting.

My useage is still on the low side as I have just started stocking the LPS tank. I can't wait for the quick growth to begin!

 

[Seajuice]

Thanks AC! That's why this site is sooo valuable to my healthy reef!

 

[ACBlinky]