How to keep calcium level up????
- Thread starter Larah
- Start date
Larah
New member
So 330 is bad??? I don't have any corals in yet.... Waiting for a nice long time on that!
May get some zoos and mushrooms in a few weeks.. tank is only 6 weeks old... But I do want to grow my coralline.....
And I take it the amounts of calcium, stronituium and Magnesium found in Purple up, marine buffer and salt mix are not sufficent?
May get some zoos and mushrooms in a few weeks.. tank is only 6 weeks old... But I do want to grow my coralline.....
And I take it the amounts of calcium, stronituium and Magnesium found in Purple up, marine buffer and salt mix are not sufficent?
Larah
New member
Yes I read all about the products you suggested and will definitely be purchasing them. However I do want to use the purple up that I have soooooo as long as it's not hurting anything I suppose I will...I'm guessing it's not helping though???? At this point it's for the sole purpose of growing the corraliine...
stingythingy45
New member
ESV B -Ionic 2 part.
Along with Mg suppliment it's all you need.
Along with Mg suppliment it's all you need.
You'll want to understand the relationship between calcium levels and carbonate hardness.
Knowing your calcium level is only part of the equation. You also want to know your carbonate hardness and keep it around 8 to 11 dkh.
Adding the purple should increase your calcium levels, but if your carbonate hardness is too low it's not going to give you the results you want. You really want a two-stage process that includes a buffer to keep carbonate hardness at target levels.
Not sure when you're planning to add corals, but if it's a ways off, there's really no pressing need to get calcium levels up now. You'll just probably deplete those levels when you do water changes.
Get a good two-stage buffer and calcium product and test kits. Shortly before adding corals it's a simple matter to get to your targets (say, 9.5 dkh and 420). If something is screwy, check magnesium which is a 3d variable that's important.
Knowing your calcium level is only part of the equation. You also want to know your carbonate hardness and keep it around 8 to 11 dkh.
Adding the purple should increase your calcium levels, but if your carbonate hardness is too low it's not going to give you the results you want. You really want a two-stage process that includes a buffer to keep carbonate hardness at target levels.
Not sure when you're planning to add corals, but if it's a ways off, there's really no pressing need to get calcium levels up now. You'll just probably deplete those levels when you do water changes.
Get a good two-stage buffer and calcium product and test kits. Shortly before adding corals it's a simple matter to get to your targets (say, 9.5 dkh and 420). If something is screwy, check magnesium which is a 3d variable that's important.
Salamander
Active member
Check the stickies in the chemistry forum. They're a great source of info regarding Ca, Mg, Alk etc.
ahullsb
New member
You want to keep your calcium above 400, your alkalinity between 9-11 dkh, and your magnesium over 1200. The two part solutions of calcium and alkalinity work well. I used them for a year before switching to a cheaper solution...baking soda is all you really need to keep your alkalinity up, and you can buy calcium from any pool supply store. I found a big bucket that was only 8 dollars, and it is similar to kents turbo calcium, but a fraction of the cost. Randy has a great article in the reef chemistry forum that should help you choose what's right for you.
