How to reduce the calcium?

[boxfishpooalot]

Hi Randy,

My calcium at first when I started dosing limewater was at 380. Over the last 3 months or so, its got to 450ppm. How can I lower this number and keep the alkalinity at normal levles?

My guess is just add baking soda and let it fall by itself to replace the kalk water?

I add 1 tsp of kalk to my top off, what would be equivelent for the addition of baking soda to maintain alkalinity?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Maintain the alkalinity with baking soda and allow the calcium to decline. I'd use the calculator to see how much equates to the amount of limewtaer you're using.

 

[steve the plumb]

How is it that your using just kalk to raise your calcium.I would think that you don't have alot of acros because I found kalk isn't enough to boost my calcium levels.Supply and demand.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

STEVE:
I dont keep corals at the moment. Its just a fish only for now with a couple of softies.




RANDY:
How long will it take for the calcium to drop from adding 1 tsp of baking soda? My desired calcium is 400ppm. Currently at 450ppm.

Also, whats the logic behind calcium dropping from alkalinity additions only?

 

[boxfishpooalot]

OUCH! Actually I re-tested my calcium with Saliferts kit and it states its at 550ppm! WOW. Do I take a different action Randy? And my cheap Hagen calcium kit only reads 500ppm. I think ill believe the salifert.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

How long will it take for the calcium to drop from adding 1 tsp of baking soda? My desired calcium is 400ppm. Currently at 450ppm.

Also, whats the logic behind calcium dropping from alkalinity additions only?

Assuming something is using calcium carbonate in the tank (maybe coralline algae?), you are adding "carbonate" and not calcium, hence calcium declines.

If nothing in the tank is calcifying, then water changes are the only way.

Even 550 ppm calcium is not a panic.