Keeping Calcium UP!!

[RANGER69]

I can't keep calcium up. I do my regular water canges and I add purple up and I can't keep up the calcium. Anyone have any advise. Thanks

 

[Billybeau1]

What salt mix are you using and what is your actual calcium number ?

What brand test kit ?

 

[Amphiprionocellaris]

What is your alkalinity? If that is out of whack then it can be almost impossible to maintain calcium levels...the same goes for magnesium. Also, have you tested the calcium levels in your WC water? If that's low then it's also very hard to maintain Ca.

 

[RANGER69]

I am useing pet co brand. What salt do you recomend? I will check my alkalinity. What should it be? My calcium is at 330. I will test my W/C. I use R/O water is that OK?

 

[Billybeau1]

The last time I tested Petco's salt (Aquatic Gardens) it had pretty good numbers.

If you are at 330 for calcium, my guess is you are not mixing enough salt in the water.

Your specific gravity should be at least 1.025 preferably 1.026. Then your calcium will probably be closer to 400 ppm as long as you do regular water changes.

The higher specific gravity will also help with alkalinity and magnesium.

 

[Billybeau1]

Calcium between 380 and 450ppm
Alkalinity between 7-11 dkh
Magnesium between 1250 and 1350 ppm

 

[RANGER69]

Thanks it helps. Do you have a prefered salt you use I'm thinking of changing salt? Should I?

 

[Billybeau1]

It's really up to you. All tanks are different and require different levels of the big three. Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium.

Most of todays commercial salts are adequate. What brands are currently available to you ?

 

[RANGER69]

I just bought coral reef pro it says it made to work with R/O water and it claims to hane CAL at 430. I will test before and after, I will test when I mix I will let you know how goodit works.

 

[Billybeau1]

If you mean Red Sea Coral Pro Reef, the numbers they state are at 1.024. For some reason most salt manufacturers use this number as a base for stating calcium levels and other things.

You can expect about 490 calcium if you mix at 1.0264 and slightly less if you mix at 1.025

Magnesium in this salt is better than most.

Let us know how you like it after a couple of months.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

I would like to know the results from red sea pro as well.
Especially the magnesium.

 

[Billybeau1]

Red Sea Coral Pro runs around 1300 ppm magnesium @ 35 ppt.

All my numbers are listed in the salt thread at the top of this forum.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

Have the numbers been pretty uniformed as far as red sea goes?

 

[bertoni]

Purple Up is mostly useless. The tank probably just needs daily supplementation, as many do. This article might help:

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

 

[MCsaxmaster]

You need to supplement calcium and alkalinity in any tank. Perhaps the easiest method is using a two-part additive. Kalkwasser and calcium reactors also work.

Puple up is essentially useless, as mentioned.