Kent Turbo Calcium to increase cal.

[Lou Cifer]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I've been dosing Turbo Calcium for the last 2 weeks,
and can't seem to get my calcium level beyond 200. Is there something I'm missing? How long does it normally take?
I also dose with kalk every night as top off. I've been using the SeaChem Calcium test kit.
I don't have any corals yet , just about 120lbs. of live rock.
I have a total water volume of about 155 gals.
Any and all feedback will be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[supertech3]

I would have someone else check your ca level with another kit, maybe your lfs if not you may need another kit to check

 

[BucNtears]

post on the chemistry forum,Randy helped me with mu Cal. problem .What I ended up having to do was add 4 x's the recommended doseage over a period of 4 days .
Also get a mag. test if the mag. is not up thats why you can't get the cal. up.........
Again post on the Chem. forum . Randy is the Chem MAN

 

[kakan]

Have you tested your Magnesium? Low Magnesium levels will Keep you from being able to raise your Calcium.


Also here's a good calculator to use. home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

HTH
Kakan.

 

[reefshadow]

Yeah, check mag.

Also like Buc said you may need to add quite a bit for a twv of 155 gallons to raise it significantly. You are probably looking at around 1 cup (dry) of the stuff. It is very concentrated, but when the ca is that low it takes alot to get it up to par.

 

[Lou Cifer]

Thanks guys. I guess I have to order some magnesium and mag test kit.
Does it ever end?

 

[Lou Cifer]

Oh yeah, one more thing.
I've been dosing kalk, about two tsp per gallon, two gallons a day.
Is that too much?
I've noticed what I think is calcium deposits along the bottom of my sump, and I recently checked my mag pumps and they were crusted over inside.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6861468#post6861468 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lou Cifer
Oh yeah, one more thing.
I've been dosing kalk, about two tsp per gallon, two gallons a day.
Is that too much?
I've noticed what I think is calcium deposits along the bottom of my sump, and I recently checked my mag pumps and they were crusted over inside.

Are you dripping the kalk? With no corals yet in the tank, only coralline algae and minor organisms will be using up ca/alk so you might be adding too much. Or too much at once, if not dripping. Check out the chem forum, as already mentioned, on how to get your Ca/alk/mg levels where you want. Then, drip your kalk as you have been (but maybe start with 1 tspn per gallon) and measure your levels. You should then be able to see your ca/alk levels either dropping, raising, or maintaining. Adjust your amount of kalk accordingly (ie change the amount of kalk added to the water, not the amount of water itself). If you still can't keep up with your tank's ca/alk demand with 2 tspns/gallon (which, again, I doubt with no corals in the tank) then you would consider also using a 2 part system or Ca reactor.

hth

 

[Lou Cifer]

Yeah, I'm dripping.

 

[somethingphishy]

i use turbo ca and do have problem raising ca but am able to keep it at a consisant level around 400. Not sure i really like the product but i'll continue to use it up before searching for a new solution

 

[raskal311]

And with new tanks that is just starting to grow coralline CA gets used up very quickly.