liquid calcium questions

[IslandCrow]

At 350ppm, I'd guess you're using Instant Ocean (which is a perfectly good brand by the way). I didn't supplement anything for the first year or so (actually, I started dripping kalk towards the end of that time), and I had amazing coraline growth and even kept a couple LPS corals. I just did 10% weekly water changes like many others are saying. What was my calcium? A pretty constant 350ppm, and at best 2.5 meq/L alkalinity.

In other words, I wouldn't be too concerned about your calcium level, especially without corals. At most, you might consider setting up a kalkwasser drip. It's a very cheap way to keep your calcium and alkalinity stable in a low demand aquarium (which is definitely what you have right now).

 

[barngeatbayman]

If you are planning on keeping coral why not spend an extra $4-$5 a bucket on Reef Crystals salt and get a Calcium reading in the 400-425ppm range?

 

[JamesJR]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10768156#post10768156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BurntOutReefer
I thought you said you didnt have any corals...(yet)...regardless...
all advice above is good....
I personally dont dose at all......just my regular weekely 10% water changes.....

Don't want to Hijack the thread but do you test the salt mix you are using? Some brand salts test a little low on Calcium and magnesium. Water changes may or may not be helping out your calium and alkalinity,

 

[marineman27]

Hello,

I am using oceanic sea salt mix. I asked the lfs owner which is not one who gives wrong information hes really knowledgeable and he said he used to use kalkwasser but he does not anymore he uses strait liquid calcium for all of his tanks and hes got some really nice ones. I could be reading the test wrong but I got the 350 ppm results out of the oceanic salt..............Shaun

 

[barngeatbayman]

marineman

what is your S/G?

 

[marineman27]

1.026

 

[AJO]

what are you using to check your S/G?
In the past I used a hydrometer, I had trouble keeping calcium and alkalinity levels up. I thought I was keeping my S/G at 1.028
Then I bought a refractometer and check my S/G it was realy 1.018 knowounder I had a hard time keeping my calcium and alkalinity levels up. In the trash went the hydrometer.

 

[marineman27]

Yeah I am using a hydrometer I am going to pick up a refractometer sometime soon. I beleave my hydrometers pretty much on though. what kind of hydrometer was you using? I know refractometers are the way to go and I am going to upgrade soom to one of them.........Shaun

 

[barngeatbayman]

hmmmm..... Yeah I would get that more accurately tested with a refractometer. Oceanic salt is known to have high calcium. 350ppm at 1.026 seems alittle low. I would think you should be in the 425ppm -450ppm range. What brand calcium test are you using? Salifert test is one of the most accurate. Try testing a new batch of saltwater when you mix it up and see where that is at.

 

[marineman27]

Okay am I doing this test correctly, this is a red sea calcium test heres what it says to do. I will skip to step 8 and 9

8. open test tube, add one drop of calcium reagent A, close the test tube and shake gently,compare the color of the sample in the test tube to the end color on the color scale. ( I did this and it stays pink)


9. Repeat direction 8 adding one drop at a time until the end color is achieved, counting the number of drops added. (this is orange)

Now here is my question am I supposed to add that single one drop from step number 8 with step 9s drops? if I added step 8s one drop with step 9s 3 drops I woud get 4 drops, I then would come up with 4 +4 =8 x50 which I would get 400 ppm

if I didnt add step 8's one drop with step 9s additional drops then I would have 3 drops and add that with step #3's 4 drops I would be getting 4 +3 =7 then I would be X 50 to come up with 350 ppm


So am I supposed to include step 8's one drop with step 9s drops or what? sorry if this confuses you I appologize just want to make sure I am testing correctly..............Shaun

 

[barngeatbayman]

I have no idea. I never used that test. I'd get a Salifert test very accurate and widely used. Maybe someone else could chime in on this test.

 

[marineman27]

Yeah, sailfert's are good this one is a red sea I have heard all good stuff on it too over on talkingreef so I picked it up at the lfs I noticed I paid double for what I could get it online for. if my calcium should be at 425 to 450 range just using salt and not adding calcium then whats the purpose of the liquid calcium? I know corals use it up quickly but I would think I should have coraline in this tank by now and from all i heard was calcium is a factor in shooting this stuff up this tanks been running for a good while now and I just have a little coraline on my live rock i picked up its not growing anywhere else. thanks I hope someone can chime in.............Shaun

 

[AJO]

I had a Instant Ocean and a Deep 6 hydrometer both were not very accurate. See if your LFS will test your mixed water with their refractmeter. my bet is that your mixed salt water you use for water changes has a low S/G that is why your calcium level is low.

 

[barngeatbayman]

they sell Calcium supplements because Clams and Stony corals deplete the system of calcium. These types of inverts are calcium Hogs.

 

[bertoni]

Organisms like stony corals consume both calcium and carbonate alkalinity to build their skeletons, so both need to be supplemented together. If the alkalinity is low, calcium can't be consumed. I think getting good calcium and alkalinity test kits would be a good first step. My experiences with Red Sea test kits were rather negative, and that seems to be common. Their test kits use liquid reagents, which appear to expire more rapidly than other kits.

 

[marineman27]

I think I might be doing the test wrong. I will have them test it I have never had a problem with my hydrometer I know there not as accurate but I beleave its right on but I will have them to test it for me. I hope someone chimes in who uses red seas kits to let me know whats the deal on my question above......Shaun