Craig Lambert
Premium Member
BTW, you should also check your magnesium level. If it is low it will make it difficult for you to raise your calcium to 425-430.
low calcium
- Thread starter mujtba
- Start date
mujtba
New member
i just bought the magnesium test kit too and the mag buffer. Spend $50 in 5 mins! sux but comes with the territory.
So while I raise my calc and alk and mag, and it reaches the desired levels, do I stop adding the buffers? Will my KALK maintain the levels then?
In the process of adding the buffers, do I stop dosing KALK?
So while I raise my calc and alk and mag, and it reaches the desired levels, do I stop adding the buffers? Will my KALK maintain the levels then?
In the process of adding the buffers, do I stop dosing KALK?
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
Test and raise magnesium first. Then raise the calcium and alk. You could continue to drip kalk as topoff to maintain your Alk level while doing this. You will not be able to raise your alkalinity level in the same manner as calcium with the two part solution. (ie heavy dosing). You will have to monitor Alk and raise it slowly, because the Kent Alkalinity addative is going to raise your pH. Just focus on raising mag, and then calcium, and monitor your ALK along the way. You want Alk in a range of 7-11 dKH. Many people shoot for 10.
Once you reach the desired level, then you can return to simply dripping Kalk on a daily basis.
Once you reach the desired level, then you can return to simply dripping Kalk on a daily basis.
mujtba
New member
so i tested my calcium using salifert kit.
my reading was 280ppm... is this possible or did i mess up? i read all directions well. i hate this kit because there are like 5 steps, and you never know if you are doing it right.. but i read carefully and as soon as the liquid turned blue, i read the chart and it was about 280...
BUT when i used the AP calcium test kit, it was about 360...
so can the 2 kits be this different??? any ideas?
also back to my question that no one answered .
has anyone used these calc tests?:
-Mini Lab Calcium Test Kit (Red Sea)
-Calcium Reef Test Kit (Aq. Systems)
-Reef Status Calcium KT150 Test (Seachem)
-Calcium Test Kit SW 50 Tests (Tropic Marin)
-Calcium Test Kit FW/SW (Hagen)
-Saltwater Calcium Test Kit (Aq. Pharm.)
my reading was 280ppm... is this possible or did i mess up? i read all directions well. i hate this kit because there are like 5 steps, and you never know if you are doing it right.. but i read carefully and as soon as the liquid turned blue, i read the chart and it was about 280...
BUT when i used the AP calcium test kit, it was about 360...
so can the 2 kits be this different??? any ideas?
also back to my question that no one answered .
has anyone used these calc tests?:
-Mini Lab Calcium Test Kit (Red Sea)
-Calcium Reef Test Kit (Aq. Systems)
-Reef Status Calcium KT150 Test (Seachem)
-Calcium Test Kit SW 50 Tests (Tropic Marin)
-Calcium Test Kit FW/SW (Hagen)
-Saltwater Calcium Test Kit (Aq. Pharm.)
mujtba
New member
thats the one I purchased. From reading the container, it seems that it will raise the MAG to the desired amount. I didn't get turbo calcium, I got the kent TECH CB (A and B) calcium/alk buffer instead, because they didn't have turbo and plus it won't raise the calcium rapidly like turbo. Don't wana shock the animals..
I also bought the salifert magnesium test kit. It was $23 with shipping.
hopefully the paremeters can get back to normal.
I also bought the salifert magnesium test kit. It was $23 with shipping.
hopefully the paremeters can get back to normal.
mujtba
New member
btw, how do you maintain your Magnesium levels once its normal amount?
Also, I tested my MAG, and it seems to be at 1000-1100 ppm.
So i want to raise it. i was reading in the back of the Tech M and it says:
"Add at the rate of 1ml per gallon aquarium capacity per day to bring the level to between 1250 and 1350 ppm. This will raise the level by 18.3 ppm per day. "
SO, does this mean since I have a 75g tank, i add 75ml of TECH M per day???:eek2:
How much do I put into the tank at one time?
Can I also add the calcium and alk buffers at the same time?
Also, I tested my MAG, and it seems to be at 1000-1100 ppm.
So i want to raise it. i was reading in the back of the Tech M and it says:
"Add at the rate of 1ml per gallon aquarium capacity per day to bring the level to between 1250 and 1350 ppm. This will raise the level by 18.3 ppm per day. "
SO, does this mean since I have a 75g tank, i add 75ml of TECH M per day???:eek2:
How much do I put into the tank at one time?
Can I also add the calcium and alk buffers at the same time?
Last edited:
aceaquatics
New member
-well since I haven't seen it here listed above, I must add my 2 cents.
Nobody thus far has mentioned that KALKWASSER WILL NOT RAISE YOUR CALCIUM LEVELS ALONE! it is a mix which is already cleated with carbonates! (CaCO3) kalkwasser maintains CA levels because it is a carbonate solution with Calcium. Your water is simply not that malable. Dose Kent Liquid Calcium with Kalkwasser to raise CA. or as noted before, start with a better salt mix... I'm addicted to Tropic Marin Pro sea salts.
Or do what I do, ESV A-Ionic and B-Ionic. and forget about it. I pull perfect tests everytime.
Nobody thus far has mentioned that KALKWASSER WILL NOT RAISE YOUR CALCIUM LEVELS ALONE! it is a mix which is already cleated with carbonates! (CaCO3) kalkwasser maintains CA levels because it is a carbonate solution with Calcium. Your water is simply not that malable. Dose Kent Liquid Calcium with Kalkwasser to raise CA. or as noted before, start with a better salt mix... I'm addicted to Tropic Marin Pro sea salts.
Or do what I do, ESV A-Ionic and B-Ionic. and forget about it. I pull perfect tests everytime.
mujtba
New member
1. well I only have instant ocean here and oceanic. and from reading SO many posts, 75% of the people use instant ocean, plus its so widely available. It has all elements, but low in calcium only. So I plan on dosing Kent CB to raise calcium, and having my KALK maintain it. Isn't my plan going to work?
2. how do you maintain your Magnesium levels once its normal amount?
Also, I tested my MAG, and it seems to be at 1000-1100 ppm.
So i want to raise it. i was reading in the back of the Tech M and it says:
"Add at the rate of 1ml per gallon aquarium capacity per day to bring the level to between 1250 and 1350 ppm. This will raise the level by 18.3 ppm per day. "
3. SO, does this mean since I have a 75g tank, i add 75ml of TECH M per day???
4. How much do I put into the tank at one time?
5. Can I also add the TECH CB calcium and alk buffers at the same time because I need to raise them too?
thanks
2. how do you maintain your Magnesium levels once its normal amount?
Also, I tested my MAG, and it seems to be at 1000-1100 ppm.
So i want to raise it. i was reading in the back of the Tech M and it says:
"Add at the rate of 1ml per gallon aquarium capacity per day to bring the level to between 1250 and 1350 ppm. This will raise the level by 18.3 ppm per day. "
3. SO, does this mean since I have a 75g tank, i add 75ml of TECH M per day???
4. How much do I put into the tank at one time?
5. Can I also add the TECH CB calcium and alk buffers at the same time because I need to raise them too?
thanks
Basically the same question here.
I got my magnesium test kit and also measured 1000 ppm. For Seachem reef advantage (dry), the chemistry calculator says to add:
399 tsps; 1995 grms; 70.35 oz
over a 3 day period.
Is that ounces of dry crystals? If so, I need more reef crystals.
If I need min 1 cup of water per teaspoon, I need 399 cups of water (25 gallons)
I got my magnesium test kit and also measured 1000 ppm. For Seachem reef advantage (dry), the chemistry calculator says to add:
399 tsps; 1995 grms; 70.35 oz
over a 3 day period.
Is that ounces of dry crystals? If so, I need more reef crystals.
If I need min 1 cup of water per teaspoon, I need 399 cups of water (25 gallons)
Last edited:
I double checked on seachem's website, and came up with the same amount. I need to add the entier 1kg bottle and get another 1kg bottle to get my mg levels up to where they should be.
I've read where some IO users add a couple teaspons of reefadvantage mag when mixing up replacement water.
also, the change in weather has caused my evaporation rate to decrease significantly. I was evaporating about 2 gallons/day, but now it's less than 1/2 gallon. I need to find a fan or something to improve evaporation.
I've read where some IO users add a couple teaspons of reefadvantage mag when mixing up replacement water.
also, the change in weather has caused my evaporation rate to decrease significantly. I was evaporating about 2 gallons/day, but now it's less than 1/2 gallon. I need to find a fan or something to improve evaporation.
jer77
Phish Lover
maybe you should read this on how to correct your cal/alk levels. It is exactly what everyone is telling you, but everything is explained in full.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
Thanks for the link to the article. It's very helpful.
I think mujtba and I are suprised about the apparent huge amount of magnesium additives needed to get to a desired level of magnesium.
using the calculator, I need to add about 57g of dry calcium chloride (seachem) to go from 350 to 400 ppm calcium. That seems reasonable. But to get to the proper level of mag, I need 2,000 g of product.
I think mujtba and I are suprised about the apparent huge amount of magnesium additives needed to get to a desired level of magnesium.
using the calculator, I need to add about 57g of dry calcium chloride (seachem) to go from 350 to 400 ppm calcium. That seems reasonable. But to get to the proper level of mag, I need 2,000 g of product.
