low calcium

mujtba

mujtba

New member
my calcium was at 420 a few months ago.. today I checked, and its at 360.

I did change my salt from Sera to Instant Ocean. Its been about a month now since the change.

But I still dose Kalk in my top off water as always. I do Half a teaspoon per gallon is what I always did and do.

Should I put in 1 teaspoon per gallon now? will that raise my calcium?

I have about 4 hard corals that need calcium.

I also noticed my coraline algae for several months now has not been growing..

Plz help
 
Instant Ocean has lower alkalinity and lower Calcium content than needed by a reef tank. Also, some folks have reported difficulties in getting and holding their alkalinity and Calcium sufficiently high when using this salt. I use IO and have not experienced this, but I do have to buffer alkalinity and supplement Magnesium and Calcium regularly.
 
I read everywhere before I bought it. the only thing low was supposed to be calcium...

I read Oceanic is high calcium.. would it make sense to MIX my IO and Oceanic salts when I do a water change?

or should I add this:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Product...s//T1/F66GA+0064+0350/EDP/31609/Itemdy00.aspx

Would I only add it till my calcium is up, and the KALK will balance it? or do I always add this since I use IO?

Should I change salt all in all? If so, to what?

plz advise
 
Oceanic is WAY high in Ca. I don't see a problem with mixing em, but this is why I just use tropic marin pro. I don't have to worry about the levels of anything. As OnTheReef said, you may still have to supplement Mag. I hear the both IO and Oceanic are low in Mag.
 
Have you tested your alkalinity? Is it okay? If your alkalinity is good, you'll want to just add calcium chloride to get the calcium and alk back in balance instead of just increasing your kalk.
 
IO has plenty of ALK, but low calcium and magnesium. Mine generally tests around 11dKH for ALK, 370 for Calcium, and 1170 for Magnesium. I always add a magnesium suppliment and turbo caclium (Calcium Chloride) to bring the levels up to 1300 (mag) and 430 (Calcium).
 
I use these to test the ALK and CALCIUM:

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Calcium Test Kit
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater/Saltwater Kh test kit

The 7dkh is the CURRENT tank level.
 
I think you should invest in a magnesium test kit (preferably salifert) and find out what it is at. If the Mag is too low, it won't matter how much Ca you add, you won't be able to raise the level in the tank.
 
I suggest you invest in Salifert ALK, Calcium, and Magnesium tests. I'll echo whiteshark...If Magnesium is low, it will stand in the way of raising calcium, so raise your magnesium to 1250-1350 first asumming it's low. Also, you'll need to use calcium chloride (turbo calcium or something similar) to raise you calcium level. Kalk won't do it. Use Kalk to maintain the level once you get there.
 
Be very careful using the turbo calcium product.
When I started to add corals my calcium level would not get above 380 till I used the turbo calcium and when I did I ended up using 4 x's the recommended amount to raise it to 450 range.
Like stated above if the Mag is low you;ll never get the calcium up.
Go to the Chemistry forum and post a ? for Randy you'll get an answer to your problems..
What are the rest of the tank levels at?
 
Does anyone know off hand which of the RC Sponsors has the better deal on Salifert kits? I have been meaning to switch over for some time now...
 
Is there any kit which is easier to perform than salifert?

Can you add turbo calcium directly to tank or with my top off water?

The rest of my parameters seems normal.

If I add "Tech M Magnesium Supplement 16oz (Kent)" into my tank to raise the magnesuium, what will maintain it? Kalk?

Same for the KH and calcium. Do I STOP dosing KALK in the time frame that I am raising my ALK, CALC and MAG?

Once it is raised, does the KALK maintain it?

Is it safer to dose KENT liquid calcium or is it better to go with turbo calcium?



Can anyone tell me which is better out of these and accurate?


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.)
 
Last edited:
mujtba,

Use the calculator to determine the amount of turbo calcium needed. Mix 1/3 of the amount in rodi water until fully dissolved and add it to your tank as topoff water. Add 1/3 of the required amount every other day retesting along the way. Once your calcium is at the desired level return to dripping kalk to maintain it.

I think you will find Salifert's calcium test easy to use, and that the majority of people on this forum use and recommend the kit.
 
i bought the Kent Marine CB A and B 2 dose calcium and alk liquid buffer. The LFS didnt have the turbo calcium. Will the item I bought work fine? The bottle says it will RAISE calcium and alk.
 
That product is designed to be dosed daily in equal parts to maintain your calcium and alkalinity levels. You could raise your calcium by just dosing the calcium portion of the suppliment. Use the calculator to determine how much you need. If it is not listed on the calculator follow the directions to determine how much you need to add to bring your calcium to the desired level. You may want to raise it over a 3 day period and test daily while doing so.
 
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