Need help Dosing Calcium.....Kalkwasser?

[jsgates]

Ok, my tank in doing nicely and all my levels are good. Coraline algae is on some of my live rock, but is not spreading. I am about to add my first two, fish 2 True Percula Clowns. I ha ve a Starburst Polyp, some mushrooms, Candy Cane Coral, and & a Short Tentacle Plate coral. All corals are doing well, and so are my inverts. Time to get my next test kit. I'm ordering a Seachem Calcium test kit next, as i want to check the calcium levels in the tank and give it a boost if needed. This will not only benefit my corals & inverts, hopefully it will boost my coralline algae. I have also heard that the green hair algae on my live rock will give way to the coralline. I do not have a sump, so I don't know how I would dose Kalkwasser. I have an 80 ga bowfront tank with a Remora Pro HOB skimmer w/ Magdrive 3 pump. I have also noticed that Kent Marine makes a Liquid Calcium additive. Anyone use this? I looking the for the best way to manage my calcium levels without a sump. Any help is extremely appreciated. Things are moving along good.

 

[Spuds725]

You have said calcium several times and never mentioned alkalinity-- calcium and alkalinity are very inter-related dosing calcium while ignoring alkalinity can cause pH problems and calcifying organisms and coraline algae need both calcium and alkalinity to grow-- you should not dose for calcium or alkalinity without knowing the levels of each.... dosing calcium and ignoring alkalinity (carbonate) will result in alkalinity dropping until there is no longer enough in the water column to support calcification-- low alkalinity can cause you to have chronically low pH and can exascerbate pH drops you will get with your lighting cycle.

Kalkwassar does give a balance addition of both calcium and alkalinity (carbonate-- indirectly)

I urge you to read Randy's reef chemistry for beginners article before dosing anything (Part 2 specifically covers the calcium and alkalinity relationship)-- I would go ahead and purchase an alkalinity kit with your calcium kit-- you will need it if you dose.

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

The "How To" Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 3: pH
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners,
Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php

HTH

 

[bertoni]

[welcome]

I agree that an alkalinity test kit would be very useful. The article on supplementation should help. Using a 2-part like B-Ionic or a similar product is an easy way to get started.

 

[jsgates]

Sorry, should have mentioned that I am currently testing PH, Alkalinity, Total & Free Ammonia, Nitrite, & Nitrates on a regular basis (at least every 2 weeks). I am using a Seachem Basic Reef Test Kit. Alkalinity is in the correct range, and since everything I'm testing for is testing good, calcium was going to be my next test kit, followed by iodine & iodide test kit. I am aware of the relationship between calcium & alkalinity. I'm just looking for the safest product to use to since I do not have a sump. Thanks for the links, I'll do some reading up on that.

 

[bertoni]

For an 80g tank, the DIY 2-part is safe to use, especially the low-pH variant. Kalk is somewhat more dangerous.

I wouldn't bother with iodine, personally:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/chem.htm

 

[jsgates]

Thanks for that article. It was a good read. I had heard dosing iodine was a good idea, but the guy that has been helping me out the most a the local fish store said that regular water changes is good enough as there is iodine in the seasalt.

 

[Spuds725]

I agree--- dosing iodine is usually not needed.