Raising Calcium Levels

[24gnanonewbie]

My calcium is a little low(340ppm) and even after changing to a high calcium salt its still not coming up, so I am going to dose. How slowly should I raise it? And what area should I aim to keep it at?

Thanks for the input!

 

[azkass]

Just remember, slower is better...and safer. In your case, with your tank only being 16 gal I would raise it gradually over a course of 3-4 days. Read the instructions carefully for whatever product you are using to raise it and go with less on the first dosage, wait a day and see what your level is at so you can get an idea on the amount to dose. I like using the Sea Lab blocks with smaller tanks as they dissolve slowly and are easy to use/dose.

 

[tatuaje08]

What is your mag and alk at?

 

[24gnanonewbie]

Don't have a mag test. My alk was 10 dKH/ 179 ppm.

 

[tatuaje08]

Your mag should be 1300+ otherwise your ca and alk won't be stable. That could be part of your problem. I'd test it asap.

 

[dotcommer]

Do you have any corals in there?
If so any SPS?
I would do it gradually over a few weeks if you have SPS.

 

[evolved]

Your mag should be 1300+ otherwise your ca and alk won't be stable. That could be part of your problem. I'd test it asap.

^This. Get a mag test and get it at least up to 1300 before you try to worry about Ca. You could easily be fighting a losing war without it.

Do you have any corals in there?
If so any SPS?
I would do it gradually over a few weeks if you have SPS.

Raising Ca up to 50ppm/day is safe.

Related, up to 100ppm/day for Mg, and 1dkH/day for Alk (although some will say up to 1.4/day).

 

[m-six hundred]

^ That's how you do it right there.

 

[dotcommer]

Raising Ca up to 50ppm/day is safe.

Are you saying that raising your calcium level 50ppm per day (ie: from 350 to 450) is safe in a two day period with SPS?

 

[evolved]

In a 48 hour period, yes. But there's no reason to go up to 450.

 

[24gnanonewbie]

Thanks guys!