[adviner]

I have a 95 gal tank with a 20 gal fuge. Its been up for about 2 months now. I test the water calcium a week after I make a partial water change(~20 gal). And it seems to be always on the low side. I did a diy kalk like this one .

Its been running for about 2 weeks now and when i test my calcium its still low.
My other params:

calcium: 300
Carbonate: 143.2
Phosphate: 0
Nitrate: 5

Not a very heavy bio load have one clown fish, sea anemonie, crabs, snails. I have live rock and live sand and my rocks are growing the coraline(purple) algae.

I'm wondering if this diy kalk isnt very efficient that its not mixing well enough. I'm thinking that the powder settles and then when the top off system goes off its not really mixing well.

I was thinking of putting an air stone through the top so that when the pump goes off it mixes it. Anythoughts on that?

Also, i've started putting turbo calcium once a week (starting today) to see if it raises it up.

Any thoughts on any of my problems in regards to the calcium level?

Thanks

[pogodzib]

Kalk does raise calcium, but it is a slow process. It works much better for maintaining calcium levels. If you want to increase its potency, you can add some white vinegar into the mix. One thing that you don't want to do is keep mixing the kalk so that air get into the mixture. Air (oxygen) converts the calcium portion of the kalk into an insoluable calcium carbonate so it would reduce how much calcium gets into the water.

[adviner]

When I do a partial change every two week would it be ok to add turbo calcium in the salt mix? I figure for my 20 gal change I can add turbo calcium and test to see how much to add to get the calcium right on the water before i add it to the tank.

Then just run keep the kalk doser hopefullly to keep it at that level.
Question, is their anything else that would keep the calcium low? Ex. If my ph is low would that keep my calcium from being high due to the low ph?

[adviner]

I was just reading that if my magnesium is low that can be a reason why my calcium wont rise? Is their any truth to that?

[pogodzib]

Yes, you can add the Turbo Calcium directly to the fresh salt mix, but you would be limited with how much you can add since if the calcium level gets too high compared to the alkalinity, it can drop out of solution. Adding it into your tank would be a better choice.

Calcium is tied to alkalinity, and to some extend magnesium. Yes, low magnesium can prevent alkalinity and/or calcium levels from being raise, however, the magnesium needs to be very low (relative to sea level) in order for that to happen. Usually, routine water changes alone will keep the magnesium levels high enough from this happening, even though most salt mixes have lower than ideal mag levels.

[adviner]

I just changed about 35% of my water and did a test about 1 hour later, and my calcium was only 320. I forgot the brand of my salt that i bough from my LFS. It come in 4 plastic packages in a box and I threw the box away. Should I be looking to use another salt brand if changing it only gets me at 320?

[pogodzib]

I believe that boxes of Reef Crystals and Instant Ocean comes with 4 plastic bags in a box. If so, they are both good choices, IMO, but IO salt has a lower calcium content than other salts.