[ladydragon55]

OK the tank has been going since mid April. I have been adding B-Ionic Calcium since the start of the first coral. At first it was only 20ML per day. My calcium after 4 weeks was still under 300 So the LFS told me to increase it to 30ML per day. So now after two weeks of this I am only up to 330

I have read here, there, and everywhere that with the corals I should keep it at least 400!! Any ideas? I don't want anything to happen to the corals.

Thanks
Kathy

[rlcline76]

Fun fun.
What is your KH and pH?

[CyberJester]

You could also switch to a salt mix that is Calcium balance then you would be putting it in with water changes.

[rlcline76]

Also, what test kit brand are you using?

[ladydragon55]

Here are my readings for the last two weeks

June 17th
Calcium 300
Nitrate 10
Phosphate 0.4
Amonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Akalinity 4.0 meg/l
PH 8.0

June 26th
Calcium 330
Nitrate 10
Phosphate 0.6
Amonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Akalinity 2.25 meg/l
PH 8.2

My tests kits are all Instant Ocean brand and they are all chemical, not strips. I do water changes with Real Ocean and the top offs with tap water (don't scream, I can't afford any more stuff $$$$ right now) I will test all in the morning. So what am I doing wrong????

Thank You all for the help!

[ladydragon55]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Fun fun.
What is your KH and pH?

OK...stupid question...what is KH???

[rlcline76]

alkalinity.

[rlcline76]

Ok, your alkalinity is low along with your calcium. Are you buffering with your water changes? When both of my readings for Ca and KH are low like yours, I use the 2 part Kents Tech A & B.

[Krazy]

I also use Kent tech cb part a&b

works well and its easy to use, after a couple weeks I just dose and dont test anymore, I've figured out what the systems uses....

[ladydragon55]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Ok, your alkalinity is low along with your calcium. Are you buffering with your water changes? When both of my readings for Ca and KH are low like yours, I use the 2 part Kents Tech A & B.

Two weeks ago when I took my water test to the LFS my KH was high, so they told me to stop adding the KH additive and just add the CA. They said that should help. Last Sunday when the KH was low I started adding 20ml of it each day also. I will recheck everything in the morning. Where can I get the items you all mentioned?
thanks

[rlcline76]

Probably Petsmart. I ordered mine elsewhere, but I am almost certain I have seen the Tech CB there!

[chromafi]

On top of your B-Ionic, you can alternate between Seachem Reef Advantage calcium and Reef Builder in your top off water. I just put a spoonful of the reef advantage calcium in each jug of R/O water to supplement my reactor & my calcium is at 480 with tons of fast growing acros.

[e_baer]

there is some sweet salt you can get out there that keeps your calsium at 420 all the time! im gonna slowly switch to that stuff.

[jimw369]

I never heard of sweet salt before. lol

[jimw369]

Can it give your tank diabetes?

[rlcline76]

Sends your tank into insulin shock, all of a sudden you are tossing jolly ranchers in your tank.

[ladydragon55]

OK I went to Pet Smart and picked up the two things they had for Calcium. The first is KENT marine liquid Calcium, and the other is KENT marine Superbuffer -dKH

I am hoping these are ok since they are the only thing they had for calcium. Should I do this and the B-Ionic? Or just these new ones.

Thanks
Kathy