[adviner]

My calcium has been at 340 mg/L. I know at minimum it should be 400 mg/L. I've been adding 5 ml of Kent Liquid Reactor every day to raise it but its not going up. Any ideas on how to raise the calcium in my 55 gallong tank.

Thanks

[unclejed]

Hi adviner, first off let me tell you, since you are a beginner, Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium all work synergisticly. Alkalinity holds your PH, Calcium holds your Alkalinity and Magnesium holds or buffers your Calcium. If your calcium won't budge it is more than likely from low Magnesium.

Your Calc is good at 320-450. I don't know where you got the 400 min. As with all the above mentioned parameters, as long as they are within the acceptable range, the important thing is to try and achieve stability. If you are at 380 let's say, you want that steady all the time so you must figure out a dosing schedule to maintain that number. Alk = 8-12, Mag = 1300-1500 (natural sea water) and Calc = 320-450. These are the standards. If you need more help, feel free.

[jimw369]

Welcome to saltwater and RB Eric.

IMO 320 is too low. If you have LPS, SPS or clams in your tank 320 is way too low and if kept at this level for an extended period of time can stunt the growth of corals that depend on the growth of their skeleton for continued health.

If you have soft corals in your tank you probably are not using much Ca. Having said all that if you could post your other tank params to make sure they are all within acceptable ranges and your tank is balanced. I am very familiar with the Kents 2 part and the ESV Bionic 2 part also. We can talk some more then about those if you like.

You can check out the Reef Builders Library under water chemistry for articles concerning your questions also. Im on a new computer and do not have a link for water chemistry info but I do know the one Im thinking of is in the RB library.


Good luck and keep us posted.

[Mr_X]

+1 for a 2 part additive like b-ionic.

[spanko]

+2 b-ionic used here. Depending on what you have in the tank you may not even need to use anything. In a tank with little to no real calcium using critters water changes will replenish and balance your calcium.

[adviner]

I got the information from my test kit saying that 400 is desired. Test kit API. My other params are:
Calcium: 340 mg/L
Carbonate: 12 dkH
Phosphate: 0 mg/L
Nitrate: 0 mg/L


Not sure what other parameters their are, so please let me know.
Also, My 55 gal tank only has 2 sea anemones, 1 fire shrimp and the usaul cleaner crew. I have LS and LR. My tank has been up for ony 3 months.

How do you test for low magnesium. Or how do i fix my low calcium level? I've been slow to add any kind of corals b/c i want to make sure all my parameters are just right so i dont keep spending on things dying.

SHould i just dump a botthle of the kent liquid reactor to raise it, but once it is raised how do i keep it up their?

THanks ALl

[adviner]

I'm hoping not to have to go to a calcium reactor device. My tank is only 55 gal and in the living room, so my wife wouldnt appreciate a device sitting their. How are kalc devices? Would that do the trick. Not to mention its cheaper.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by adviner

I got the information from my test kit saying that 400 is desired. Test kit API. My other params are:
Calcium: 340 mg/L
Carbonate: 12 dkH
Phosphate: 0 mg/L
Nitrate: 0 mg/L


Not sure what other parameters their are, so please let me know.
Also, My 55 gal tank only has 2 sea anemones, 1 fire shrimp and the usaul cleaner crew. I have LS and LR. My tank has been up for ony 3 months.

How do you test for low magnesium. Or how do i fix my low calcium level? I've been slow to add any kind of corals b/c i want to make sure all my parameters are just right so i dont keep spending on things dying.

SHould i just dump a botthle of the kent liquid reactor to raise it, but once it is raised how do i keep it up their?

THanks ALl

If you are going to keep a variety of corals it will be necessary to test your magneseum levels from time to time. Keeping your Magneseum levels between 1300-1400 will help balance your Alk with your Ca. I personally use a Red Sea test kit that runs for around 12-$15 for Magneseum.

Get your mag to an acceptable level and then raise Alk and Ca together with your 2 part solution.

Testing constantly is part of this process and understanding how much Ca your tank uses daily/weekly is what you want to learn. As you add things your Ca will deplete faster as you will find out.

The 2 part solutions are pretty forgiving and dosage can really vary depending on your tank. Once your Mag is good ask here for a calcultor that will tell you how much Kents 2 part you will need to bring things up to the level you desire. Im sure some one here has a link for that calculator if it isnt in the RB library.

Its a;so a good idea to check params from a batch of make up water for a water change. The salt you are using adds Ca and Mag also so knowing what amounts are going into the tank during a water change is beneficial also.

Do you have things dying in your tank? Your Ca level shouldnt cause that at this point.

Here is a link you might find interesting. I asked the same questions almost a year ago! Heres some of the answers!

http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/n...ium-ph-kh.html

[adviner]

THanks, my tank is fine. I havent had anything die on me yet. But im carefully not to go to fast in adding anything.

THanks

[unclejed]

Originally Posted by unclejed

Hi adviner, first off let me tell you, since you are a beginner, Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium all work synergisticly. Alkalinity holds your PH, Calcium holds your Alkalinity and Magnesium holds or buffers your Calcium. If your calcium won't budge it is more than likely from low Magnesium.

Your Calc is good at 320-450. I don't know where you got the 400 min. As with all the above mentioned parameters, as long as they are within the acceptable range, the important thing is to try and achieve stability. If you are at 380 let's say, you want that steady all the time so you must figure out a dosing schedule to maintain that number. Alk = 8-12, Mag = 1300-1500 (natural sea water) and Calc = 320-450. These are the standards. If you need more help, feel free.

Jim echoes what I said here. Believe us, this is what you must do in regard to Mag. and dosing.

[adviner]

So dosed my tank with Turbo Calcium from Kent and just from yesterday i was able to raise it from 340 to 380. I'm going to order a Magnesium test to check that. Any ideas on what is a good brand for a Magnesium test kit?

Thanks everyone

[spanko]

Salifert if you can find it.

[unclejed]

Yes, Salifert is one of the best for accuracy. I get mine from Marine Depot of "That fish place" also called "That pet place". Both are reasonable. You will be surprised that after you get your Mag to 1350 or so and keep it there how easy it is to get your Calc to 420-450 and keep it there also.