[jsgates]

OK, I have been dosing the recommended amount of Kent Marine Tech CB daily for about 1 -2 weeks. I'm testing my calcium level with the Seachem Calcium test kit which uses a titrant test. The after a few day, the calcium level had increased to 225 meq/l from the inital 200 mg/l. I need to get this level up and I know that I don't need to add it all at once, but I'm having trouble getting help on this. I just talked to a guy at the LFS today and they said it doesn't make that big of a difference since I don't have any SPS corals right now......however, I am wanting to add a clam or two in the future, and these require calcium. The guy at the LFS basically said that I need up my dosing A LOT! He said that the dose recommended on the Tech CB label is a good maintenance dose, but you should dose more to rasise the level. He sat down with me and we used one of the online reef calculators to see how much Tech CB it would take to raise the level from 200 to 400. This is basically going to take 2 x 16 oz bottles of Tech CB. He also said something about dosing just Part A to raise the calcium level, and then just monitor the KH. I don't have a sump, so Kalkwasser is not good option for me. Should I double my daily dose of Tech CB to raise the level? What is best way to gradually increase the CA level without overdosing the tank? Any suggestions appreciated.

[emccullough1]

If you where to test your water before your next water change and bring it up to 400 before adding it to the tank. You will in a few water changes bring it up slowly. If you where to adjust it to 500 it will bring it up faster. Once you get it to where you want it remember you need to keep adjusting your water before a water change. When you use RO water you have to make up for what the RO has taken out. Most salt mixes are formulated to use with tap water. So they are lower in the elements to allow for what is in the water.

[jvharding]

If using IO salt stop and use premium reef salt that is my advice! Also using Kent Essential elements will help raise your calcium levels because magnesium is required. Do not do what your LFS said that is insane solution.

Please read the following article:

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Dosing Kalkwasser will help bring your Calcium and KH into line, for help with kalkwasser please read this.

What is Kalkwasser? and how do I apply it to my reef aquarium?

[jsgates]

Wow, that recipe sounds like a good idea, but looks fairly complex. I have also heard it is a bad idea to change salts. Is this true? I need a salt that I can buy in bulk (bucket), and is readily available at several locations. That's why I chose Instant Ocean. I believe that Coralife Reef Crystals is also available, but I'm not sure if this is any better. Looks like this whole dosing thing is going to be a pain. All my other water parameters are great, and I don't mind doing the water tests & water changes at all, but their has to be a fairly easy way of maintaining the calcium level, and effectively raising it.........I understand this is going to take some time, but I would like to see some progress......after 2 weeks of dosing, I've seen $21 poured into my tank and the calcium level is still sitting at the same place.

[Jay03GT]

I switched from IO to Tropic Marin. It's like another 10 bucks for a 5 gal pail, but the Tropic Marin makes another 50 gallons of water also!

[mothergoose]

Jay,
I have done double doses in my tank and not had any major responses from my corals or fish. I do not have a sump either so I dose with a ph buffer and marine esentials that you can add directly to the tank. This seems to help maintain the calcium level. good luck with solving your calcium problem.
nina