[Arnold40]

I am using instant ocean salt to mix my water. I tested the calcium level and I am getting a reading of 370. I am using a seachem test kit. In order to raise the calcium up I have to add a lot of chemicals. Do any users of instant ocean get different results?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Arnold,calcium in your tank is a usable commodity.Coral use it,algea uses it,coraline algea use,even snails use it for there shells.If you have coral its only slightly low as it should be about 450 or so.At that your level isnt so bad comming from a fresh salt mix.There are many additives you can safely use to bring those levels up.You may have heard us speak of adding chemicals to the tank that you cant test for as being a bad thing but calcium is not one of them.The 2 part kits seem to be the most popular and can raise your calcium and maintain the ph at the same time.Sit here for a few minutes and you will get loads of personal recomendations.You may want to also test for magnesium.

[Taras1]

What's your SG/Saliinity? Instant Ocean usually mixes (according to the recipe) to about 1.021 which is a little low. That would then dilute out the Ca as well. Most "reef" mixes, like Reef Crystals, have additional Ca, but you also have to mix it a little stronger. Most people run their tanks at 1024-1025. Still it's not a bad idea to add Ca in a 2 part mix (a bit expensive but convenient) to get it up to 400-450.

[unclejed]

Not sure about the instant ocean mixing to 1.021. What recipe? You mix your salt to whatever you want. Anyway, if you are having a hard time raising your calc. test for your mag. level, low mag. makes it almost impossible to raise calc.

[Arnold40]

okay...here are the test results: This is freshly mixed saltwater.

Calcium 370
magnesium 1125
SG: 1.026

[DEWAYNE]

I do not like instant ocean, it takes to long to dissolve, and the tank seems to stay cloudy for awhile. I use red sea salt mix, just seem to like it better, but I'm sure they both do the job, guess I'm just picky about some things.

[Taras1]

Leon -- the "recipe" is the one that's on the container, e.g. 1 bag to 25 gal of water. I've usually gotten about a 1021 - 1023 SG using the mixes.

I'm a Reef Crystals man myself. When I mix my salt water, I let it sit at least 24-48 hours and circulate with a small pump and heater. Clouding goes away within a few hours, but I found that the SG, pH, Alk and Ca tend to change during this period as it reaches equilibrium with the surrounding air and temp. I think it's also important to test your existing aquarium water. During this 24-48 hour rest period, I also match the Ca, Alk and Mg to the current readings in my tank. Any adjustment to these parameters in the tank is done about 2-5 days after the water change.

[unclejed]

Got ya, I never go by the bag just by what I want but I see what you mean about the recipe or mix. Good advice on matching the other params.

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by Arnold40

okay...here are the test results: This is freshly mixed saltwater.

Calcium 370
magnesium 1125
SG: 1.026

need to dilute with some r/o water your sg is a lil bit too high, as for the salt i like red sea aswell i use red sea coral pro, my calc. is at 440 you might want to change salts. would be alot easier than having to dose calc. IMO

[Arnold40]

SG of 1.026 is good according to the reef parameters on this site. I have to dose calc and alk anyway, I will just have to add more calc.

[IceMan]

ok, you're right. i keep mine at 1.023 but i saw the pdf. but you mentioned you have to dose anyway? the alk you can dose with your buffer at water changes, but why dose calc. seprately if not needed?

[Arnold40]

you have to dose calc because everything uses it, snails, coraline algae, corals etc...If you don't dose it then it will be depleted.

[IceMan]

i understand the need for calcium... but if you'll listen to the advice you won't need to dose it, my calc. is at 440 which is great and i do have kent calc. but never use it as i don't need to. thats the point, use the right salt and save the money of seperately dosing i have NEVER dosed calc. and it stays between 420 and 440! the regular water changes replenish your calc.

[Arnold40]

what do you have in your tank and how often and how much water do you change?

[IceMan]

various mushrooms, zoas, leather , lobo, scolymia, montipora, candy cane, & xenia.
snails (various)
but your coraline algae will be one of your biggest consumers of calc.
i have been doing 10% per week but am currently experimenting with dropping freq. will allow my test numbers to dictate how often but intend to stick to 10% if water peramiters alter too fast it can be hard on inhabitants, so smaller water changes are better IMO and do them as often as the tank says so... in a manner of speaking

[jimw369]

Just curious Paul. Have you ever had a salt tank before this one? How long has your current tank been cycled? What salt are you currently using and to what SG do you mix it?

[Arnold40]

That is very interesting indeed. It is weird because everything I have read read states that the addition of calcium and alkalinity will be necessary. I have 2- 160gal buckets of instant ocean after that I will give the red sea a try.

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by jimw369

Just curious Paul. Have you ever had a salt tank before this one? How long has your current tank been cycled? What salt are you currently using and to what SG do you mix it?

1. no
2. 6 weeks
3. redsea coral pro
4. 1.023

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by IceMan

1. no
2. 6 weeks
3. redsea coral pro
4. 1.023

Just wondering why you think not adding Ca, Mg and Alk supplements will not be neccesary and water changes will always handle these issues for you. For some people, yes maybe, but for most people adding various animals to their reef dosing at some point will be required.

The biggest downfall of most aquarists is a basic understanding of water chemistry.

A friendly word of advice. While frequent water changes are the chosen method for maintaining a reef tank by many, dont let some education in water chemistry seem unimportant. Its the main reason you see the word "HELP" in these forums.

The RB library has hours of reading on the subject and it will take much time, reading and application to your tank after that to understand it.

By the way...Red sea Coral has the best marks for salt on the one chart I have!

[IceMan]

i have been reading the forums, books, stop signs if there is reef info on it... lol
most of all though i've drawn on several of my friends who've kept reef tanks for years, 2 of which have a degree in marine biology one does own a LFS but thats not how i got to know him. i never intended to say you would never have to dose anything, and yes i use some additives myself so far, may need to add more in the future. but from what i've HEARD from users of instant ocean salt hadn't cared for it. i don't know why (didn't ask) there were a few brands reccomended to me but this was supposedly one of the higher end salts. so far so good all my #s are staying great, as more corals are added and coraline spreads more i assume i will likely need to dose. i guess i mistook the question in that it was my understanding this was a new setup, if so with very lil drawing on the calc. it is very low, i do use seachem marine buffer which adds a lil calc. aswell as a dose of seachem reefbuilder but only buffer new mixed water for changes, didn't intend to sound like a smart@$$, was only trying to pass along advice given to me. if not for friendly reefers my corals would be white, my fish dead and my tank (and bank account) drained. ahhhh. i'm tired of typing so with that being said i guess i should just stick to asking questions and stop trying to help answer any.

[jimw369]

If you have friends with successful reef tanks they are your best ali. These forums and books come after that so you are fortunate that way. Wish I had some of that personal attention starting out.

Dont take what I say personally. Its only my opinion. I did not mean to belittle how long you have been in the hobby. I heard you give the advice dosing Ca was not neccesary if doing water changes. Now you say that is not what you meant. Thats fine. I get screwed up all the time and have to rethink what I have told somebody and sometimes apologize for being misunderstood.

If you have something helpful for any of us to know then please continue posting it.

Yes?

[IceMan]

ok back up a lil first off as i said i was mistaken apparently in what i thought the situation was, and said what i did wrong, i NEVER intended to say you would never need to dose, as i said i thought this was a new setup. second i didn't mean my laqst post the way it sounded, after rereading it, i sound rude, NOT MY INTENT, i guess what i was trying to say was i should have left it to more exp. people to answer. or i was agreeing that i had misspoke. i put not answer any, not exactly what i meant there either... lol i appologize but it seems no matter what i type tonight i come off looking like n @$$ anyway nomatter how i sounded what i'm trying to say is i agree with what you said ultimately.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by IceMan

ok back up a lil first off as i said i was mistaken apparently in what i thought the situation was, and said what i did wrong, i NEVER intended to say you would never need to dose, as i said i thought this was a new setup. second i didn't mean my laqst post the way it sounded, after rereading it, i sound rude, NOT MY INTENT, i guess what i was trying to say was i should have left it to more exp. people to answer. or i was agreeing that i had misspoke. i put not answer any, not exactly what i meant there either... lol i appologize but it seems no matter what i type tonight i come off looking like n @$$ anyway nomatter how i sounded what i'm trying to say is i agree with what you said ultimately.

OK! We both suck tonight! Back to salt!

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by IceMan

i understand the need for calcium... but if you'll listen to the advice you won't need to dose it, my calc. is at 440 which is great and i do have kent calc. but never use it as i don't need to. thats the point, use the right salt and save the money of seperately dosing i have NEVER dosed calc. and it stays between 420 and 440! the regular water changes replenish your calc.

and as to this i appologize, that came out all wrong. anyway before i stick my foot a lil deeper i'll just say SORRY!

[Snappy]

Depending on what you are keeping and how heavily stocked your tank is will greatly affect what you need to do, be it water changes or supplemental dosing. I have a heavy load so I go through a lot of calcium, alk & mag.
It's important to get a proper balance. Some important things to pay attention to are:
Calcium
Alk
Mag
ph
Generally natural seawater is about 400 ppm of CA, 7-8 DKH, 1280-1400 MAG, 7.9-8.3 PH.
For aquariums I suggest 380- 440 ca, 7 - 10 DKH, 1350 - 1400 mag, 8-8.3 ph. Again a lot depends on what you are keeping. For example an sps & clam tank will use a lot more of the above mentioned than a softie tank.