Calc concerns!

NanaReefer · Apr 13, 2016

Hi Randy

According to my RedSea test kit my calcium is low, 340. It's been this way for the past 2 months. Even at dosing 42ml daily and 5g bi-weekly WC using RC.
I do have many LPS along with several SPS and a Clam. Is it possible that they are using so much calcium?
Is it safe to increase to 45ml or more daily?

cjd · Apr 13, 2016

He may need more info. How big is the tank? How often are you testing? Have you tested the new batch of saltwater before a water change? How's your alkalinity and magnesium? Have you tried a different test kit other then the red sea calcium to check the results ?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2016

Yes, it is possible.

What salinity and what salt mix?

NanaReefer · Apr 13, 2016

Reef Crystals at 1.026. Tested new batch Calc and reads 460. So I'm guessing my corals are sucking it up.
ALK reads 9.2 and mag also via RedSea is 1460, but from what I've read the RedSea Mag test is unreliable.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2016

Ok, with that info, I'd look at substantial calcium chloride dosing.

NanaReefer · Apr 13, 2016

Thanks Randy. I've bumped it up to 51ml daily.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 13, 2016

I might look to boost it all the way to 420 ppm in a few days with much larger doses.

NanaReefer · Apr 13, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I might look to boost it all the way to 420 ppm in a few days with much larger doses.

Higher than 51ml?

redfishbluefish · Apr 13, 2016

You have a clam! They are major calcium suckers.

NanaReefer · Apr 14, 2016

Ok. I set it for 90ml or should I go even higher? The BRS calculator says I need 425.7ml to reach 420. I'm nervous about this a little. Never had to dose so much! [emoji16]

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 14, 2016

That's fine. Big corrections to calcium or magnesium require doses far above maintenance doses.

NanaReefer · Apr 14, 2016

Thanks again Randy for all your help [emoji4]

Slim_Okrug · Apr 14, 2016

NanaReefer said:
Higher than 51ml?

I dose 85ml of KH daily. So i guess you are fine. Clams are Ca heavely users.

NanaReefer · Apr 14, 2016

This is about Calcium not Alkalinity. Which my ALK (KH) is fine. Thanks though.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 14, 2016

NanaReefer said:
Thanks again Randy for all your help [emoji4]

You're welcome.

Good luck.

NanaReefer · Apr 15, 2016

Looks like 90ml isn't gonna be enough. Bumped it up to 100ml.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 16, 2016

OK, let us know how it goes.

You can add 200 mL at once if you want.

NanaReefer · Apr 17, 2016

I'll test this a.m. an see where it's at. Then bump it up if needed.

NanaReefer · Apr 17, 2016

I'm gonna do a 5g WC. Test a couple hrs later see if there's any difference. I did increase dosing to 200ml.

2hrs after 5 1/2g WC & 70ml of Calc, tested 380. So I'm getting there [emoji38]