calcium advise?

[Wiz]

Hey, my tank has been doing better than ever. I am so pleased with my parameters. But, for the first time my lps are growing like crazy. I am losing calcium at a crazy rate compared to my previous tank. I need to know the best way to raise and stablize calcium level with very limited space. I don't have much experience with this aspect. I've been dosing reef advantage calcium by seachem. But its not very affective and very time consuming. Any advice would be welcome..

 

[mike007]

Have you tested your alkalinity and magnesium? In order to maintain ca. these has to be maintained to proper levels.

 

[Wiz]

Yes, I have reef foundation pro test kits. The magnesium was super high at first and is falling. Its about 1400 now. The alkalinity was low. About 8. I raised it slowly to 11using oven baked baking soda to battle dinos. That's over now. It sits at about 9.3 I dose the baking soda to keep it between 9-10. My calcium started at 470. a month and it was 420. 3 weeks and it was 325. I started dosing calcium. 4 days later it was 300. Still dropped with dosing. Dosed max recomended. A week and its 250! So I mixed multiple batches wich I've started. But it will be constant dosing of max. That can't be good or right. Can it?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are lots of ways to boost calcium. Forget any max addition rate. If you need it by measurement, then dose it.

How much baking soda are you adding? The calcium drop rate seems fairly high, IMO, and might suggest an error of soem sort.

Assuming the calcium is below 350 ppm, I'd boost it with calcium chloride. This calculator shows how much:

http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

Then I'd look to add calcium and alkalinity in a balanced fashion, using limewater or a two part additive system IDIY if you like).

These have more:

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Solving Calcium And Alkalinity Problems ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Chemistry And The Aquarium: How To Select A Calcium And Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

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

 

[Wiz]

I've been using the bulk reef supply calculator. Last time it was 8 teaspoons. Over 2 days.for baking soda. I will read these articles sunday when I have time. Thankyou. And I will look for calcium chloride. I assume it has instructions... orr maybe the calculator will coveer calcium as well. Project for the weekend. I just started another dose of reef advantage.

 

[Wiz]

Just reread the post. I see the link for a calculator. Sry I missed that the first time. Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You can use the reef Advantage calcium as if it were calcium chloride. I'd boost it by about 20-25 ppm per day.