Calcium low

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

For some reason only my part 2 of Seachem Fusion the Alk portion was dosing. So my Alk is at 10 with Calcium at 260. Should I manually add Part 1 calcium to bring this up, or should I wait for it to balance more slowly. I know I don’t want quicker swings in Alk but wondering if it is wise to get calcium up. Mostly soft corals with three Lps and a clam.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If the calcium is being measured by the APEX, I'd confirm it with another kit. It is not easy to get it that low.

If it is low, it is easy to raise it, but don't do that yet.

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

If the calcium is being measured by the APEX, I'd confirm it with another kit. It is not easy to get it that low.

If it is low, it is easy to raise it, but don't do that yet.

Tested with Red Sea test kit and says 320. Ran through at around 1/3 of 2000ml of part 2 with no part one. I will calibrate apex today. At 320 should I be raising it?

 

[Lavey29]

Tested with Red Sea test kit and says 320. Ran through at around 1/3 of 2000ml of part 2 with no part one. I will calibrate apex today. At 320 should I be raising it?

You want calcium at 420 to 450. If you are seeing more calcium consumption now that means corals are probably growing but typically you would see a proportionant amount of alk consumption to.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Tested with Red Sea test kit and says 320. Ran through at around 1/3 of 2000ml of part 2 with no part one. I will calibrate apex today. At 320 should I be raising it?

OK, I see now that it was a doser issue.

Use the calcium part to raise it by 100 ppm over several days. Use this calculator to determine the amount:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

You want calcium at 420 to 450. If you are seeing more calcium consumption now that means corals are probably growing but typically you would see a proportionant amount of alk consumption to.

Issue is apex dose wasn’t working on the Cal side. Trying to rectify without creating additional problem.

OK, I see now that it was a doser issue.

Use the calcium part to raise it by 100 ppm over several days. Use this calculator to determine the amount:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

thanks

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

OK, I see now that it was a doser issue.

Use the calcium part to raise it by 100 ppm over several days. Use this calculator to determine the amount:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Another question. I have some Alk issues possibly from over dosing a frag system without a lot of stony corals fairly new system. Apex is reading 14 something, red sea is reading around the same 13.7-14. However when I test my newly mixed Fritz Blue Box RPM I am getting readings well below 7.0. Turns yellow before using .5 ml.
Would you guess my testing kit is bad (roughly 2 years old stored closed in moderate temp but not always in closed box out of light) or is this batch of RPM bad.
water mixed with pump in 40 gallon tote for at least 3 hours.

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

OK, I see now that it was a doser issue.

Use the calcium part to raise it by 100 ppm over several days. Use this calculator to determine the amount:

Reef Chemistry Calculator

I added some of the Ca side of fusion Part 1 last night. Used your calculator to add 1/4 what it said it needed. Ca has not increased, but my Alk dropped from 10-5 overnight. I got closer to 7ml vs the 4 I was shooting for, but this seems like a huge swing. Any suggestions as to how to proceed without further disruption?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I added some of the Ca side of fusion Part 1 last night. Used your calculator to add 1/4 what it said it needed. Ca has not increased, but my Alk dropped from 10-5 overnight. I got closer to 7ml vs the 4 I was shooting for, but this seems like a huge swing. Any suggestions as to how to proceed without further disruption?

Are you suggesting alk dropped from 10 dKh to 5 dKH? That seems like test error.

Adding calcium is not going to drop alk.


How many ml of the Reef Fusion calcium part did you add to what total water volume?

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

Are you suggesting alk dropped from 10 dKh to 5 dKH? That seems like test error.

Adding calcium is not going to drop alk.


How many ml of the Reef Fusion calcium part did you add to what total water volume?

I fired too quickly, just got home and was checking my apex dashboard. Appears that since I’m also getting a no water sample error that something went wrong. Red Sea test kit says still around 10.6 dKH.
I added about 7 ml and approximate tank volume I have figured at 100-110 based on how much my nitrates change with a 40 gallon water change. I actually measured as I started newer tanks but didn’t when I filled this one.
I’m going to run a Red Sea copper test again before I do anything else.

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

I fired too quickly, just got home and was checking my apex dashboard. Appears that since I’m also getting a no water sample error that something went wrong. Red Sea test kit says still around 10.6 dKH.
I added about 7 ml and approximate tank volume I have figured at 100-110 based on how much my nitrates change with a 40 gallon water change. I actually measured as I started newer tanks but didn’t when I filled this one.
I’m going to run a Red Sea copper test again before I do anything else.

Based on the calculator it says I need to add 522 ml to get to 420. I think I read the fl Oz and divided by 4 instead of ml. So what I added is probably nothing. With needing to add 522 above what in dosing and it is consuming how much should I add per day.
100 ml day for 5 days, or less over longer period?

I’m never 100% sure when the color change is right, but Red Sea does have Ca somewhere in the 280-300 range I believe.