Calcium reactor question.

Singlefin · Sep 5, 2015

I've been running a calcium reactor on my heavy sps 120g tank for a couple of years now. Love it. Haven't really had any problems. My media gets used pretty fast. I just test my alk to make sure I'm on target. Recently I tested my alk at 9.5dkh and my calcium came in at 300. Everything is doing great. Is there a chart for calcium reactors that says if you dkh is X then your CA will be Y. I thought the consumption of ca. And alk was always even. Never thought my ca. Was so low. Does alk and calcium get consumed at different rates? I never test for ca. And my test kit was expired. Waiting for a new kit to come in. I've been manually bringing it back up to 450. But ran out of testing solution. Any help would be great. Thanks.

ssdawood · Sep 5, 2015

I do think alk and calcium get consumed at different rates. Balance the calcium and alkalinity using dosing liquids and the reactor should maintain it.

Once a week test again and if the difference is huge balance again. Otherwise you can check once a month and balance them.

Other than corals different biological process in your tank can also consume alkalinity.

tigerdragon · Sep 6, 2015

+1 on balancing your tank params and the ca reactor should maintain i test weekly on the 3 main ones usually have to dose up mag keeping my alk around 8.5-9 and ca at 425-430

Sabellafella · Sep 6, 2015

It deffinitly has to do with ur mag levels thats wierd i never had that problem unless my mag was low

Singlefin · Sep 6, 2015

I have never dosed mag on this tank. I assumed everything was in the reactor media. The one I use is supposed to be high in mag. I keep my alk at 9-10 and my ca was always around 450. That's what I never test it. I use the Hanna for alk because it's easy. Just assumed if my alk was @ 9-10 my ca would be good. Finally tested it and it was 300. Unless my test kit was bad which impossible.

Singlefin · Sep 6, 2015

Singlefin · Sep 6, 2015

I understand the relationship between ca. Alk and mag. I dose it on my 40b. Just assumed it was all covered w the calcium reactor. Thanks for the responses.

ssdawood · Sep 6, 2015

Just for peace of mind please check calcium with another test kit before dosing.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 6, 2015

Let's start at the beginning and try to understand this issue. If the proper media is used, the calcium should follow along quite well if the alk is maintained with a CaCO3/CO2 reactor.

So I agree that step 1 is confirm the calcium reading with a different kit.

What media are you using and are you doing any water changes in the past 2 years,a nd if so, what salt and what salinity?

Too much magnesium in the media can result in what you see. For example, if you used too much dolomite.

Singlefin · Sep 6, 2015

Thanks. That's what I assumed. Calcium would just follow. I have a new kit coming. The one I used was a salifert and it was the last few tests left in the box. I just never tested ca. I use a Hanna for alk. It's never expired. I use it regularly. I do a 15g water change every week to 2 weeks religiously using natural seawater. I'm using Coarse ARM for media. Thanks for the response. Im hoping it was just the kit. All my sps show good growth so I was never concerned.

Singlefin · Sep 6, 2015

ssdawood said:
Just for peace of mind please check calcium with another test kit before dosing.

New one is on the way. Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 6, 2015

OK, let us know if it is not the kit and we'll help guide the solution.

Singlefin · Sep 6, 2015

Awesome. Thanks for the help.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 7, 2015

You're welcome.

Good luck.

Singlefin · Sep 9, 2015

Got a new NYOS calcium test kit in tonight. Ca. Tested at 550. Alk @ 12.37dkh which is about right. Took out a huge Monti so ca. Consumption is less. Just dialed down my reactor a bit. Manually dosed my CA. Up a little last week just in case. Will see how it tests out the next couple days. Looks like my old salifert test kit was bad. Thanks for the help.