Calcium

[Mmsetta]

I've been dosing b-ionic 2 part for about 3 weeks. Started with 15ml and now upped it for about a week to 20ml.

75g, 20g sump

Calcium has stayed around 320
Alk is over 8
Mag is at 1200

I can't seem to get calcium up and my mag is still low.

What I don't understand is, I am using premium salt (Red Sea) and I do not have a lot of corals (2 small pocillopora, one tiny monti, one small trumpet).

Shouldn't my calcium and mag be ok just with the good salt and water changes? I am not getting the growth I would like (if any) from my corals. Very little coroline as well.

Now, my salinity seems to slowly drop over a two week period from 1.026 to 1.024. I think I have to check My top off system (I think it's adding just a little more ro water than needed each time it clicks on). Could the lower salinity have anything to do with it?


I hate to think that I would have to up my dose of two part beyond 20 ml for such a low stocked tank.


Any feedback is much appreciated- just learning the fine art of dosing. Once I have it squared away, I will add a dosing pump but I want to figure it out manually first.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Here's what I'd do......Use a dosing calculator to bring your individual numbers up to where you what them. There are a number of calculators available....HERE's the one that is linked through this site. I'm happy with that alk number, but bring calc and mag up to where you want them. You won't believe the amount of mag you're going to have to add.

Once you get to where you want your numbers, then calculate the actual daily dose you'll need. 20 mls a day for a 75 is not that much. Mag shouldn't need to be dose every day....maybe every couple weeks.

Also, what test kits are you using. I'm very happy with the Red Sea Foundation kit that includes all three tests...alk, calc and mag.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Salinity dropping from 1.026 to 1.024 will drop magnesium from 1300 ppm to 1200 ppm, so yes, that may be part of it.

For calcium, make a one time correction to where you want it, rather than trying to use the dosing pumps. Then use the pumps to maintain it.

 

[Dr.Pat]

I've been dosing b-ionic 2 part for about 3 weeks. Started with 15ml and now upped it for about a week to 20ml.

75g, 20g sump

Calcium has stayed around 320
Alk is over 8
Mag is at 1200

I can't seem to get calcium up and my mag is still low.

What I don't understand is, I am using premium salt (Red Sea) and I do not have a lot of corals (2 small pocillopora, one tiny monti, one small trumpet).

Shouldn't my calcium and mag be ok just with the good salt and water changes? I am not getting the growth I would like (if any) from my corals. Very little coroline as well.

Now, my salinity seems to slowly drop over a two week period from 1.026 to 1.024. I think I have to check My top off system (I think it's adding just a little more ro water than needed each time it clicks on). Could the lower salinity have anything to do with it?


I hate to think that I would have to up my dose of two part beyond 20 ml for such a low stocked tank.


Any feedback is much appreciated- just learning the fine art of dosing. Once I have it squared away, I will add a dosing pump but I want to figure it out manually first.

first off check your test kit reagents and make sure they are not expired.
make sure you are preforming the test properly
check magnesium levels and phosphate.
phosphate will bind calcium.
find out why you are having salinity swings, is your skimmer removing that much skimmate?
are you using an ato with kalkwasser?
duration of and what type of lights are you using?

 

[Mmsetta]

Randy, should I use just the calcium portion of the two part then? Until it is correct?

 

[Mmsetta]

Tests are new FYI. No kalkwasser. Lights - led Blues 9:00-600, whites 10:00-5:00

 

[Mmsetta]

Two sets of Tao-tronics. I thing they're 120 each. Not going down the lighting road though. Want to focus on the chemistry for this thread, thanks.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy, should I use just the calcium portion of the two part then? Until it is correct?

Yes, and use a calculator to determine how much for, say, a 25 ppm per day boost until you get to your target.

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