Calcium

[brownsalt92]

I did another test for calcium and dkh this morning and the cal was at a 380 and my dkh is coming down and was a 17 using api will it keep coming down. Just dosing calcium part a? But the calcium won't break 400

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I did another test for calcium and dkh this morning and the cal was at a 380 and my dkh is coming down and was a 17 using api will it keep coming down. Just dosing calcium part a? But the calcium won't break 400

It will if you add enough.

Add more.

 

[brownsalt92]

Alright I'd just hate to spike it and hurt corals

 

[brownsalt92]

Great news I just tested my tank and my parameters are spot on I am releaved after 2 weeks of fighting low calcium and alk through the roof
Salt 1.025
Cal 450
Mag 1380
PH 8.1
Dkh 14 still a tad high came down 2 points in 12. Hours
Nitrate 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
I'm gonna double check the calcium in the morning but I'm pretty happy that mad my night

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've never seen a case where boosting calcium to natural levels hurt corals.

 

[dwebb1031]

No, water changes are not the best way.

If you dose just the calcium part (or, less expensively, just calcium chloride) and do not use the alkalinity part, it won't boost alkalinity and will raise calcium.

For many such products, you can use this calculator to determine the amount needed to boost calcium to where you want:

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

He is totally correct I use reef fusion 1/2, and I had a similar issues. Both my all and cal dropped way down cal around 320 alk around 7. I was dosing both at max recommended for a week and a half. Alk went to 11 cal only to 360. Started only doing the cal for the next 2 weeks cal was at 420 last test alk at 9.

 

[brownsalt92]

Yea its crazy how that work. Reef chemistry
How do I get rid of this green algea? It's like red slime but green. I'm dosing vinegar and vodka and I won't go away tho in the picture its close to the live rock and around the frag plugs

 

[brownsalt92]

So I have tested my tank sun night and tonight my parameters are
Salt 1.025
Calcium 420
Mag 1350
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
PH 8.1
Dkh a 10 api test kit.

I am just baffled as to 2 weeks ago I was adding 100 ml of Kent calcium part a to my tank a day and could t get it above 380. I am happy that my parameters are ridiculous anymore I only had to ad 30 ml of part a to my tank for the week.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The current values seen fine.

I'm not sure I understand the sentence. If you are raising calcium from a lower than normal value, it will take a lot of additive, but once you reach normal levels and are just maintaining it, that required dose should drop and be more similar to the alk dose (unless water changes keep messing with the tank values).

 

[beaslbob]

on the green algae slime:

1)if you haven't already start a refugium with macro algae or an algae turf scrubber.

2) kill your lights and suspend feeding until it dies off.

3) adjust lighting and feeding so the uglies stay away but the good stuff thrives.

my .02