Calcium

[Rmckoy]

How many acro or monti frags does it take before just salt mix alone isn’t enough to support the calcium required between water changes ?

 

[fishguy242]

hi loaded question,how many gallons,size of acros,montis,best advice watch the growth ring on monti's,monitor alk cal n mag,the three work together,do no drastic changes,i like cal 420-450 for my sps

 

[X-37B]

How many acro or monti frags does it take before just salt mix alone isn’t enough to support the calcium required between water changes ?

You will just have to monitor it weekly. The tests will tell you when.
Every tank has different alk/cal requirements.
Remember to add cal and alk together. A good 2 part like esv works well as do many others.

 

[Little_Red_Ryan_Hood]

As 90's said, there is no way to tell without testing. The number of corals needed to drop calcium and alkalinity has to many variables to offer a iron clad answer. Some variables that make it impossible to answer that question are: size of each frag, water conditions like proper nitrate and phosphate levels, proper flow, and lighting levels like PAR. All those factors and more help determine photosynthesis and the growth of the coral

If you want to keep Stony corals, you will need to test. Testing is the only way to determine if you need to supplement.

 

[PatW]

Like everything..... it depends.

A tank can have a potload of SPS corals and there will be no calcium depletion, because the corals are not growing.

Also, a tank can have SPS corals that are growing great but they are too small to affect calcium levels much.

In order to have a significant uptake, you need SPS corals of a certain size growing at a certain speed.

I do not worry much about calcium. Saltwater contains a potload of calcium. But it has relatively little alkalinity. Since calcium and alkalinity are consumed at the same rate, ALK will be depleted much more quickly than calcium. In facts, ALK depletion can cause a tank crash. And ALK depletion will affect the corals much sooner. I test ALK daily and dose three times per day, two of which are automatic. I just dose about the same amount of calcium per day. Once a week, I check calcium to see if it where I want it.

 

[Shaun_in_Cali]

From my experience you don’t need many SPS to make a dent in Calc/Alk. In my 120G with mostly frags or small colonies, I’m using approximately 3ml of calcium and alk BRS 2part mix per coral, per day.

I imagineif you had a smaller tank, or larger (non frag) corals you would experience a need to dose very quickly.

water changes are not efficient, and as highlighted you really need to test.

 

[Rmckoy]

It’s a 90 gal with 30 gal sump .

I just tested cal and alk again as last night I did a 25gal water change .

cal is 470
Alk is 11
I haven’t tested mag yet .


Nitrates are 15-20
I haven’t tested phosphates

 

[Little_Red_Ryan_Hood]

I would say you don't need to dose yet. When those numbers start dropping and can't be kept in line with weekly water changes, then you will need to dose KALK or 2 part. I would start looking into those options so you are ready to dose when it is needed. Be prepared because you will need to dose if you stick with it.