Help a noob with Calcium

[JayFish4004]

Trying to figure out if I should be dosing/monitoring calcium and have a few questions:

1. in an LPS & fish 20g nano tank that getsbiweekly water changes - should I still consider dosing calcium?

2. What do I need to watch out for? Is dosing calcium the same as other elements like ph where too much will shock my fish and corals?

3. What is the harm to not dosing calcium?

4. What about magnesium?

 

[Snoopy 67]

Magnesium is important because it holds the balance between calcium & alkalinity.
With only 20 gallons dosing 2 part is the preferred method.
LPS are more forgiving than SPS & water changes should suffice.
Testing should confirm your values.

 

[JayFish4004]

Magnesium is important because it holds the balance between calcium & alkalinity.
With only 20 gallons dosing 2 part is the preferred method.
LPS are more forgiving than SPS & water changes should suffice.
Testing should confirm your values.

Can you explain what dosing 2 part means?

when you say water changes should suffice - do you mean I may not need to dose calcium if Im doing water changes?

 

[Snoopy 67]

Yes water changes could be enough.
2 part is a container of calcium & a container of alkalinity.

32 oz. Package - ESV B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System

Each ESV B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System has two components - Alkalinity and Calcium. When used in equal parts, easily maintain calcium and alkalinity levels with no mixing of powders, disruption of ionic balace or addition of organic chemicals. Formulated to provide all the proper ratios to...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[DrZoidburg]

Biweekly water changes could be enough. In the long run it will keep getting slightly lower and lower from target number. Look at @PeterB113 His tank just water changes. Though I suspect his will need something soon Also yes too much of anything is bad. The amount to be bad with calcium is much higher though.

 

[Gtinnel]

You need to test for calcium and alkalinity between water changes to see how much they drop and if a water change brings them back up to what they were at the last water change.

 

[JayFish4004]

Biweekly water changes could be enough. In the long run it will keep getting slightly lower and lower from target number. Look at @PeterB113 His tank just water changes. Though I suspect his will need something soon Also yes too much of anything is bad. The amount to be bad with calcium is much higher though.

Okay perfect - I bought a Hanna checker - so essentially once my coral get to a point where they are dropping calcium below optimal is when I start worrying about dosing? Or is it solely based on replenishing the exact amount consumed regardless of where the levels are at pre and post wc?

I’m a little confused on the alkalinity part - is dosing that done to offset the drop calcium would cause if I only dosed calcium? My alk is 9.7 so feel like it’s pretty solid, and it’d scare me to not be able to control one or the other.

 

[DrZoidburg]

@JayFish4004 It is best to stay at stable levels. I like to get it as close to what is being used. Need testing to determine this. Depending on which additives you use. Water changes replace both. 2 part though for example. Dose calcium, and alkalinity goes down. Dose Alkalinity , and calcium goes down. The trick is to get balanced doses. It will stay pretty stable that way when balanced. With "1 part additives" its a lot easier.

 

[sfin52]

Trying to figure out if I should be dosing/monitoring calcium and have a few questions:

1. in an LPS & fish 20g nano tank that getsbiweekly water changes - should I still consider dosing calcium?

2. What do I need to watch out for? Is dosing calcium the same as other elements like ph where too much will shock my fish and corals?

3. What is the harm to not dosing calcium?

4. What about magnesium?

Whats your numbers and what is the usage rate. Most tanks water changes are good enough for the first year but every tank is different.
It would really help to know your numbers

 

[Gtinnel]

Alkalinity is generally considered to be the more important element to keep stable, although calcium is important too. Even if your water change keeps up with your tanks consumption it can be hard on the corals if the water change is quickly increasing the alk/cal levels.
Measure your alkalinity and calcium each day for a week or so and see how much they decrease in that weeks time. That will tell you how much your tank is consuming.

 

[JayFish4004]

Whats your numbers and what is the usage rate. Most tanks water changes are good enough for the first year but every tank is different.
It would really help to know your numbers

I don’t have those numbers just yet. I just ordered a Hanna calcium checker today. I can post back when I do the test.

here’s a photo: tank is super new so I don’t imagine these little guys are consuming all too much just yet.

*also ordering coral lens so I will never have to post an ugly blue photo again haha

 

[Gtinnel]

I don’t have those numbers just yet. I just ordered a Hanna calcium checker today. I can post back when I do the test.

here’s a photo: tank is super new so I don’t imagine these little guys are consuming all too much just yet.

*also ordering coral lens so I will never have to post an ugly blue photo again haha

With only those few frags you likely won't need to dose anything yet.
Also, if you take pictures with your phone you can download free apps that allow you to raise the white balance to be able to take pictures that are closer to actual color. Not as good as filters but it's at least free to try.

 

[sfin52]

With only those few frags you likely won't need to dose anything yet.
Also, if you take pictures with your phone you can download free apps that allow you to raise the white balance to be able to take pictures that are closer to actual color. Not as good as filters but it's at least free to try.

If you have a galaxy 9 or above pro mode helps a ton

 

[Gtinnel]

If you have a galaxy 9 or above pro mode helps a ton

Well look at that, I guess I should have played around with the options on my default camera app before downloading an different app that allows me to adjust the white balance. Good tip. Thanks

 

[sfin52]

Well look at that, I guess I should have played around with the options on my default camera app before downloading an different app that allows me to adjust the white balance. Good tip. Thanks

No problem