Low Calcium

C_Moe · Dec 25, 2018

My Calcium is about 340ppm. I can not get it to raise. My stony coal are dying. I was told by my local Aquarium store to use purple tech by Kent's marine. No raise in calcium as of yet. About to do 3rd dose.

90 gal tank with sump and protein skimmer.

GtiKyle · Dec 25, 2018

Why not dose calcium chloride?

Follow the dosing calculator found on Bulkreefsupply website. Be sure to follow the directions and don't dose more than 50ppm in a single day.

C_Moe · Dec 25, 2018

I'm very new to the hobby but I was using tropic marine Bio-calcium. I let my calcium drop to low and coal started dying. I tried to being it up but I believe all the bio calcium I was adding is precipatating. Pet store suggested purple tech. No results yet.

dwest · Dec 25, 2018

C_Moe said:
I'm very new to the hobby but I was using tropic marine Bio-calcium. I let my calcium drop to low and coal started dying. I tried to being it up but I believe all the bio calcium I was adding is precipatating. Pet store suggested purple tech. No results yet.

What test kit are you using?

C_Moe · Dec 25, 2018

dwest said:
What test kit are you using?

A API calcium test kit. FYI Looking to upgrade my test kit to something better shortly

dwest · Dec 25, 2018

C_Moe said:
A API calcium test kit. FYI Looking to upgrade my test kit to something better shortly

Yes. Go with salifert.

Your calcium level may be perfectly fine. In fact, you may be better off for now by testing your alkalinity level with a salifert kit or Hanna tester and make sure your are in the 7-12 dKH range. Secondary to that would be making sure calcium level is between 350-550 ppm with a salifert kit. Do 10% water changes every week for your corals.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 25, 2018

Forget the Purple Tech and use any of the many brands of calcium chloride when you need to boost calcium.

C_Moe · Dec 25, 2018

I did a 15% water change about 5 days ago. Everything is still going down hill. Mainly a birds nest.

C_Moe · Dec 25, 2018

Ok thanks I will try that. What brand would you go with?

Larry L · Dec 25, 2018

Calcium at 340 ppm is a little low but not enough to kill corals by itself - what are your other numbers? (Alkalinity, magnesium, pH, nitrates, phosphates?)