Low calcium

[oger4450]

I went to my LFS with a low Calcium problem. They suggested dosing Kent Marine TECH CB part B. following the dosing instructions for 2 days and still no change at all. the calcium is 200, alk 14, mag 1350. What am I doing wrong? I'm using the Red Sea test kits. Thanks

 

[vetteguy53081]

I went to my LFS with a low Calcium problem. They suggested dosing Kent Marine TECH CB part B. following the dosing instructions for 2 days and still no change at all. the calcium is 200, alk 14, mag 1350. What am I doing wrong? I'm using the Red Sea test kits. Thanks

What test kits are you using ? With alk that should be 8-11dkh, calcium should have been higher.
High alkalinity can be caused in a handful of ways. The first and most likely cause for your high alkalinity level is that the calcium level is way too low in comparison. Since this is the most common reason for the increase in alkalinity then a great way to balance it out is to increase the compensate the calcium level in the tank.
It can also increase due to quickly declining nitrate levels in your reef tank. Test your nitrate levels to see if this is the reason for the increase in alkalinity in your reef tank. if your nitrate level has fallen by 50 ppm or more there could have been an increase in alkalinity by as much as 2.5 dKH.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Brs makes a dry 3 part individual mix.
The calcium mix works very well for me.
Hths
D

 

[Backreefing]

With way off parameter numbers , best do a large water change. Then get into doseing . In theory if you change 50% of your water then you will be 50% closer to desired water parameters.

 

[Backreefing]

With calcium so low and alkalinity so high . Doseing may be tricky and doesn’t lower alkalinity one little bit. Provided those numbers are accurate.

 

[oger4450]

Yes just did a 40% water change using Brightwell salt. The only thing that I noticed is that my hammer is doing terrible. So I took my water in just to confirm my testing in the LFS came up with the same results. Very low calcium high alkalinity and good magnesium. He suggested going to Red Sea Pro salt. And dosing the Kent marine tech CB Part B. I guess my question is should I be just using Red Sea calcium like I do Red Sea magnesium? Also I am using the Red Sea test kits along with a hana checker for phosphates