Phosphates high (I think) Calcium maybe low??

[James Hammett]

I am needing info and help for my in class reef tank. our phosphates are staying around .25 Ive been told that is high. I've tried phosguard in the filtration basket it stays the same no change. How do i get this down... Also Calcium is riding around 340 and I am not sure what the proper way to bring that up is. I was told it needs to be around 500? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Larry L]

Lots of tanks run phosphates at that level, are you seeing any problems in the tank that might be due to phosphates being high? What kind of livestock is in the tank?

Calcium is a bit low, most people run in the 400s. My favorite article about calcium and alkalinity is one of Randy's:

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

Looks especially at the red box in the middle of Figure 1 - that will give you a good idea of target values, and depending on what your calcium and alkalinity numbers are, there are different instructions for how to raise or lower them as needed depending on where you fall on that graph.

 

[James Hammett]

I am not seeing any issues in the tank that I recognize, I m very new to this and my students are as well. We have 2 clown fish, a lawnmower blenny, a diamod watchman goby, 30 some odd snails, a banded coral shrimp, 3 hermit crabs, a kenya tree, a colt coral, 3 zoa colonies (Small), a GSP colony, A Hammer coral, devils hand leather, ganipora, war coral, 4 frags of maze brain coral, 2 BTAs .... ans a Rainbow Acan Lord. NO algae to speak of spots of purple coraline algae I think on the back wall and every day or so spots on glass i have to scrape off. everybody looks happy. which is why i wasnt sure I was high or not.

 

[James Hammett]

Tank right now I haven’t done anything except feed the tank today

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The calcium should be raised to about 420 ppm with calcium chloride, but the exact calcium level in the 400-550 ppm range is not very important.

 

[James Hammett]

Randy I have calcium chloride in my chem
Lab any tips on how much to add to raise it to acceptable level?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy I have calcium chloride in my chem
Lab any tips on how much to add to raise it to acceptable level?

here's a calculator to see how much. Raise it in 2-3 doses, once each day for 2-3 days:

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

 

[James Hammett]

added solution at 4:00 pm just got out of meeting at school tested it and it is up to 440... will test again in the morning.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds good!

 

[AquamanE]

Tank looks great professor. Our club sponsors a few schools and you tank is looking very good compared to some of those with experience. So congrats!!

 

[James Hammett]

Thank you for the encouragement and kind words. We are proud of our little piece of ocean