Question about calcium

[reefpeeper]

I have been trying to get my levels back to normal slowly, but can't seem to get Cal where it should be. I have a 34g deep blue rimless with a 20 long sump. My levels are mag 1400, alk 8.4, cal 380, temp 78, ph 8.2, and salinity .025 I had been adding about 50ml a day of cal and alk, but recently started dosing 70ml cal and 50ml alk. Cal has not gone up. Any ideas to what I can do to get these levels back on track. Seems like a lot to add in one day. I only have few sps.

 

[mike007]

380 ppm is not going to hurt anything. What are you using to raise it?

 

[reefpeeper]

380 ppm is not going to hurt anything. What are you using to raise it?

Bionic

 

[mike007]

You might want to go to the Brs reef calculator and see how much you need to add to get it where you want it. After that you need to find out your daily consumption for calcium and alkalinity so you can dose each day to maintain levels. Best way is to get levels where you want them and then go 3 days without dosing and retest and divide results by 3 and the you can go to the calculator and determine how much to add each day.Many of us use dosing pumps so we can keep parameters stable throughout the day.

 

[reefpeeper]

You might want to go to the Brs reef calculator and see how much you need to add to get it where you want it. After that you need to find out your daily consumption for calcium and alkalinity so you can dose each day to maintain levels. Best way is to get levels where you want them and then go 3 days without dosing and retest and divide results by 3 and the you can go to the calculator and determine how much to add each day.Many of us use dosing pumps so we can keep parameters stable throughout the day.

Thank u.

 

[beaslbob]

380 ppm is not going to hurt anything. What are you using to raise it?

+1


I would simply use the diy two part method with locally bought bulk chemicals.

From a few years ago calcium cholride as $8 for a 25 pound bag (calchlor) and $22 for a 50 pound bag (tetra or dow flake) from local redimix concrete type companies.

magnesium chloride was $30 or so from a local industrial chemical supplier.

baking soda and epsom salts from drug or grocery stores complete the method.

This was so inexpensive I gave it away at local frag swaps.


my .02

 

[redfishbluefish]

.........34g deep blue............70ml cal and 50ml alk............I only have few sps.

Something doesn't sound kosher! That seems like a whole bunch of alk and calc for a small tank with a few sps. I'd have to question your test kits or test methods. Either have a fellow reefer test your water, or take a sample to your LFS. I have a 90g matured mixed reef, and I'm using 50 mls a day.

What salt are you using and how frequently do you do a water change, and how much water do you change?

 

[Uchris]

Interested in following up with this thread, im on a similar boat trying to stabalize my levels.