Question on calcium

[Cmedeiros]

My tank currently has a zero reading of calcium. It’s been running for a while now. I have a vlamingi tang, emerald crab, sexy shrimp, hermit crabs and snails.

I’d like to help get some coralline started in my tank. I would need calcium to feed that correct ?

I have this, it’s old can it be used to promote my calcium levels, and what are benefits of adding calcium to my tank?

Thanks

 

[GoVols]

Yes,
Your have to have your Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium inline to list a few things for Coralline algae.

So you have to "test" your water for all three, but you have to "seed" your reef with coralline algae scrapings too.

 

[eggplantparrot]

wait... how does one have 0 calcium...? what salt are you using?

 

[Cmedeiros]

wait... how does one have 0 calcium...? what salt are you using?

Instant ocean

The non reef kind.

I mean I don’t think the calcium would b high because I didn’t add any at all.

 

[eggplantparrot]

Instant ocean

The non reef kind.

I mean I don’t think the calcium would b high because I didn’t add any at all.

that's weird cuss this is quoted from their website "Instant Ocean® is formulated to provide a solution with levels of calcium and magnesium found in natural seawater (NSW), assuming you use purified water to dissolve the sea salt. Tap water most often contains dissolved calcium, magnesium and other minerals that will add to the levels provided by Instant Ocean®. The specific gravity of NSW is typically 1.026 (35 parts per thousand, or ppt, salinity). When dissolved in pure water to a specific gravity of 1.026, Instant Ocean® should provide a solution that has 400 mg/L calcium ion and 1320 mg/L magnesium ion."

your water should still test ~400 for calcium. did you mix the salt in the bag before use? the contents apparently can settle out. maybe your test kit is bad? what kit did you use?

 

[Mjrenz]

^+1 or 2 or 3... That would be extremely odd if it were actually 0

 

[laverda]

I would think it is impossible to have zero calcium in saltwater. What test kit are you using? What is your salinity at?

 

[Cmedeiros]

I would think it is impossible to have zero calcium in saltwater. What test kit are you using? What is your salinity at?

Ok so I went back and retested. I did not shake my #3 reagent vigorously before using. It took me about 20 drops and it says multiply that by 20. 400 I assume?

 

[Cmedeiros]

Ok so I went back and retested. I did not shake my #3 reagent vigorously before using. It took me about 20 drops and it says multiply that by 20. 400 I assume?

I’m using the master test kit from Hagen.

 

[eggplantparrot]

Ok so I went back and retested. I did not shake my #3 reagent vigorously before using. It took me about 20 drops and it says multiply that by 20. 400 I assume?

sounds about right!

 

[Cmedeiros]

I would think it is impossible to have zero calcium in saltwater. What test kit are you using? What is your salinity at?

1.024

 

[laverda]

I have not used that test kit but that is a reasonable number especially since your salinity is on the low side.