Target calcium level?

[stanleo]

120 gallon reef just starting out. I want to keep fish, crustaceans, clams, hard and soft corals. What should my target calcium level be? Gravity is around 1.024 and after 2 weeks of cycling calcium went from 420 to 320. Used Instant Ocean Sea Salt. I’m pretty sure my level is too low for what I want to keep so how do I raise it without adding more salt?

Also iodine. Does the salt mix add this and I don’t need to worry about it? If I do, what’s a good test for it and why wouldn’t that be included in API master kits? How do I raise the level safely?

 

[Jekyl]

420 is target level. There are a series of YouTube videos called brs 52 weeks of reefing I think. Around week 40 or so they go over all of the things you're asking about. Entire series is worth a watch

 

[lapin]

Water changes will make everything better.

 

[stanleo]

Thanks guys. That video answered a lot of questions and I will definitely watch the rest.

Alkalinity is tested with KH is that right?

 

[SPR1968]

The calcium level is low at 320 and you can raise this by adding a calcium supplement depending on whats available, I use Red Sea Foundation A B and C depending on what I want to increase, A being the calcium additive but there are other products.

This is a very good guide for you

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

As far as iodine goes, you don’t want to add anything you cant test easily for and it’s often included in some of the combined trace element additives, but I wouldn’t worry to much about this as it will often be replaced with the new salt during water changes. You need to know what your doing with things like iodine otherwise you will have issues. You will see in the above article ‘control not recommend’

 

[lapin]

Alkalinity is tested with KH is that right?

Yes it normally read as this in the USA, it can also be read as meq/L

 

[Jvesche20]

Water changes will make everything better.

Agreed here! At first, I just did water changed because that was enough to keep everything I had in check but later down the road when I got more corals I did 2 part dosing. Brs has videos on that also. Heres what I use
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/2-pa...MI14zxiNSs4AIVBAdpCh2I_QWSEAQYASABEgJwo_D_BwE
If you have no corals then you might not need to dose just weekly water changes

 

[PatW]

Anything over 400. Using a higher number like 450 is fine.

 

[Skfoley4]

Anyone have suggestions of best calcium test kit?

 

[brclark82]

Anyone have suggestions of best calcium test kit?

I like the Salifert but Red Sea is good too…for color based test I like the Hanna colorimeter because I can’t read the color charts but for titration tests like calcium and mag I use Salifert

 

[exnisstech]

Anyone have suggestions of best calcium test kit?

I prefer salifiert for calcium and magnesium

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

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