Ca level maintenance

[rjs5134]

I've read numerous threads about some adding large amounts of kalkwasser, or other Ca additives, but I'm not sure why. Granted my little 65 gallon reef wannabe only has a few frags, mostly softies, but I haven't seen any need for large scale Ca additions. Simple water changes and the occassional capful of Kent Ca keeps my tank in the 400 range, sometimes quite a bit higher.

Does the large quantity of corals in some tanks really use +/-5 gallons of kalkwasser mix per week or more? Based on my little experience, it's hard to believe.

Thanks

Rob

[wozza]

if you keep mostly softies then you wont have a high Ca demand because they dont have the internal sturcture that SPS and most LPS have and they need Ca to continue to build on this and grow.
but if you had a 200gal SPS reef, then SPS are known to be a big drain on Ca levels so im sure you would need large amounts of kalkwasser or other means of adding Ca to the system.

hope this helps, james

[Old Man Of The Sea]

Rob, When I was running soft corals in my 180 gal tank I took two tea spoons of kalkwasser and dissolved it in water and placed it in the reserve tank. I can hardly call that large amount of kalkwasser for if your not careful, your tank will have a problem will your ALK rising high and calcium running through the roof. As I see, your a 65 gal tank, your tank will not be needing such large amounts of kalkwasser and I guess your not a reserve tank which then you would need a drip method to bet control what you need to do and just don't pour any amount of kalkwasser into your sump doing it so blindly.

Buddy

A Happy New Year To All

[rjs5134]

Thanks Buddy & James and Happy New Year. I don't expect to be adding large quantities of Ca or Kalkwasser, but based on my experience it shocks me that others have such large needs. I only add a capful of Kent Ca about once per week. The water change takes care of the rest. It's just shocking that anyone's tank could use 5 Gallons per week. Hopefully I have such prolific corals that I have a great need like this.

[Old Man Of The Sea]

based on my experience it shocks me that others have such large needs.

You would find a difference in levels of what one needs due too the fact that we not have the same size tanks. For your a 65, is that correct? And I a 180 and 240 that will start later in the year and would need higher doses of calicium then your 65. Also coral stock has much to do with your calcium levels as well as much is removed from your tank thru your skimmer. It is part of the reasons that we must be on our toes on our tanks levels for not any two people would have the exact same results being that most who giving you any idea in this have larger tanks then yourself.

Got to run now so hope you`re having a nice start for the New Year