Low Calcium - What's next?

[berkdog]

I have tested over the past couple of weeks my calcium. It's been around 340-360 both times. Should I add Calcium supplements? Or should I start using the Lime Water (Mrs Mason's Pickling Lime) when compensating evaporation in freshwater? Any suggestions on dosage? I read that you should only use Mrs Mason's Pickling Lime to maintain correct current levels, not to change them. I'm not too rushed to add or subtract anything since I don't really have anything dependent on this, except some growths (polyphs?) on my live rock and my clean up crew (snails, shrimp...).

[charlie]

For what you have in there right now, I wouldn't worry about calcium additions. Fish really don't need calcium, and you are going for a fish only, correct?

[berkdog]

That's right. So I don't need Mrs. Mason's Pickling Lime? Haha, I searched around for it for a good 2 weeks! ... laughing... omg

Anyway, that's right... I'm doing a FOWLR. But I also will have an anemone, a starfish, and shrimps/lobster/snails (clean up). Those don't need calcium, right? And I'll have natural stuff that comes off the rock, like I found a tiny brittle star, a tiny hermit crab, a tiny non-hermit crab (middle of the night spotting), and polyphs growths, etc.

[charlie]

I would think that if you kept the calcium right where it is at, you aren't gonna have any problems. Regular, and I mean regular, water changes should take care of keeping your levels there.

[berkdog]

Sounds good. I try to do weekly or biweekly water changes. 15-30%. I wonder how long I'll keep up buying my water from the local RO grocery store stand, and cave in for those RO/DI units. I've seen RO units at Costco, but it didn't include DI. Is deionization just as important? Can you get a DI unit to supplement RO? I guess I can look these things up myself ;)

[charlie]

Believe me, If you get a RO/DI unit right now, it will pay for itself down the road, trust me on that one. I think DI is important, just another process in insuring quality water for your critters. Give these guys a call:

The Filter Guys

Tell them what you have and what you are going to do with it. Tell them a guy at Reefland sent you.

[cwoods5]

Call the filter guys they are very nice and they ship fast. Mine will be here tomorrow. I can't wait

[Doodaa]

Awesome choice! You won't regret it Next thing you'll be doing is wondering what else you can do with your purified water!

[Ninong]

That's right. So I don't need Mrs. Mason's Pickling Lime? Haha, I searched around for it for a good 2 weeks! ... laughing... omg

Yes, you probably burned up $20 of gas to save $2 on the Mrs. Wages Pickling Lime.

I'm doing a FOWLR. But I also will have an anemone, a starfish, and shrimps/lobster/snails (clean up). Those don't need calcium, right?

Of course they do, especially the crustaceans and mollusks.

[Ninong]

I have tested over the past couple of weeks my calcium. It's been around 340-360 both times. Should I add Calcium supplements? Or should I start using the Lime Water (Mrs Mason's Pickling Lime) when compensating evaporation in freshwater?

Your calcium is adequate in your situation. I wouldn't be concerned about it but you could always purchase a small bottle of the calcium additive part of any of the commonly available two-part solutions on the market. Then you could add just a little of that every day, maybe just a tablespoon or two. That will gradually raise your calcium.

However, you should already be using limewater for all of your evaporation replacement. It should be slow-dripped at night.

Any suggestions on dosage? I read that you should only use Mrs Mason's Pickling Lime to maintain correct current levels, not to change them.

That's because it's a balanced additive. Usually you would use something else if you wanted to raise just the calcium in a 'hurry.' Don't misinterpret the meaning of the word 'hurry' in this instance. It doesn't really mean fast.

The limewater will gradually raise your calcium levels but it will take longer than other methods. In your particular situation, there is really no reason for you to worry about adding calcium separately. Just start dripping limewater (Kalkwasser) every night to replace evaporation and your calcium will gradually rise.

I'm not too rushed to add or subtract anything since I don't really have anything dependent on this, except some growths (polyphs?) on my live rock and my clean up crew (snails, shrimp...).

Well, let's see. How about wanting to see some coralline algae? That's needs calcium. How about your snails' shells? They're made of calcium. So actually you do need calcium right now. However, 340-360 ppm Ca is adequate and nothing to be concerned about in your particular situation. You will want to raise it up to at least 425 ppm (425-475 ppm is my preferred range) gradually over the next few weeks and you can do that with just the limewater.

Dissolve two teaspoons of Mrs. Wages' Pickling Lime in a gallon of R.O./D.I. water (or distilled water, whatever). Add the powdered Mrs. Wages to the freshwater and stir until it dissolves -- usually only 20-30 seconds. Then cover the container with a lid to keep out the air to prevent extra CO2 from getting in.
Allow the limewater to rest for at least four hours, prefereable six to eight hours. I usually mixed it up in the morning for use that night.

The limewater should be very, very clear after you allow it to rest long enough. You want to use only this clear limewater WITHOUT disturbing the sediment that has settled to the bottom of the mixing container. I used a white plastic bucket that the kitty litter came in. It was the ideal size for my purposes, very clean and with a tight fitting lid. It held about 3.5 gallons of limewater but I usually mixed up only about 2.5 gallons at a time.

My evaporation averaged about 1.5 gallons per day -- sometimes 1.25 gallons, sometimes 1.75 gallons. A lot depends on the ambient humidity.

I would carefully lift the bucket of limewater and pour off the clear liquid into my 2.5-gal Kent aquadoser, being careful to do the pouring part all in one continuous motion. If you pause for any reason during the pouring, the sediment at the bottom of the bucket will be kicked up and the clear liquid will become cloudy. Some people simply siphon off the clear liquid.

Anyway, you should wait for the limewater to clear up before using it. That's the best way to do it. You don't have to clean out the bucket after every use. You can just add more freshwater into the bucket even with some sediment at the bottom from the previous batch. Then you add your Mrs. Wages. Then you stir up the whole mess again. Then you wait several hours for it to clear up again. I used to thoroughly rinse out the mixing bucket every seven to ten days. I always used it up within 48 hours. It's okay to go a little longer but the longer you go with it, the more CO2 gets picked up and the less effective it will be.

Always stir it. Never shake it. This is important. Always let it rest at least three or four hours, preferably longer, before using it. Always cover it tightly. Never, ever rinse out the bucket in your kitchen sink or any other place where the sediment will get into your plumbing!!! Wash it out with a hose outdoors and away from your lawn or garden!!!