[Strangelove]

At first I thought it was just a coincidence. I'm new to saltwater and know that the fish are much more sensitive. Three times in a row, however, when I've added Kent's liquid a fish has died. The first two times it was a Banggai Cardinal. Yesterday, noting that the Ca level was 350 I added the amount of Ca as directed on the label. Today the Nassarius snails were chowing on my dead Coral Beauty. He looked fine yesterday. I should also note that I added Kent's pH buffer yesterday as well.

Salinity:1.023
pH:8.2-8.3
Ca:400-450
Temp:79-82

Am I doing something wrong?Am I not checking some vital parameter? I only need to add Ca every 10-14 days, but I can't afford to keep up this way.

Thanks for any help.

Gene

[reefhead]

are you adding this in the morning when the lights have been off all night or......

[thezookeeper]

The only thing I can think of is perhaps you are adding this stuff too fast and maybe causing a major pH swing? I honestly do not use the Kent calcium and do not know the pH, but I do use buffer and I know that you have to mix it thoroughly and add it slowly. I would not add buffer and then follow it with the Kent calcium. But that's just me. I don't like to risk it. Perhaps someone else will know what is going on. Hope all works out.


Joanne

[Biomanjcs72]

That's a tough one, assuming you are not pouring it down your little fishies throats (or on their heads) , I suppose it could be a bad batch of the stuff, they are chemical preparations.

[Strangelove]

All chemicals are added to the sump, though to be honest I have felt safe pouring them straight in after mixing. I was under the impression that mixing in the sump would add them relatively slowly to the show tank.

[GreenLincoln]

<IF> the fish deaths are related to the addition CaCl and not just a coincidence, then it is because you have no buffering capacity in your tank, and when you add CaCl, it rapidly drops the pH. The one critical parameter you did not list was dKH or Alk (same thing). Do you test for this?

Adding calcium can be risky business if you do not have enough buffering capacity in your tank. I would recommend stop using the liquid Kent product (I never liked it) and to start using Seachem Reef Builder to raise your carbonate hardness, and Seachem Reef Complete or Reef Builder to build your Ca. When raising calcium, you have to keep a close eye on your alkalinity levels. Adding calcium depletes alkalinity, which is what makes your pH stable. Low alkalinity levels will cause your pH to fall through the floor if you add Ca and when the lights go off. Also, when you add buffer, always mix it in FRESHWATER so it dissolves completely and then add it to your sump.

Get a good Alk test kit (I recommend Salifert). SLOWLY raise your alk levels before adding any more Ca to your tank. Only after you achieve a dKH reading of 9-12 would I recommend adding Ca. Unless you have a tank full of stoney corals, you will be fine without Ca for quite awhile, providing you are doing your regular water changes.

Sorry so long. Hope this helps you.

[srgtkoons]

Originally posted by GreenLincoln
<IF> I would recommend stop using the liquid Kent product (I never liked it) and to start using Seachem Reef Builder to raise your carbonate hardness, and Seachem Reef Complete or Reef Builder to build your Ca.

Not to be trivial or anything GL, but its reef complete or reef advantage. And i wouldnt recomend reef complete, (if that is the liquid one) The liquid version is a chelated ion and not biological available, i cant describe the true chemistry behind it but it is sort of in time release capsules, and also when using reef complete and testing with some test kits it gives an innacurate reading. All that Gl said makes sense and is a good idea. I would stick with sea chem reef advantage and reef builder, its what i use with good results.

PS talk ta ya at CB's GL..

[Strangelove]

Thanks for the tips, all.

You're right, I haven't been checking dKH. I've seen it mentioned here but (surprise) the LFS has never mentioned it. Maybe the extra bucks spent on a good Salifert kit will offset the money spent on replacing fish.

[reefhead]

Hi,
What you need to get is a product be ESV called B-ionic, its a 2-part system and buffers both calcium and alkalinity. you must add these chems in the morning while the ph is low (lights must have been of all night)

you can get this stuff pretty cheap online

http://www.reefland.com/cgi-bin/miva...egory_Code=ESV

[GreenLincoln]

It was a typo I didn't fix after I posted...sheesh! I meant to type use Reef Complete or Reef CALCIUM to raise your Ca. Both are non-caustic forms of Ca, but because the Reef Complete is "time release" may be why it is so safe to use without having a direct effect on your pH. Calcium test kits may not show the "unreleased" potential of Reef Complete, just what is currently dissolved in the water (I think).

Anyway, the point is to get away from the Kent product, as I found it to be a very harsh additive, IMHO. And to use a test kit to measure your buffering capacity before you start putting Ca into your system.