[Wildcat]

Hello everyone!

My calcium never goes above 300 for some reason. The tank has been setup for about 4 months. I'm adding turbo calcium everyday and kalser also, one drop every second 24/7. Should I also use liquid calcium.

Any ideas that can help me?

Thanks
Wilcat

[eses]

I had a similar problem, still do really in one tank, what helped me was using well over the recommended dosage on the supplement I was using (Kent Tech C/B) and also doing a few frequent water changes with the change water of slightly higher calcium (450-500ppm). It got the calcium up to about 400ppm, and the kalk maintains it there.

You may just not be adding it quickly enough for it to build up, and it may be being leach from the water as quick as your adding it. I have that problem with my 29G, I just gave up and let the calcium sit at 300-350ppm; I was having to add calcium too quickly to maintain 450, more than a liter of kalk a day and it was sending my Ph up.

[Joe]

Check your Magnesium levels. Try to keep your Magnesium up to 1350-1500 ppm.

Joe

[Wildcat]

Should I use liquid Calcium???

[dznuts007]

I dose my tank with calcium by having it in a 1 liter normal saline solution bottle (drained and added saltwater that is isotonic to the tank) and dosed it with a week's worth of liquid calcium. You can get a roll clamp and a drip tube at a hospital or ask a friend in the medical field. If you need help dosing it, just post a question and I'm sure people can help you calculate a drip rate. My calcium levels are always 400 - 500 ppm

[bongobrian]

Just FYI I had very poor results using the kind of liquid calcium that you can buy already mixed in the bottle. I think it was a SeaChem product. I now use SeaChem Reef Advantage for calcium and it works great.

[Joe]

Wildcat,

I notice you are from Fullerton. My wife graduated from Fullerton State.

You have several choices for calcium. The Kent liquid calcium product is nothing more than Kent Turbo calc dissolved in water. The Turbo Calc is much more economical. I have no experience with SeaChem products. Tropic Marin Bio-Calc is a good product and does not need to be dissolved in water. You can sprinkle it right on top of the water. I just throw it in my sump.

Once you get your calcium levels to stabalize by bringing your magnesium levels up you can maintain them by dripping kalkwasser. For what you get at the LFS' that also is kind of pricey. Pickling Lime for a buck a pound works just fine. It is 35% Calcium Carbonate and can be found in the canning section of your grocery store.

HTH

Joe

[Joe]

Wildcat,

Ignore the part about Fullerton, My dislexia is acting up.

Joe

[rededteck]

My calcium is usually 450. The only supplement on my 220 reef is Two Little Fishes C Balance.