I want to safely rise my calcium level. From my limited knowledge of chemistry, I do know that raising one thing can throw off others, ie: Ph, alkalinity. I have a 46 gallon tank with turbo snails, nassarius snails, a red britttle star, and hermit crabs. I also have added 2 red gorgonia and a hammer coral. My level (calcium) is usually between 350-375 mg/l. My LFS said that "less is better", meaning the less you add the better. I currently use Kent Marine Reactor, 1 tsp per night. Should I add anything else? I also have 45 lbs of live rock. Thanks for your help.
raising calcium level
- Thread starter g. mcclean
- Start date
hello,
if you are raising your calcium you have to keep it relative to your alk. What is your alk at right now? There are many ways to raise calcium you just have to make sure that you dont raise it too much- otherwise you can throw the balance out of whack.
here is a really good article about alk and calcium and all.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
and another:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.htm
hope it helps,
tren
if you are raising your calcium you have to keep it relative to your alk. What is your alk at right now? There are many ways to raise calcium you just have to make sure that you dont raise it too much- otherwise you can throw the balance out of whack.
here is a really good article about alk and calcium and all.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
and another:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.htm
hope it helps,
tren
The article by Randy Holmes-Farley in Advanced Aquarist is fantastic. Because Ca and alkalinity are so intimately tied, two-part additives like ESV b-ionic are very useful for getting yourself into the right range. Keep in ind that you want to move things slowly and sustainably. I have found that it takes weeks of small tweaks to come up with a dosing program that works in the long term. I agree with your LFS that less dosing is better, but your corals and snails are sucking down both Ca and CO3, so they need to be added in the right proportions.
If you have your alkalinity in order and still have trouble getting your Ca level to rise, have a look at your magnesium level. It's difficult to get your Ca level up if your magnesium level is low.
what is your alk ???
what type of buffer are you adding to maintain alk and cal levels ??
is this a rather new tank ??
how are you testing your cal and alk parameters ??
how large of a tank do ya have ??
what type of buffer are you adding to maintain alk and cal levels ??
is this a rather new tank ??
how are you testing your cal and alk parameters ??
how large of a tank do ya have ??
I like the baking soda + CaCl2. Cheap and easy to mix and dissolve.
Pool calcium hardness increaser runs about 7$ for 7 kgs, baking soda is very cheap. I have the kalk also but seldom use it.
CaCL2 will not effect the pH.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Pool calcium hardness increaser runs about 7$ for 7 kgs, baking soda is very cheap. I have the kalk also but seldom use it.
CaCL2 will not effect the pH.
Regards,
Tom Barr