calcium question...

vandj · 07/29/2008, 06:21 PM

hey everyone, i'm new to this forum. started the salt water thing a few years back, no sucess( to young to wait for anything). now i'm giving it another go.

how important is it to test for calcium..... right now i plan on just a few fish and live rock. i would just really like for the coraline algee to take off, and thought that the RO was stripping the water bare.

tank has been cycled for over a month, two damsel fish in it for about a week

Ph =8.2
nitrate=0ppm
ammonia=0ppm
nitrite=0ppm
specific gravity 1.020
temp=79.5

LOTUS50GOD · 07/29/2008, 08:54 PM

To grow coraline you have to have calcium in the range of 400 or higher...

I would raise your specific gravity to 1.025 if you plan on keeping corals. 1.020 is great for a fish only system.

sps1-2-b · 07/30/2008, 12:25 AM

+1 on calcium to be 400 or higher. Also, you may not see coralline until 2-3 mos of consistent levels of ca. And welcome back to saltwater.

flyyyguy · 07/30/2008, 12:57 AM

if you are shooting for lots coralline...calcium alone inst enough. make sure you maintain good levels of alk and good if not slightly elevated levels of mag as well if you really want it to take off

Be careful what you wish for though

vetdog · 07/30/2008, 07:04 AM

while coralline may be important to alot of people you ,ust maintain decent levels of Calcium to acheive growth with your hard/stony corals which I think is more important.

07/29/2008, 06:21 PM	#1
vandj Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: neah bay Posts: 73	calcium question... hey everyone, i'm new to this forum. started the salt water thing a few years back, no sucess( to young to wait for anything). now i'm giving it another go. how important is it to test for calcium..... right now i plan on just a few fish and live rock. i would just really like for the coraline algee to take off, and thought that the RO was stripping the water bare. tank has been cycled for over a month, two damsel fish in it for about a week Ph =8.2 nitrate=0ppm ammonia=0ppm nitrite=0ppm specific gravity 1.020 temp=79.5

07/29/2008, 08:54 PM	#2
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	To grow coraline you have to have calcium in the range of 400 or higher... I would raise your specific gravity to 1.025 if you plan on keeping corals. 1.020 is great for a fish only system. __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

07/30/2008, 12:57 AM	#4
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	if you are shooting for lots coralline...calcium alone inst enough. make sure you maintain good levels of alk and good if not slightly elevated levels of mag as well if you really want it to take off Be careful what you wish for though __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach

07/30/2008, 07:04 AM	#5
vetdog Space cadet Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Huntingtown, MD Posts: 1,400	while coralline may be important to alot of people you ,ust maintain decent levels of Calcium to acheive growth with your hard/stony corals which I think is more important. __________________ Any emotion, if it is sincere, is involuntary. ~Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 300 gallon DD reef tank, RedSea MaxE260

07/30/2008, 12:25 AM	#3
sps1-2-b Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 1,248	+1 on calcium to be 400 or higher. Also, you may not see coralline until 2-3 mos of consistent levels of ca. And welcome back to saltwater.