Can't get calcium up

BizMike · 02/04/2010, 11:53 AM

I have a 55 gal with some LPS and SPS frags, no sump. When I first started checking alkalinity and calcium, they were at 5.5 and 360. Since then, I've been regularly dosing both. My alkalinity is up to 9 - 9.5, but I can't get my calcium up past 380. I've been dosing 5 ml of Kent calcium supplement every day by slowly adding it at the outlet of a powerhead (about 15 seconds for 5 ml).

Is there some other trick to dosing calcium that I should know? Should I turn my skimmer off or something like that?

Korrine · 02/04/2010, 11:57 AM

What is your magnesium? PH, Alk, Calc are tied to mag also.

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between
Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH By Randy Holmes Farley
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php

thegrun · 02/04/2010, 12:00 PM

What is your Mg level? You can't raise your Ca levels if your Mg levels are low (they need to be 3x your Ca level). Low Mg is the likely problem. Shoot for a 1350 Mg level.

Gary Majchrzak · 02/04/2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BizMike

I've been dosing 5 ml of Kent calcium supplement every day

any reason why you haven't upped the daily dosage of Ca supplement?

perhaps it's time to start dosing 10ml Ca per day.
(Don't forget to balance the alkalinity as well!)

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/04/2010, 02:36 PM

I agree, you are just not dosing enough to make a big one time boost to calcium.

Use this calculator to see how much you need:

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

cveverly · 02/04/2010, 02:48 PM

I agree with the others. Bring your calcium up by increasing your supplement dosage. You will not need to add equal amounts of alk and Ca until you get the levels where you want them.

I also agree mag plays a part in this balancing act.

BizMike · 02/04/2010, 03:11 PM

Thanks. I currently don't have a way to test Mg (my LFS told me that Alk and Calcium are more important and that Mg is kind of an after thought). I'll put a Mg test kit on my shopping list.

The reason I haven't upped the dosage is that I'm leary of any sudden chemical changes in my tank. Is it really safe for livestock to dump a bunch of Calcium in at once?

Texxxx · 02/04/2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BizMike

my LFS told me

Not always words of wisdom!

+1 on check Mag and up calcium

XtremeFromHell · 02/04/2010, 03:36 PM

when my calcium was low i used seachem's reef complete to raise it, i had to put in 2 capfuls on my 29gallon/10 gallon sump, 2 times a week, and it raised it pretty quickly, mine was at 380, i stopped at 400 and i just started dosing purple up daily and maintain it at 400-420, after i run out of purple up i think i may go with kalk

cveverly · 02/04/2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BizMike

The reason I haven't upped the dosage is that I'm leary of any sudden chemical changes in my tank. Is it really safe for livestock to dump a bunch of Calcium in at once?

You can dose calcium and magnesium pretty heavy. Use the calculator Randy pointed out and dose it over a couple days. Alk is a different story, it should be dosed slowly.

boodlefish · 02/04/2010, 05:23 PM

FWIW 380 is still NSW and nothing to get too worried about. corals seem to grow a little faster at elevated levels of Cal but that's it. nothing to break your back trying to achieve.

railroader46 · 02/04/2010, 05:29 PM

calcium is directly related to mag and alk as others have mentioned. Once your mag reaches around 1300 your calcium will follow. And will be more stable.

bertoni · 02/04/2010, 06:47 PM

Dosing magnesium won't raise the calcium level, and it's very, very rare that a tank has a magnesium level low enough to cause trouble.

I agree that the dosage will have to be a lot larger to help.

BizMike · 02/04/2010, 08:24 PM

I guess that explains it.
I used the calculator Randy pointed out - it says I need 120 ml to get my Ca up to 450.
My 5 ml/day wasn't even making a dent.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/05/2010, 05:49 AM

i just started dosing purple up daily and maintain it at 400-420, after i run out of purple up i think i may go with kalk

I think that's a good plan. The main ingredient in Purple Up, the fine aragonite, is wasted since it does not dissolve in seawater, but it does have the potential to lead to false high calcium and alkalinity readings if any of the fine solids are still suspended in the water that you test.

02/04/2010, 11:53 AM	#1
BizMike Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dumfries, VA Posts: 46	Can't get calcium up I have a 55 gal with some LPS and SPS frags, no sump. When I first started checking alkalinity and calcium, they were at 5.5 and 360. Since then, I've been regularly dosing both. My alkalinity is up to 9 - 9.5, but I can't get my calcium up past 380. I've been dosing 5 ml of Kent calcium supplement every day by slowly adding it at the outlet of a powerhead (about 15 seconds for 5 ml). Is there some other trick to dosing calcium that I should know? Should I turn my skimmer off or something like that?

02/04/2010, 11:57 AM	#2
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	What is your magnesium? PH, Alk, Calc are tied to mag also. A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH By Randy Holmes Farley http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

02/04/2010, 02:36 PM	#5
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I agree, you are just not dosing enough to make a big one time boost to calcium. Use this calculator to see how much you need: Reef chemicals calculator http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/04/2010, 05:23 PM	#11
boodlefish Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Seal Beach Posts: 971	FWIW 380 is still NSW and nothing to get too worried about. corals seem to grow a little faster at elevated levels of Cal but that's it. nothing to break your back trying to achieve. __________________ Tucker SCRK Member Current Tank Info: 100 Gal Rimless and Shallow, T5 8x PM, BK 200 mini, 2x Mp40w, BSR 2 part, Aquatronica controlled and dosed

02/04/2010, 06:47 PM	#13
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Dosing magnesium won't raise the calcium level, and it's very, very rare that a tank has a magnesium level low enough to cause trouble. I agree that the dosage will have to be a lot larger to help. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/04/2010, 12:00 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	What is your Mg level? You can't raise your Ca levels if your Mg levels are low (they need to be 3x your Ca level). Low Mg is the likely problem. Shoot for a 1350 Mg level.

02/04/2010, 02:48 PM	#6
cveverly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port Clinton, Oh Posts: 1,470	I agree with the others. Bring your calcium up by increasing your supplement dosage. You will not need to add equal amounts of alk and Ca until you get the levels where you want them. I also agree mag plays a part in this balancing act.

02/04/2010, 03:11 PM	#7
BizMike Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dumfries, VA Posts: 46	Thanks. I currently don't have a way to test Mg (my LFS told me that Alk and Calcium are more important and that Mg is kind of an after thought). I'll put a Mg test kit on my shopping list. The reason I haven't upped the dosage is that I'm leary of any sudden chemical changes in my tank. Is it really safe for livestock to dump a bunch of Calcium in at once?

02/04/2010, 03:36 PM	#9
XtremeFromHell Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Miami, FL (hialeah area) Posts: 735	when my calcium was low i used seachem's reef complete to raise it, i had to put in 2 capfuls on my 29gallon/10 gallon sump, 2 times a week, and it raised it pretty quickly, mine was at 380, i stopped at 400 and i just started dosing purple up daily and maintain it at 400-420, after i run out of purple up i think i may go with kalk

02/04/2010, 05:29 PM	#12
railroader46 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: kentucky Posts: 40	calcium is directly related to mag and alk as others have mentioned. Once your mag reaches around 1300 your calcium will follow. And will be more stable.

02/04/2010, 08:24 PM	#14
BizMike Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dumfries, VA Posts: 46	I guess that explains it. I used the calculator Randy pointed out - it says I need 120 ml to get my Ca up to 450. My 5 ml/day wasn't even making a dent.

02/05/2010, 05:49 AM	#15
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	i just started dosing purple up daily and maintain it at 400-420, after i run out of purple up i think i may go with kalk I think that's a good plan. The main ingredient in Purple Up, the fine aragonite, is wasted since it does not dissolve in seawater, but it does have the potential to lead to false high calcium and alkalinity readings if any of the fine solids are still suspended in the water that you test. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef