Calcium in a softies tank

maroun.c · 12/18/2007, 05:52 AM

I was wondering that I never add any calcium to the tank and rarely do water changes over the last 2 years and my calcium never went below 450 (double checked it on 2 different kits last time I checked)
Doesn't the softies consume any Calcium?
So any of you add caclium to their softies only or softies with LPS maybe?
do you think I shouldi nvest in a calcium reactor for my coming tank or just dose if it goes below 400?
Tanks for your help

boxfishpooalot · 12/18/2007, 06:14 AM

Yes they do but its not at the consumtion rate of sps corals. They use it for their sclerites.

A sclerite (Greek skleros meaning "hard") is a hardened body part. The term is used in various branches of biology for various structures including hardened portions of sponges, but it is most commonly used for the hardened portions of arthropod exoskeletons.

m2434 · 12/18/2007, 07:21 AM

I would also check your alk. Some softies actually seem to be surprisingly sensitive to low alkalinity.

maroun.c · 12/18/2007, 11:41 PM

thanks for the info

davidryder · 12/19/2007, 05:45 AM

I would recommend, if anything, dosing kalkwasser (pickling lime). It will make your coralline algae growth explode. You shouldn't really have any need for a CaRx unless you were running a heavily stocked SPS tank. If you aren't dosing Mg, Ca, or Alk, you should at least do regular water changes to try to help keep everything balanced. Mg depletes over time and can cause some softies to 'melt' away - finger leathers are good at that.

12/18/2007, 05:52 AM	#1
maroun.c Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,111	Calcium in a softies tank I was wondering that I never add any calcium to the tank and rarely do water changes over the last 2 years and my calcium never went below 450 (double checked it on 2 different kits last time I checked) Doesn't the softies consume any Calcium? So any of you add caclium to their softies only or softies with LPS maybe? do you think I shouldi nvest in a calcium reactor for my coming tank or just dose if it goes below 400? Tanks for your help

12/18/2007, 06:14 AM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	Yes they do but its not at the consumtion rate of sps corals. They use it for their sclerites. A sclerite (Greek skleros meaning "hard") is a hardened body part. The term is used in various branches of biology for various structures including hardened portions of sponges, but it is most commonly used for the hardened portions of arthropod exoskeletons. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

12/18/2007, 07:21 AM	#3
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	I would also check your alk. Some softies actually seem to be surprisingly sensitive to low alkalinity. __________________ Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. ~Richard Feynman

12/18/2007, 11:41 PM	#4
maroun.c Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,111	thanks for the info __________________ 390 G mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 390G mixed reef

12/19/2007, 05:45 AM	#5
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	I would recommend, if anything, dosing kalkwasser (pickling lime). It will make your coralline algae growth explode. You shouldn't really have any need for a CaRx unless you were running a heavily stocked SPS tank. If you aren't dosing Mg, Ca, or Alk, you should at least do regular water changes to try to help keep everything balanced. Mg depletes over time and can cause some softies to 'melt' away - finger leathers are good at that. __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)