How often to dose calcium

CR_Fishfan · 03/03/2008, 11:16 PM

I have a 90gal tank and any input on how often to add calcium would be much appreciated. I have had my tank for almost a year now and i very little coarlline algae. My main concern is by increasing the calcium would that also raise the Alkalinity?When should I add calcium, once a week?

Toddrtrex · 03/03/2008, 11:19 PM

To Reef Central

Hard to answer actually. Depends on what your current calcium and alkalinity are at, and how quickly they are used up in your tank. The best way to determine that is to test your water and see where you are at. I use a two part ( one part cal, the other alk ) for my tank I does 5 capfulls of each every night. But, my tank is heavy SPS, and uses it up a lot.

Odds are you are going to have to dose both at the same time to keep them in check. Shoot for around 400-450 for cal and 8-9 ( 3 ) for Alk.

CR_Fishfan · 03/03/2008, 11:34 PM

do you use B-Ionic? thats the 2 part system i have, but i have no coral at all, i just got through a cyano epidemic a few months back and the few i had i lost.

Toddrtrex · 03/03/2008, 11:37 PM

I actually use C-Balance, but pretty much the same thing as B-Ionic. If you don't have any corals there really isn't a need. But, if you want coralline algae you might have too. Though, depending on what salt you are using water changes should be able to keep your levels in check.

kau_cinta_ku · 03/03/2008, 11:41 PM

i agree just test for cal. and alk. and dose accordinly dosing cal. is not gonna raise your alk. actually having you cal. to high will lower your alk. also test for mag. those 3 items go together.

if mag is to low it is hard to keep alk. and cal. in balance.

MCary · 03/03/2008, 11:57 PM

I use a reactor but this is my method and it should work fine for dosing too.

First, if calcium is a concern, use a reef salt. Reef crystals over IO for example. Then raise you calcium to the desired level with a calcium supplement. Suppose you decide 420 is good. Now measure calcium usage. Test daily or weekly and see what the level is. If it drops to 400 in a week, then your using 20ppm/week. Measure what it takes to bring it back up to 420 and Bob's you uncle, you have the amount to dose.

IslandCrow · 03/04/2008, 01:19 AM

If you don't have any corals, once a week should be plenty. Personally, I wouldn't waste my money. Kalkwasser or as MCary said, a reef salt (like Reef Crystals) would be a more cost effective option and should have no problem meeting your tank's calcium/alkalinity demand.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/04/2008, 07:32 AM

I have a 90gal tank and any input on how often to add calcium would be much appreciated. I have had my tank for almost a year now and i very little coarlline algae. My main concern is by increasing the calcium would that also raise the Alkalinity?

Have you measured alkalinity? Is there a reason you do not want to supplement it?

If you calcium is low, say do to using a low calcium salt mix, then you should not use both parts of the two part to boost calcium. You need calcium chloride, or just the calcium part of the two part (which is not better and is much more expensive).

CR_Fishfan · 03/05/2008, 12:32 AM

Hey thanks for your input, i'll give it a shot and see if that get me the coarlline algae

03/03/2008, 11:16 PM	#1
CR_Fishfan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: usa, so cal Posts: 5	How often to dose calcium I have a 90gal tank and any input on how often to add calcium would be much appreciated. I have had my tank for almost a year now and i very little coarlline algae. My main concern is by increasing the calcium would that also raise the Alkalinity?When should I add calcium, once a week?

03/03/2008, 11:19 PM	#2
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	*To Reef Central* Hard to answer actually. Depends on what your current calcium and alkalinity are at, and how quickly they are used up in your tank. The best way to determine that is to test your water and see where you are at. I use a two part ( one part cal, the other alk ) for my tank I does 5 capfulls of each every night. But, my tank is heavy SPS, and uses it up a lot. Odds are you are going to have to dose both at the same time to keep them in check. Shoot for around 400-450 for cal and 8-9 ( 3 ) for Alk. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

03/03/2008, 11:37 PM	#4
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I actually use C-Balance, but pretty much the same thing as B-Ionic. If you don't have any corals there really isn't a need. But, if you want coralline algae you might have too. Though, depending on what salt you are using water changes should be able to keep your levels in check. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

03/04/2008, 01:19 AM	#7
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	If you don't have any corals, once a week should be plenty. Personally, I wouldn't waste my money. Kalkwasser or as MCary said, a reef salt (like Reef Crystals) would be a more cost effective option and should have no problem meeting your tank's calcium/alkalinity demand. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

03/04/2008, 07:32 AM	#8
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I have a 90gal tank and any input on how often to add calcium would be much appreciated. I have had my tank for almost a year now and i very little coarlline algae. My main concern is by increasing the calcium would that also raise the Alkalinity? Have you measured alkalinity? Is there a reason you do not want to supplement it? If you calcium is low, say do to using a low calcium salt mix, then you should not use both parts of the two part to boost calcium. You need calcium chloride, or just the calcium part of the two part (which is not better and is much more expensive). __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/03/2008, 11:34 PM	#3
CR_Fishfan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: usa, so cal Posts: 5	do you use B-Ionic? thats the 2 part system i have, but i have no coral at all, i just got through a cyano epidemic a few months back and the few i had i lost.

03/03/2008, 11:41 PM	#5
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	i agree just test for cal. and alk. and dose accordinly dosing cal. is not gonna raise your alk. actually having you cal. to high will lower your alk. also test for mag. those 3 items go together. if mag is to low it is hard to keep alk. and cal. in balance.

03/03/2008, 11:57 PM	#6
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	I use a reactor but this is my method and it should work fine for dosing too. First, if calcium is a concern, use a reef salt. Reef crystals over IO for example. Then raise you calcium to the desired level with a calcium supplement. Suppose you decide 420 is good. Now measure calcium usage. Test daily or weekly and see what the level is. If it drops to 400 in a week, then your using 20ppm/week. Measure what it takes to bring it back up to 420 and Bob's you uncle, you have the amount to dose.

03/05/2008, 12:32 AM	#9
CR_Fishfan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: usa, so cal Posts: 5	Hey thanks for your input, i'll give it a shot and see if that get me the coarlline algae