Calcium supplementation

sparsons · 11/20/2010, 08:29 AM

So I've had my tank running for 6 months now. Mixed reef, 120 gal. I am a little confused because I thought I would have to be adding calcium, or looking into calcium reactor, etc. However, my calcium levels have never been low (470-490 range) - test with Salifert kit. So, I have never added any calcium to my tank. Is this unusual? I do 10% weekly water changes, using Oceanic Sea Salt, and the package says it contains high calcium levels - is that why I never have to add Cal. ? Should I expect it to plummet one day? I do have corals and 2 small clams, so I assume they are pulling calcium out of the water.

thanks.

rcoughtrey · 11/20/2010, 08:33 AM

I was the same until I started to add more more SPS corals then slowly overtime saw that value start to drop.

Just keep testing I say. How old is the test kit would be my other question. Maybe take a sample in to the LFS to be sure its not a bad tester

sparsons · 11/20/2010, 08:44 AM

thanks - I bought the test kit 6 months ago when I started - there is a sticker on the top of the box that says 01-2015. I assume that is the expiration?

Are there others out there who never have to add calcium? Is it just because my tank is only 6 months old?

dixiedog · 11/20/2010, 09:00 AM

I'd say enjoy the honeymoon.

My tank was about a year and a half old before I had to start dosing. Like you, I kept wondering because I had more and more SPS in there ... finally one day I added one really big frag and a clam on the same day (my tank is a 29 gal) and the alk/ca started dropping.

BTW, Oceanic does have very high Ca but typically pretty low alk. Are you staying on top of that one?

sparsons · 11/20/2010, 11:23 AM

Thanks for the reply.
I'll check my alk today - usually it is 9 -10 dkH (3.4 mEq/L) but I haven't checked it for 3 or 4 weeks.

Sk8r · 11/20/2010, 05:27 PM

One day they'll all start growing like crazy: I think they conspire and all do it at once. Mine went from half a teaspoon once a week to 2 heaping teaspoons a day.

But yes, Oceanic is high calcium: it's what I use.

11/20/2010, 08:29 AM	#1
sparsons Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Provo, UT Posts: 28	Calcium supplementation So I've had my tank running for 6 months now. Mixed reef, 120 gal. I am a little confused because I thought I would have to be adding calcium, or looking into calcium reactor, etc. However, my calcium levels have never been low (470-490 range) - test with Salifert kit. So, I have never added any calcium to my tank. Is this unusual? I do 10% weekly water changes, using Oceanic Sea Salt, and the package says it contains high calcium levels - is that why I never have to add Cal. ? Should I expect it to plummet one day? I do have corals and 2 small clams, so I assume they are pulling calcium out of the water. thanks.

11/20/2010, 05:27 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	One day they'll all start growing like crazy: I think they conspire and all do it at once. Mine went from half a teaspoon once a week to 2 heaping teaspoons a day. But yes, Oceanic is high calcium: it's what I use. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

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11/20/2010, 08:33 AM	#2
rcoughtrey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Noblesville, IN Posts: 168	I was the same until I started to add more more SPS corals then slowly overtime saw that value start to drop. Just keep testing I say. How old is the test kit would be my other question. Maybe take a sample in to the LFS to be sure its not a bad tester

11/20/2010, 08:44 AM	#3
sparsons Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Provo, UT Posts: 28	thanks - I bought the test kit 6 months ago when I started - there is a sticker on the top of the box that says 01-2015. I assume that is the expiration? Are there others out there who never have to add calcium? Is it just because my tank is only 6 months old?

11/20/2010, 09:00 AM	#4
dixiedog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gainesville, Florida Posts: 1,626	I'd say enjoy the honeymoon. My tank was about a year and a half old before I had to start dosing. Like you, I kept wondering because I had more and more SPS in there ... finally one day I added one really big frag and a clam on the same day (my tank is a 29 gal) and the alk/ca started dropping. BTW, Oceanic does have very high Ca but typically pretty low alk. Are you staying on top of that one?

11/20/2010, 11:23 AM	#5
sparsons Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Provo, UT Posts: 28	Thanks for the reply. I'll check my alk today - usually it is 9 -10 dkH (3.4 mEq/L) but I haven't checked it for 3 or 4 weeks.