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04/26/2006, 05:46 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Flint, Michigan
Posts: 3
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Increasing Calcium levels
I have a 90 gal tank with a prism pro deluxe skimmer and 2 tunze power heads. I have a few corals and fish. I have tried to increase my calcium levels for over a month now and just seem to not get over 260 ppm. I am adding a two part additive and kalkwasser almost daily.
Will purchasing a calcium reactor increase my calcium level to 400 ppm? Or is there another step or process I need to learn about? Thanks RonnieJ |
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04/26/2006, 06:13 PM
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#2 |
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Premium Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 1,108
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Here is a link to a great article explaining how to solve Calcium and Alkalinity problems: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
Thanks, Scott
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Proud Member Idaho Marine Aquarium Society A fair and biased reef hobbyist. "If I were going to set up a tank, and I am going to make some people mad here, I would use VHOs" Dana Riddle 3/2/2007 Current Tank Info: Brand new 150 gallon tall Reef trying Bonsai method, 60 gallon soft coral tank (not GARF style). |
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04/26/2006, 06:28 PM
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#3 |
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RC Mod
 Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
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You should be able to add the calcium part of the additive. This calculator should help with quantity:
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html If that doesn't help, you might have a magnesium problem, but most likely you just need to add more supplement. Daily dosing is normal, that's what I have to do. I use limewater as autotopoff to keep up with demand.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
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04/26/2006, 07:06 PM
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#4 |
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Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phila area (Newtown)
Posts: 1,572
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Ca reactors are good at maintaining ca at 400-450. All you need to do is add calcium chloride. You can use ice melt, it is calcium chloride, if you are afraid use a pet store ca cl. Kalk is good for alkalinity and keeping the ph up but not great at keeping ca up. In my system I have a kalk and ca reactor.
good luck!
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Always looking to trade a frag. Current Tank Info: 400 gal reef, 2 darts, 1 hammerhead, 3 jebao wp 60, 125gal sump, Revolution kz skimmer, 6 400 watt radium, actinic flourescent, 50 X turnover, Zeovit |
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04/26/2006, 07:41 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Columbus, IN
Posts: 898
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If you only have a few corals I doubt they are consuming that much calcium. Dosing the two part additive once a week is all that is necessary. I almost guarantee your magnesum level is low.
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04/26/2006, 11:11 PM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 279
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If you add calcium sup and kalk. at the same time or even
within a short time of each other they will cancel each other out. You will not get a raise in cal. or alk. It might be best to test for cal. than add sup. wait a few hrs test add cal sup. wait test till its where you want. To much cal. will lower your alk. its a fine line to bal. both. dbr |
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04/26/2006, 11:14 PM
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#7 |
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RC Mod
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
Posts: 88,616
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Actually, most calcium and alkalinity supplements can be added together if you're careful, and the 2-part supplements are designed to be added together. I dose them that way regularly.
Limewater adds calcium and alkalinity at the same ratio that corals consume them, so it's a great additive. Raising alkalinity and Ca using it can be difficult because of the pH effect of limewater. Ca reactors run on calcium carbonate, not calcium chloride, and can supply a lot of calcium and alkalinity to a system. Tanks with very high Ca demands often need a reactor. Most likely, your tank doesn't require one yet. This article might help: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
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Jonathan Bertoni |
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