need help RAISING CALCIUM LEVEL!!

[whalloper]

Hello,

I added a few small sps colonies (acro and stylo) a couple weeks ago and I guess I didnt realize how much calcium they would consume.

I use Oceanic salt, so I NEVER had low calcium in the past - always at least 450ppm. However, my blue monti started showing less than usual polyp extension, so I checked everything and my calcium was 250ppm!! alk - 9.5dkh, nitrates/phosphates - 0, ph 8.4.

I have never had to add calcium in any great amount, so all I have in the house is Seachem's Reef Complete, which raises calcium and "maintains" magnesium and strontium.

So, my question is, over what time span can I raise my calcium level 150ppm (from 250 to 400+), and what would be a better method (other than a reactor)? 2-part? Kalk?

[RichConley]

I'd retest. Thats extremely low.

Also, your ALK is fine, so you dont want to dose kalk yet. I'm not sure what chemical is in Seachem's reef complete, but if its a calcium chloride based thing, I'd say take about 2 weeks to bring the calcium up. When you get to a point where your Alk and Ca are about in balance (Even like 350ppm/7dkh) then stop using the seachem stuff and start dosing kalk (its both Ca and Alk)

[Craig Lambert]

Are you sure the test kit is accurate? I would recommend Salifert.
If you are sure the reading is accurate then do the following:

First measure your magnesium level. It should be in the 1250-1350 range. If it isn't it will interfer with your attempt to raise calcium. For a one time shot at raising calcium by 150ppm I would use Calcium Chloride. (Kent's Turbo Calcium works well). I would raise it 50ppm at a time. (3 doses over a period of a week).

Here is a calculator that will tell you how much to use:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

[whalloper]

well, of course I cant be 100% sure the kit is accurate. It always seemed to be correct in the past and I just used it about 2 weeks ago when I added the new corals with a 450ppm reading. It is Red Sea which isnt the best I know, but like I said I didnt worry much about it in the past, so that was a sufficient brand.

If it isnt 100% accurate, would you at least agree my calcium, is still most likely very low? I just dont see how it could read 450 2 weeks ago and all of a sudden become totally wrong and read 250.

[whalloper]

oh, and I tested last night twice, and this morning twice - all the same reading.

[whiteshark]

Like Craig Lambert said, check your magnesium level. If it is not correct (1250-1400 or so) you will not be able to raise Ca, no matter how much you put in.

[Craig Lambert]

"I just dont see how it could read 450 2 weeks ago and all of a sudden become totally wrong and read 250."

That's why I would question the test kit. I think you would be wise to retest with a Salifert kit before dosing anything.

[ONEMANBAND]

Do a waterchange and test , see if you still get the 250 reading if so your test kit needs replacement. Dont do anything drastic till you know if the 250 reading is correct.

[RichConley]

Originally posted by Craig Lambert
"I just dont see how it could read 450 2 weeks ago and all of a sudden become totally wrong and read 250."

That's why I would question the test kit. I think you would be wise to retest with a Salifert kit before dosing anything.

Or if you're strapped for cash, go down to the LFS with a sample. They will usually test it for you. If their number is way different than yours, but the salifert kit (Theyre the best, IMO)

[SDguy]

Originally posted by ONEMANBAND
Do a waterchange and test , see if you still get the 250 reading if so your test kit needs replacement. Dont do anything drastic till you know if the 250 reading is correct.

And test your NSW...it should obviousy be in the 400 range (Depending on salt brand) for Ca.

[whalloper]

thanks for all your help everyone!!

I tested my newly mixed saltwater and its plenty high on my test kit (somewhere between 450-500ppm - Oceanic salt). I have a feeling the kit is correct. I was never used to dosing calcium, only carbonate because of the fact that I use Oceanic salt. I dont have a Mg test kit, but guess I will be buying one of those!

I even noticed my coralline looked a little dull in areas a few days ago but thought I was just seeing things. One of my neon acros also looked a little dull (although showing normal polyp extension). Is it true low calcium can affect coloration? Phosphates are in check.

I started dripping calcium about 3-4 hours ago and the blue monti, which was my tip-off something was wrong, is already extending its polyps much more than it has in a week.

[mbbuna]

if your adding CaCl2 you can add it all at once ,you dont need to spread it out over a week or two.

[whalloper]

any thoughts on CaCl2? Also, is there an explaination somewhere of all the different calcium combinations used? I hear of so many - gluconate, acetate, carbonate, bicarbonate and others Im sure. I am almost finished Organic Chem II and I dont get it!

[SDguy]

Originally posted by whalloper
any thoughts on CaCl2? Also, is there an explaination somewhere of all the different calcium combinations used? I hear of so many - gluconate, acetate, carbonate, bicarbonate and others Im sure. I am almost finished Organic Chem II and I dont get it!

Check out Randy's Chem forum...tons of great info...from simple to complex.

[mbbuna]

CaCl2 is what Turbo calicum is.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

[jdieck]

Originally posted by whalloper
any thoughts on CaCl2? Also, is there an explaination somewhere of all the different calcium combinations used? I hear of so many - gluconate, acetate, carbonate, bicarbonate and others Im sure. I am almost finished Organic Chem II and I dont get it!

There are different chamicals that hen added to the aquarium will release Calcium Ions which is what you are ultimately looking for but you have to be careful with the by products.
Calcium Gluconate can also be used for maintaining levels (Seachem has a supplement based on that) the issue is that if used for adjusting levels which require larger amounts the released guconates which feed bacteria may create a bacterial bloom given the added on excess of nutrient.
Calcium Chloride has become one of the most popular given its relative safety and easy of dosification and it is absolutely my best recomendation when adjusting Calcium levels (not just maintaining). Note that the remining chloride may create a slight unbalance of the cloride ions in the sea water but if at the same time you use Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) to adjust or maintain Alkalinity, the sodium part of the bicarbonate will help rebalance the chloride to the original sea water sodium and chloride balance. If on to of this you also make regular water changes then Calcium Chloride and Baking Soda are one of the best combinations for Calcium and Alkalinity adjustments.
OF course using Calcium chloride and baking soda allow the flexibility to make independent adjustments but for level maintenance you may want to look for something that add both in a blanced way.
By balanced I mean that for every one meq/lt of alkalinity consumed there will be 20 ppm of calcium consumed so a balanced additive shall add both in the same proportion. Balanced additives are lime (Kalk) water and a calcium carbonate/CO2 reactor or many of the comercially available two part additives.
I do not recomend Kalk or a Calcium reactor to increase levels. The first one given the significant potential for PH increase and the second one given the difficulty to re set at different levles if you keep messing with the adjustments.

For more info go to the chemistry forum and take a look at the excellent articles posted in a sticky thread.