Calcium question

t5Nitro · 11/21/2006, 04:55 PM

I haven't dosed calcium buffer to my tank in maybe around 2 weeks, the calcium has been staying the same around 450-465 ppm. I am at the end of my calcium test supplies, the first ones I ever bought, which was around 3 months ago. Is this expired? One thing though, I was running out so I got another test kit, same kind and I used it once because it seemed odd it never fell, I tested with the new one maybe a week or 2 weeks ago, should I check it again with the new one? I have a clam and 2 frag SPS corals that would use the calcium, along with the snail/crab shells I suppose. I just don't know how it can go that long without putting anything in, but it has to be right because coraline on the back wall seems to be getting more and more. If I have a tank that recycles its own calcium YAY!!! lol

Thanks for any information.

bertoni · 11/21/2006, 05:06 PM

What is the alkalinity level in the tank? Calcium won't be consumed if alkalinity is low. Also, the consumption of calcium might be fairly low, within the noise range of the test kit.

This article might help understanding the various methods of calcium-alkalinity supplementation:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

t5Nitro · 11/21/2006, 05:30 PM

Alk has always been the same, I have dKh buffer but have never needed to use it yet.

11/21/2006, 04:55 PM	#1
t5Nitro Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,384	Calcium question I haven't dosed calcium buffer to my tank in maybe around 2 weeks, the calcium has been staying the same around 450-465 ppm. I am at the end of my calcium test supplies, the first ones I ever bought, which was around 3 months ago. Is this expired? One thing though, I was running out so I got another test kit, same kind and I used it once because it seemed odd it never fell, I tested with the new one maybe a week or 2 weeks ago, should I check it again with the new one? I have a clam and 2 frag SPS corals that would use the calcium, along with the snail/crab shells I suppose. I just don't know how it can go that long without putting anything in, but it has to be right because coraline on the back wall seems to be getting more and more. If I have a tank that recycles its own calcium YAY!!! lol Thanks for any information.

11/21/2006, 05:06 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	What is the alkalinity level in the tank? Calcium won't be consumed if alkalinity is low. Also, the consumption of calcium might be fairly low, within the noise range of the test kit. This article might help understanding the various methods of calcium-alkalinity supplementation: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/21/2006, 05:30 PM	#3
t5Nitro Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,384	Alk has always been the same, I have dKh buffer but have never needed to use it yet. __________________ ATI T5 club Current Tank Info: Left the hobby, looking to re-enter in the future