best way to raise alk & calc?

pohtr

pohtr

Member
Just got my new chem testers and found out the Alk is 2meq/L and the calcium is only 330 mg/L. I guess that's why Mr. Bubbs (bubble coral) is doing poorly these days.
Questions:
1. How much calcium can you add at one time (I have a 90g)?
2. how much will it take to raise calc a certain amount?
3. What's the best way to raise the Alk, and how fast should that be done?
4. Anything I should know first?
thanks
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
Originally Posted by pohtr
Just got my new chem testers and found out the Alk is 2meq/L and the calcium is only 330 mg/L. I guess that's why Mr. Bubbs (bubble coral) is doing poorly these days.
Questions:
1. How much calcium can you add at one time (I have a 90g)?
2. how much will it take to raise calc a certain amount?
3. What's the best way to raise the Alk, and how fast should that be done?
4. Anything I should know first?
thanks
You need to do a 2 part additive... Ionic A and B is one I think....I use 2 part additive (solution) ..(google it) Lots of people drip Kalk...do a search...as far as how much, you have to do trial and error.
 
copernicus45

copernicus45

Member
yes you want to use a 2 part addative, not just kent liquid calcium, kent sells a 2 part buffer called "Kent Tech A" and also "Tech B".
Like said above dripping kalkwasser will help, but it will only help keep your water paraments stable once you get them up. Kalkwasser can be bought at the LFS, or also at the grocery store labeled as "Pickling lime" Kalkwasser is Calcium Hydroxide.
Also make sure you test your magnesium, if you have low calcium you might also have low magnesium, you can raise that with epsom salt.
What brand of salt are you using, Istant ocean is known to have low Mg levels and therefore low Ca
 
pohtr

pohtr

Member
yes I was using instant ocean but just finished up the last of it. I am starting with Tropic Marine now.
Does anyone have a clue of how much calc to add to go from 330 to 450 or so in a 90g?
Also, the Acq Corals book says o.k. to use baking soda to raise the alk. any opinions? Any idea how much? Going from 2 meg/L to 3.2 or 4.5.
teaspoons? cups? I have no idea and have started on 2 tsp per day each.
opinions?
 
pohtr

pohtr

Member
Thank you! I got it and it was exactly what I needed. Now I have a clue what I'm doing.
If it is only the calc & alk that is off (still need to test magnesium), how long should it take for Bubbs to start improving?
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
Originally Posted by pohtr
Thank you! I got it and it was exactly what I needed. Now I have a clue what I'm doing.
If it is only the calc & alk that is off (still need to test magnesium), how long should it take for Bubbs to start improving?
Once you get the levels up you should see an improvement in all the corals,not just the bubble. But remember..some does depend on the lighting you are running,ph,SG, and ALL the other levels in the tank.
 
gatorwpb

gatorwpb

Active Member
Right before I got my first sps, i tested my alk and calc and found it low too.
B-Ionic is the best stuff. It adds up quickly because you need to dose more of it to actually bring the levels up.
But I switched to a local brand called Natureef and it brings up mag as well as calc which I believe B-Ionic will as well. The only time I tested mag its was in the upper range. With the 2-part Ive gotten alk to 10/3.5 and calc to 480 in my 65.
The coral will probably turn around in a couple weeks.
Gool luck
 
pohtr

pohtr

Member
if I also use Kent essential elements would that possibly lead to overdosing on other chems? Do I need test kits for every element/mineral/whatever? I have the pH, nitrite, ammonia, nitrate, calcium, alkalinity, and of course temp & salinity. Any others I need to have, besides the magnesium?
Btw, Bubbs looks even a little better already & so does the mush.
 
rcbruce

rcbruce

Member
I was having the same problem in my 90 untill I tested for magnisium and found my problem. Since I raised it, (still in the process) I don't have to add additives daily. Plus I finally got lucky and got a good used calcium reactor from a someone being deployed and looking forward to using it!
 
pohtr

pohtr

Member
Mr. Bubbs is looking worse. Please help!
I have added 74 of the 82 tsp liquid calcium that the online calculator said to use and my readings are I think now at 450. The calc test is weird for a non-chemist. I think I was doing it wrong in the first place, when the color changed to purple I thought that was what they meant by blue. (Duh?) This time I kept on going til it turned real blue and now I think I?ve got it right.
Also, as per the Acq corals book I?ve been adding the baking soda gradually and the alk has gone up from 2.o to 2.5.and down to 2.25. The pH however I think has skyrocketed. Another problem with my eyes reading the color scales. It is either at 8.0 or in another light 8.8. I tried using less water to get the color richer and I think it really is at 8.8!!!!
A couple of days ago I did another water change (25%) and was told by the lfs that it would ?reset? the chems. When I checked the pH and mistakenly thought it was 8.0 I added some ?Proper pH 8.2" by Aq pharm.
So now I have a mess. I think my parameters are:
calc 450
pH 8.8!!!!
Alk 2.25meq/L
temp 82.1
Nitrate 0
nitrite 0
ammonia 0
maganesium ? (lfs guy said I didn?t need to know???)
90 gal, low bio load, do you need a list?
 
kirkland

kirkland

Member
Originally Posted by pohtr
Mr. Bubbs is looking worse. Please help!
I have added 74 of the 82 tsp liquid calcium that the online calculator said to use and my readings are I think now at 450. The calc test is weird for a non-chemist. I think I was doing it wrong in the first place, when the color changed to purple I thought that was what they meant by blue. (Duh?) This time I kept on going til it turned real blue and now I think I?ve got it right.
I think we have the same calcium test as I have the same dilemma. It's a marineland brand of calcium test. The solution is pinkish, and as the drops go in it eventually turns purple before it finally turns blue. Instructions say to measure calcium when it's blue but the color change to purple is quite dramatic. Hopefully someone on here can enlighten us!
 
pohtr

pohtr

Member
I'm very worried about Mr. Bubbs now. The calc might be o.k. but I cannot seem able to read the pH. I've had 3 other people looking at the colors to help out and they look different all the time. Depends on whether the vial touches the paper and the lighting.
He is looking worse every day so I'm going to start another thread for HIM because I think the title on this thread must be boring.
Thanks
 
ifirefight

ifirefight

Active Member
Originally Posted by pohtr
I'm very worried about Mr. Bubbs now. The calc might be o.k. but I cannot seem able to read the pH. I've had 3 other people looking at the colors to help out and they look different all the time. Depends on whether the vial touches the paper and the lighting.
He is looking worse every day so I'm going to start another thread for HIM because I think the title on this thread must be boring.
Thanks
Your Alk is a hair lower than it should be and if your PH is that high....well you know thats a problem. My question is...why is there so much fluctuation in the levels in your tank??? You are doing something to throw the values off. Water changes will bring the levels back to accepteble levels. Then find out the reason you have flucuations. I think you are over dosing. Only dose for what you can check. Usually people only dose ALK and Calcium....thats it.....2 part additive or kalk or other assorted additives.
 
pohtr

pohtr

Member
thanks for your help and I just started a new thread for him. I know I'm not doing something right, for sure!
 
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