calcium dosing

cajonez

cajonez

Member
I bought a calcium test today and found that I am low, about 320. I went back to the LFS and asked what they recommended. The guy sold me Reef Advantage powder over the Kent liquid. Has anyone else used this before? Any ideas why my weekly water changes wouldn't keep my calcium high enough? I change 10% a week.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
I use it and I like it. Lets see what all your test numbers are and do you test Magnesium.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Test the calcium every 3 days and keep track and see what a water change does and how long it takes for the calcium to come down from its top.
I know that 320 is low but it is ok for now. If you really want to control the chemistry you need to know the alk (dkh) also. You want to know that your alk is up on the high side before adding the calcium because it will drop the alk some. Having it high will let you keep things in line. Your water changes I would think keep it all in good order if there is limited things in the system so more info on how long the tank has been up and what is in should help some.
 
cajonez

cajonez

Member
Tank has been up about 6 months. I have a pair of clowns, pair of pajama cardinals, a psuedochromi, watchman goby, pair of skunk cleaners, pistol shrimp, serpent starfish and some hermits n snails. For corals I have a bubble mushroom, zoas, couple palys and just a couple days ago picked up a candy cane and kenya tree.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
I would start by Tracking Calcium, Alkalinity and pH.
Buffer and calcium both need to be mixed till dissolved and added by drip method over 2-4 hours on different days for their effects to work right. And I know that the package reads just mix in water and add it. It is not very safe to do it like that.
 
cajonez

cajonez

Member
I was planning on mixing it with my top off water, would you advise against that?
I am doing a water change tomorrow, I will do a daily test for about a week before I start with the dosing.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
That is a good way. Lets say you need one gallon of top off. Use a half gallon to add the buffer when you need buffer say on Monday and Thursday. Then the other half gallon for calcium on Tuesday and Friday. Just know you need to keep a eye on salinity because you are adding salty top-off water.
It will take some time to figure out how much you will need to add but if you start with one teaspoon in your half-gallon and test before you add to see if you need it you will be close.
 
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