Calcium not cooperating

6stokes

6stokes

Member
I'm trying to figure out whay I can't raise my calcium above 400.
PH- 8.2 to 8.4
Spec grav. 1.024
Temp. 79 to 80
Trites 0
Trates 5
Ammonia 0
Phos 0
Total alk 4.5
Borate alk .1
Carbonate alk 4.4
Mag. 1250
I have a very light load IMO.
135 gal with:
4 feather dusters
1 coco duster
2 toadstool leathers
1 bubble coral
small cluster of zoos
small cluster of yellow polyps
2 very small patches of ricordia
1 finger leather
2 patches of sawblade caulerpa
<10 scarlet hermits
<10 various types of snails
Argonite DSB
Live rock entire length of tank
I wont list fish unless someone thinks I should. Tank is 7 months old. I've been dosing kalk (as top off water) for a couple of months at about 1 1/2 tsp per gallon. Evaporation is about 2 gallons a day. What did I forget?
I've been trying to use Kents liquid calcium reactor to raise the levels all the while continuing to use the kalk. It seems I'm waisting my money because it doesn't affect the levels what so ever.
Should I go ahead and use 2 tsp of kalk per gallon? Seems I should be able to get my levels up without the kalk since kalk is supposed to maintain your levels.
I'm at a loss. Someone have some advice?:thinking:
 
flatzboy

flatzboy

Active Member
Test your alklinity and post the results also I would switch to b-ionic because just adding calcium will usually make your alklinity go out of wack.
 
flatzboy

flatzboy

Active Member
It seems low to IMO. I would try to raise it to around 8 is were I like to try tomaintain mine. I would start dosing b-ionic. Also test your ph,alk, and calcium every couple of days till you find out about how much b-ionic you need to dose. Start off with the recomended amount of the bottle then due test every few days and figure out if you need more or less. Also I would go to the sticky at the top informational threads and go to the one about cal-alk-ph and read the entire thing a few times till you understand cal-alk-ph and how they interact wiith each other.
 
shnookums

shnookums

Member
I use AquaChem Pool calcium in my tank, instant results, I suggest 1 tablespoon for your tank, you are going thru a balance issue with alkalinity and ph and calcium, until your alk is between 7-9, you will have ph and calcium bounce.
 
6stokes

6stokes

Member
Okay guys. Take a look again at what I posted. You are both talking about dkh. My dkh is 9, which is good. Nothing is out of balance except for the calcium. Also the magnesium is posted and normal.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
To me your levels and your additives seem normal....a calcium of 400 isn't that bad. What calcium level are you shooting for? I'd also be curious about what test kit you use to measure your calcium....:thinking:
 
6stokes

6stokes

Member
Well, I'd like to get around 430, but if you don't think that's necessary then I won't worry too much about it. Right now my calcium test kit is a Nutrafin. When it's gone I'll order a Salifert. The date for regents are good though.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
I've used salifert and Seachem to test calcium and they have been accurate as well as reliable. I've never used a test product by Nutrafin...never heard of them either. I'd urge you to either purchase a Salifert or have a trusted LFS test your calcium levels with a different test kit and compare results. It is possible that you are not getting a accurate result from your tests. Worth checking into anyway....:thinking:
 
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