calcium questions.

bill109

bill109

Active Member
hello
so i just bought a new test kit by sera to seperatly test ca.
so here are my questions.
-i just tested and it came out to 440. and this says per liter. and since the tank is mesaured in gallons do i nned to do anything or is there no converting to do..
-can calcium ever be TO high?
-is it possible tht when i have a reef with more corals ten i do now i wont have to bugger calcium?
-What kind of buffer should i look into?
-if i have good calccium and i havent ever buffered the tank with calcium should i even bother buying a alk or mag test kit? (or are they both a MUST?)
its a 3 part test so if i add to many drop and it turns the blue color and i add a drop or 2 more then will it turn a deeper blue and mes up the accuracy of the test?
thanks, sorry for all the questions but im new and want to have a nice reef.
- to anyone who can answer a few
-bill109
 
bill109

bill109

Active Member
will get a few shots of some corals.. havent posted anything in a bit. i think they look happy
 
nietzsche

nietzsche

Active Member
Originally Posted by bill109
hello
so i just bought a new test kit by sera to seperatly test ca.
so here are my questions.
-i just tested and it came out to 440. and this says per liter. and since the tank is mesaured in gallons do i nned to do anything or is there no converting to do..
-can calcium ever be TO high?
-is it possible tht when i have a reef with more corals ten i do now i wont have to bugger calcium?
-What kind of buffer should i look into?
-if i have good calccium and i havent ever buffered the tank with calcium should i even bother buying a alk or mag test kit? (or are they both a MUST?)
its a 3 part test so if i add to many drop and it turns the blue color and i add a drop or 2 more then will it turn a deeper blue and mes up the accuracy of the test?
thanks, sorry for all the questions but im new and want to have a nice reef.
- to anyone who can answer a few
-bill109

still test for alk and magnesium. you shouldnt really have to buffer anything unless you test everything, magnesium, alkalinity, and calcium and find out something is wrong. look for the salifert test kits
not sure what you mean by bugger calcium, but if you have a lot of corals that demand calcium like sps, then you might have dose or use a calcium reactor, depending on the situation
i think ive read that calcium can be too high
 
bill109

bill109

Active Member
bugger calcium?
*buffer?
idk but dont they make a something doseable to help ur calcium out and keep it up?
y the salifert test kits?
i cant order anything ofline. i dont have a credit card.. so parents have to agree to and they dont like using em online.. so i nned to go to the lfs. i i cant find thm can i just use a test kit i Can find?
 
mach03infront

mach03infront

Member
you want your calcium 350-500 depending on what corals you may have around 400 is safe........ anyone comment me if i'm wrong.
 
bill109

bill109

Active Member
Originally Posted by Mach03InFront
you want your calcium 350-500 depending on what corals you may have around 400 is safe........ anyone comment me if i'm wrong.
yeah i think it depends on what corals u plan to keep or have.
but 400-500 is safe then?
can it ever be to high to a point where it is bad?
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
i hv kept sps for years. u just chng my water 1x a week. it is enough calcium replenishment if u do regular water change like 20%.
 
bill109

bill109

Active Member
Originally Posted by nycbob
i hv kept sps for years. u just chng my water 1x a week. it is enough calcium replenishment if u do regular water change like 20%.
alright. then im going to the lfs today and gonna pick up another test kit or 2 and a all in one buffer?
aslo my salt is starting to harden its a big 5 gal bucket flled with instant ocean salt. is it stilll good or does it loose alot of the replenishing trace elements.?
-bill109
 
devil dog

devil dog

Active Member
Originally Posted by bill109
alright. then im going to the lfs today and gonna pick up another test kit or 2 and a all in one buffer?
aslo my salt is starting to harden its a big 5 gal bucket flled with instant ocean salt. is it stilll good or does it loose alot of the replenishing trace elements.?
-bill109
IMO instant ocean salt is not a vary good salt if you want to get all the benefits with out adding supplements I would use hW Marinemix Plus BioElements and use the same brand of calcium. IMO it is the best stuff you can buy…
 
N

nereef

Guest
Originally Posted by bill109
yeah i think it depends on what corals u plan to keep or have.
but 400-500 is safe then?
can it ever be to high to a point where it is bad?
if Ca is too high then it will precipitate out of solution, dropping Ca and alk and maybe pH. this shouldn't happen at anything under at least 500. the only reason you should add a buffer is if alk is low.
 
bill109

bill109

Active Member
Originally Posted by NEreef
if Ca is too high then it will precipitate out of solution, dropping Ca and alk and maybe pH. this shouldn't happen at anything under at least 500. the only reason you should add a buffer is if alk is low.
so if ur calc is low then do a wc? and not a buffer addition?
or will buffering alk raise ur
 
N

nereef

Guest
most buffers are little more than different bicarbonates(baking soda). you can add Ca, but unless the Ca demand in your tank is high, water changes should cover it.
 
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