Calcium Supplement

9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
I've been using PurpleUp for about a year now with really good results!! The coralline is really starting to spread.
But I've heard alot of pro's and con's to it because it also adds Iodine. So if I want to really make my coralline florish what is the best calcium supplement to use?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Alkalinity is MUCH more important than Calcium. What are you doing to suppliment Alkalinity?
Are you testing for Calcium and ALK? What are your current levels?
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
I just tested everything....here goes (I might as well give you the whole list):
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
PH - 8.0
Phosphate - .5
KH - 10
Calcium - 360
Magnesium - 1440
Temp - 79
SG - 1.029
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2706574
What are you doing to suppliment Alkalinity?
...and, what are your other supplements? How often do you do water changes and how much?
Do you have other corals or are you only concerned with coraline?
 
xtreeme

xtreeme

Member
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/abo.../coralline.htm
"SG apx 1.024
Calcium
350 to 480 ppm
Carbonate Alkalinity
Between 2.5 and 4.0 meq/L (7-12 dKH)
Strontium
Low Phosphates (Close to Zero)
Low Nitrates (5 ppm or lower)
Many aquarists have found that performing regular water changes will keep the phosphate and nitrate levels in check as well as keeping the calcium, alkalinity and strontium at or near their optimum levels."
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
No. I have no corals yet. I'm waiting to finish upgrading to my new 180 before I get involved with corals. Just trying to get the coralline to grow.
I don't supplement anything except the PurpleUp and Magnesium.
I do a 25% water change about every 3 weeks and I do use tap water (I know I know.....I need to use RO/DI water......just haven't found a unit thats affordable). I do treat the water with Prime before adding it. And the water is connected to a Water Softener system.....if that makes any difference.
I also use Reef Crystals salt.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2706606
IMO all you need is to keep maintaining your water with water changes and STOP using Prime.
Stop using Prime?? Really?? Please explain as I really appreciate your opinions!!
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by Osborne
http:///forum/post/2706641
What should we use if we dont have an RO system? For condition?
Nothing, don't add anything to condition your water.
Adding stuff to tap water cannot make it more pure. You can add compounds that bind with metals and ammonia but it doesn't go away, it gets temporarily sequestered, not permanently eliminated.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2706714
Nothing, don't add anything to condition your water.
Adding stuff to tap water cannot make it more pure. You can add compounds that bind with metals and ammonia but it doesn't go away, it gets temporarily sequestered, not permanently eliminated.
Thanks Bang!! I had no idea!!
 
dplantz

dplantz

Member
There are several affordable RO/DIs out there. My local reef club sponser was good 25-50 gpd models for around 120-150.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
So should I continue with the PurpleUp and Magnesium as I have, or is there another Calcium Supplement that would be better?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by 9supratt4
http:///forum/post/2707626
So should I continue with the PurpleUp and Magnesium as I have, or is there another Calcium Supplement that would be better?
You really don't need all of the Iodine from the Purple-up. If it were me I wouldn't use it.
For Calcium I mainly use limewater but any commercial brand of Calcium chloride will work very well. Please don't forget the alkalinity though, it's more important for coraline than Calcium.
 
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