how often to dose liquid calcium?

timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
I have (stupidly) dropped the whole of my Ca test kit contents over the floor just as i buy some corals!
So, how often do I dose them with Calcium? Once a week?
Thanks,
Tim.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Sorry Tim,
Beth's answer is the only correct one. Every tank has a different Calcium and Carbonate demand so without testing there's just no way to know how much nor how often.
What are you doing fora Carbonate supplement?
I ask because your ALK and Ca levels appear unbalanced to me. Carbonate is far more important than Calcium for corals but the levels need to be in balance.
I am of the opinion that small daily doses are better than a weekly dose.
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
im not doing anything for carbonate supplement....:confused:
All I am dosing is Liquid Calcium, PhytoPlex and Coral Accel.
 
leigh

leigh

Active Member
Okay, since no one seems to want to give numbers...this is my routine (about to change as I just switched to turbocalcium--the powder stuff from liquid calcium): (and if you use this routine, and it kills everything you own, it's not my fault--for the record I do test calcium every couple weeks--more often now that i'm switching to turbo calcium--this schedule keeps me right around 450 all the time).
For a 50 gallon tank (with a 20 gal sump) so Tim you and I probably have nearly the same volume of water, you have a little more, but your coral/invert load using it up is lower...
Calcium--1 capful daily
Microvert--1 capful Wednesday and Sunday
Weekly 5 gal water change
-or-
Strontium/Molybdenum--1capful on Sunday
Essential Elements--1 capful on Sunday
Iodine--1 capful on Sunday
That's it. Been working good for me so far. Got corraline growing on the glass and powerheads which I figure is pretty good for a tank started in January.
-leigh
 
komet

komet

Member
I have a 90 gallon reef with mainly soft corals. I have to dose according to directions every other day to maintain calcium around 400. My corraline growth has increased noticeably since I starting using Kent LC about 6 months ago.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Hi Squishy. You've been misinformed.
Calcium carbonate is fairly useless to reef organisms except as sand. What is needed for sclerite and skeleton building is 2 parts of Carbonate for each Calcium (Ca++) ion.
Calcium is useless without Carbonate.
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
Sorry Kip youve lost me a little there :confused:
So where do I get carbonate from then?
Thanks guys for all your help, it is greatly appreciated.
Tim.
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
ahhh yes I see it now, Tech CB Part A+B.
OK, do I use one fo the parts instead of liquid calcium?
Also remember the finger coral I bought (a $15 frag)? It seems to be bending over somewhat, anything to worry about?
Cheers for the help,
Tim.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
You could use Pro-Buffer in conjunction with the Liquid Calcium. I personally believe the Tech CB is a better product but I use limewater.
Don't worry about the leather yet. It's still adjusting to your tank.
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
Hi Bang Guy,
Yes just read up on ProBuffer that looks good.
OK ill hold tight on the finger, is it normal for this to happen? Also I cant get him to stay anyway! DO i just use normal superglue gel? Do I take the rock out and then glue it? does it have to dry?!? These are stupid questions perhaps!
Tim.
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
thanks kip.
Remember we spoke about RO.DI water? Well distilled water over here is $8 a gallon! So that is out of the question.
Do you get a product called a Brita filter? It is used to remove stuff from tap water for drinking, will it do for tank? This is what it said on the supermarket website.
Benefits of Brita Filtered Water: - Dramatically improves the taste and appearance of water. - Removes limescale that can create fur in your kettle and scum on your tea. - Reduces chlorine and metals like lead, copper and aluminium for a more natural taste. - All for less than 3p a litre - a fraction of the cost of bottled water. How Does The System Work? Simply fill from the tap allowing the water to pass through the BRITA cartridge: Ion exchange resin: reduces limescale and metals such as lead, copper and aluminium. Activated Carbon: absorbs chlorine and organic impurities. Within minutes you have cleaner, clearer, great tasting water.
Let me know,
Tim :cool:
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
yes i know :(
So what options do I have? Apart from buying a RO/DI filter which is about $200 I cant see one. Being a student I really cant afford that. :(
Any suggestions?
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
oh also with the glue, would normal modelling glue do? Just my little brother uses some superglue gel for models, will that be ok? It seems a bit odd to me putting glue into the tank...?
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
I know it would be the best investment I just cant afford one being a student :(
Have to see if I could borrow the money off someone! :D
Out of interest, what is the cheapest RO/DI over in the states? Another thought, is could they be situated in the outdoors? We have an outdoor tap that would be perfect for it (although we get harsh winters over here in England sometimes).
Thanks,
Tim.
 
pyro383

pyro383

Member
I have a spectrapure that I am selling and just needs filters, I don't know how much shipping would run. Do a search on my name to find the details of the post, asking $50
 
timsedwards

timsedwards

Active Member
Also just to update you guys I have ordered some dKH stuff from Kent (ProBuffer) and a Ca Test Kit (which I will not spill this time).
The finger leather has bent over further, is he just adjusting? Whats the time scale on this?
Cheers,
Tim.
 
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