Low Calcium

meadbhb

meadbhb

Member
Hiya,
I'm having a problem getting my calcium up so I can start adding corals.
37 gallon reef
30lbs live rock
40lbs base
ammonia - 0
nitrate - 0
nirtrite - 0
PH - 7.8
Calcuim - 250
Salinity - 1.025 (not adjusted for temp)
8 turbo's
15 Nass. snails
1 peppermint shrimp
Tanks been up since August 3rd. Cycled in one week due to having so much live rock. I've been adding a calcuim suppliment the last three weekends, but I can't seem to get it to come up. LFS said my LR may be absorbing it all.
Any suggestions?
Meadbhb
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
If you intend to suppliment calcium and elevate current levels you should also monitor alkalinity as well as PH. maybe even magnesium. There is a sort of balance that needs to be maintained. What type/brand of suppliment are you adding and is it possible to post levels of calcium/alkalinity/ph/magnesium?
 
meadbhb

meadbhb

Member
Hiya,
I'm using Red Sea calcuim suppliment.
My LFS has been testing my water, and they haven't been testing the ALK, I've been more worried about the ammonia, nitrates, nitrites and PH.
I THINK they've been using the Marineland test kit (long orange box) for everything but the calcuim. Then they've been using the one everyone here has been using....can't remember the name, selfert?
I guess I need them to test the alk and magnesium then? Sigh...I'm probably going to regret not getting those two test kits from Koolade, but I didn't have the extra money.
Meadbhb
oh, yeah...calcium has been at 250 the last two weeks.
 
meadbhb

meadbhb

Member
Hiya,
Bang...I can't check the alk now and go from there? I was going to do a 10% water change this weekend. Do I need to do more then that?
Meadbhb
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
In my experience there needs to be a really serious imbalance in the water to get Calcium below 300ppm. Below that and things start to dissolve and bring it back up naturally.
Water changes will quickly and safely restore the balance.
 
meadbhb

meadbhb

Member
Hiya,
Thanks Bang...I'm going to have the hubby have the water tested for alk and mag tonight. He's got to go pick up crickets anyway.
For future reference what should these two levels be at?
How much water change do you recommend? 15-20%?
Meadbhb
Ohhh, I've got crushed argonite in there. I thought this was supposed to help keep the calcuim level up. I was told it wasn't CC.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
IMO Minimum levels should be:
Ca >400ppm
ALK>3.0 Meq/L
Mg > 1300ppm
A 15% change every other day for a week is a safe way to do it.
CC = Crushed Coral = Crushed Aragonite
The Calcium contributed by dissolving aragonite is insignificant in marine aquariums.
 
meadbhb

meadbhb

Member
Hiya,
Hubby took a sample by the LFS tonight. Calcium was up to 300 and the ALK was 3. They didn't have a magnesium test. Not sure why, but I'll have them order one for me. Maybe thier cal test is off? Also said PH was up to 8.00, so things seem to be improving.
Sigh...oh, well, so I've got CC. I'll just do some research on the board and see how to handle it. I know everyone says DSB is the way to go, but I remember reading something fro someone on here that swears by CC.
Do you still think I should do a 15% water change even with the improvement?
Meadbhb
 
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