seachem calcium killer?

[sw_addicted]

I have tried to dose this seachem reef calcium two times now. The first time I used it according to the label(my mistake) resulting in killing my entire fish population. I had to change out 45% of my water to get it back to normal. Now I have tried giving it another shot at 25% recomended levels resulting in cloudy water and my flower pots hiding under substrate. Both times my water parameters were excelent with zeros in nitrate,amonia,nitrite a p.h. of 8.2 calcium at 330ppm alk. 19.6dkh
After 6 hours nitrate at 80, amonia at 50,p.h. 7.4 and worst of all calcium dropped to 250ppm. Now that I try it again bleak results
nitrate up to 40, and calcium down 50 ppm in just 10 hrs. What is it with this crap did I get a bad bottle or is it just garbage

 

[Curtswearing]

I'm running out the door to go out of town. However, your water is ionically imbalanced. Do a very big water change to get things back in shape.

Read this article (plus I'm sure you're gonna get awesome advice today) http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[Gina]

Don't have any experience with seachem products. Sure wouldn't use it again though.
We use Kent Marine products and have had decent results with them.
Hopefully, someone else has had some experience with the seachem products and can help you out.

 

[Pro_builder]

Hmm this sounds strange. I haven't heard of any problems out of Seachem.
My guess is your water is inbalanced. What are you using for water. R/O or tap? When you make up water, what are your levels at?
Here is an article to read.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2002/chem.htm
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.htm

Here is one on pH too:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2002/chem.htm

Here is also a Calculator for Calcium and Alk,
http://www.kademani.com/reefchem.htm

/Here is a magnesium Calculator also:
http://home.arcor.de/ch/chronz/aquaristik/tips_tricks/berechnungen_e.htm
Read the first 2 links here and see if that helps to understand the problem.
HTH

 

[addict]

I use Seachem's Reef Complete (which is basically the Calcium with a couple other additives) and I've never had the problems you're having with it.
Sorry for your losses... good luck figuring it out.

 

[ReefLady]

This is what happens when you try adding supplements to ionically imbalanced water- everything gets out of whack, fast. Sounds like all sorts of things going wrong, but I would put your alk at DKH of 19 at the top of the list.... that needs to go down.

I would advise you to stop adding supplements of any kind, and do several large (say 40%) water changes over the next week or two. Keep measuring your levels throughout, and read the articles posted above in your spare time. Then, when your CA/ALK reach good, balanced numbers (see articles) you can begin SLOWLY supplementing with a balanced system such as b-ionic or kalkwasser.

 

[Curtswearing]

See---I told you that you would get good advice.

(It's not the brand name, it's the ionic imbalance. It doesn't matter what brand name you use---you're gonna have problems until the ionic imbalance is fixed).

Give us more details on how you handle water changes, calcium additions, buffers, what salt you use, etc.

 

[wooddood]

i use it too and have from the beginning and have never had a problem.go to the garf website and calculate your tank size.it will tell you how to dose it.hope this helps.

 

[Cosmic]

No website is going to be able to tell you how much to dose of a specific product for a specific sized tank. They can give you a BALLPARK, but every tank is unique from another in the amounts of Ca they use. It mainly depends on what kinds of animals you are keeping in your tank. Lots of mushrooms and polyps and leathers are not going to use any Ca per say, while SPS or LPS corals will consume vast amounts in the same sized tank. Only testing your water regularly and monitoring the Ca consumption is going to tell you how much to dose.

As for your water, yes, you underwent 2 events of precipitation. This means that your water was saturated as much as it could be because of the super high Alk (Try to keep this between 10-14 DkH) levels. By adding too much, it all precipitated out of solution leaving you with less than there was before. The cloudiness you see is your calcium being sucked out of the water and forming precipitate.

As the others suggested, I'd start by STOP using any more supplements, and doing 4 or 5 LARGE 50% or so water changes over the next week or two. Make sure new water is the same pH, temp, and salinity to ensure minimal shock to the tank because of the huge volume we are changing out. Once you get your Ca and Alk within balance, THEN we can get back to trying to raise it in an appropriate manner.

However, with the state of imbalance your water is in right now, ANY product you try to use is just going to end up with the same results as the Seachem Ca. (FWIW, I've used it before with excellent results).

If you still need more help, feel free to speak up and ask some more. We're only too happy to help

Sorry about your tank,
Cos

 

[wooddood]

i agree cos i was only trying to steer in the right direction as where to start.i also agree on a major water change and go from there after testing.but again i used there calculator and followed it from day one and it has worked fine for me.