Calcium supplements... why are there so many?!?!

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Here's the deal. I'm about out of my liquid calcium from Kent and that was fine for just my fish and LR, but now I'm looking to switch to something a little stronger since I'm getting corals. I was curious what you guys think was best. Feel free to comment to! Thanks!

[BigJay]

when you were using liquid calcium what did you use to raise your alk?

There is really no reason to use anything stronger , but a two part additive is generally easier for people since it tends to balanced in its measurements(ie raising alk in equal parts need per PPM of calcium).
I personally use bio calcium which is a one part that does not deplete alkalinity. But I also have a bottle of calcium chloride (Kent liquid calcium) for when my alkalinity was sky high and I used it to raise calcium while subsquently lowering alkalinity.
I have 20-30 stonies (SPS and LPS) in a 90g and with regular water changes I really need very little in the way of calcium additives. Most tanks realistically if in balance don't need any except water changes.
I'd be curious to see your calcium test results to see why you were needing calcium additives before with only live rock. With standard water changes even a huge amoung of coraline growth would be tough to deplete the amount of calcium in a good reef salt.
As to why there is so many. Its a necessary component. Unlike a lot of other additives that are voodoo or wives tales calcium is not. Luckily for everyone most salt companies supply enough calcium though to meet the needs of the average reef tank. But since people tend to not understand the balance between alk, mg and calcium they tend to precipitate calcium out of solution by shooting for an unreachable number in PH subsquently raising alk and the calcium precipitates out of solution.

[BigJay]

let me re-iterate in case I wasn't clear before. Kent 's liquid calcium(calcium chloride) is very strong.

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Very insightful. Thanks for the response.

I lightly dose the liquid calcium with iodine and strontium/molybdenum because I was under the impression it would be beneficial to the coralline. When I started my tank I was on a jihad to obtain the coveted coralline algae, and after reading around a lot of sites said these supplements were a good place to start. I've been dosing for a while now.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't kalk raise the calcium level without fooling with the alkalinity and pH as well? I understand kalk will wreak havoc on your system if not dosed properly, but if kalk and two part additives are the same in function and purpose, what's the difference? I've read people like to use kalk in their topoff water.. would I be able to do this and dose a two part supplement or something like your bio-calcium?

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Oh, by the way, our tap water is fairly hard and I didn't have an RO/DI unit for the longest time, so that's how I got away with dosing liquid calcium and not screwing up the alkalinity.

[BigJay]

I am not a kalk expert as I have never used it in the last 15 years. My understanding is to raise your calcium into range with an additive and then dose kalk in your top off water to maintain.
If your not testing your tank for any of those supplements you should stop dosing now. If anything else the two things you need to test for are calcium and alkalinity before adding any calcium or buffer.

please read this. You may not only have been hindering your tanks growth but pouring your money into the tank. A good calcium test kit is priceless.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

[BigJay]

if your doing regular water changes stop dosing iodine.

[framerguy]

Originally Posted by BigJay

if your doing regular water changes stop dosing iodine.

I agree. I voted the two part plus kalk drip. I used that with excellent results for over a year before getting a calcium reactor.

[chipmunkofdoom2]

You're right, I shouldn't dose anything I don't test for... having said that I do test Ca and alkalinity. This morning my Ca was about 440 and my alkalinity was about an 8-8.5.

Thanks, framerguy, I was thinking about going that route.

[cheeks69]

Kalkwasser is a balanced additive and will provide you with cal/alk and should be all you need in a lightly stocked aquarium but in a tank dominated by Stony corals neither kalk nor regular water changes will suffice you will need to supplement for cal/alk/mag regularly thru a 2 part additive or a calcium reactor.

[prow]

here is a pretty good read for ya http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

[charlesr1958]

I buy Calcium hydroxide in bulk and put five heaping teaspoons into a one gallon jug filled about 1/4th full of distilled water, I then add about 20ml of muriatic acid (70%) which dissolves the whole lot and top off the remainder with distilled water. After a night of settling I then pour the clear water directly into my sump. Afterwards I take a large drinking glass full of distilled water and add one tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and two tablespoons of sodium carbonate (soda ash), mix well and pour that into the main tank directly in front of a large powerhead, which takes care of any alkalinity needs. All of which can be bought in bulk at VERY low costs.

Chuck

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Thanks to all for your insight and votes.

Originally Posted by cheeks69

Kalkwasser is a balanced additive and will provide you with cal/alk and should be all you need in a lightly stocked aquarium

Thanks for the input. I don't ever foresee myself (at least in this tank) housing anything that would put a serious calcium load on my system, so this might be the way to go...

Originally Posted by prow

here is a pretty good read for ya http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

A good read.. thanks

Originally Posted by charlesr1958

I buy Calcium hydroxide in bulk and ... bought in bulk at VERY low costs.

Chuck

Wow, a very different but cheap way to keep the water well calcified. After I get experience with some different calcium supplements, I may try this. Thanks!

[cheeks69]

so this might be the way to go...

Yes that's what I would suggest, just keep in mind that kalkwasser has a ph of 12 and MUST be dosed slowly otherwise ph shock will occur causing severe stress or death.

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Originally Posted by cheeks69

Yes that's what I would suggest, just keep in mind that kalkwasser has a ph of 12 and MUST be dosed slowly otherwise ph shock will occur causing severe stress or death.

Yeah, I'm planning on it. It'll be easy enough to hook up a drip system with some airline tubing and a valve. My only question is how do I know how fast to set up the drip? I know how much your supposed to add to the mix per gallon, but should I just let the drip run 24/7 and see where my calcium levels go and adjust accordingly?