Calcium at 360-ish

kathywithbirds · 06-28-2007, 08:00 PM

I just got a calcium test today and tested my tank, 37g cube. Looks like it's about 360, if I'm reading correctly I should look for 400 to 500 for corals. (don't have any yet, my tank's not that old yet.)

Anyone have recommendations for good calcium supplement or something I can do to raise the calcium levels? I'm using Instant Ocean, and I just did a 10% water change about 2 days ago.

There's a 6-line wrasse, domino damsel, sailfin blenny, starfish, 2 bumblebee snails, 3 nassarius snails, 3 turbo or trochus snails and a large featherduster in there. about 45 lbs rock, 25 of it was LR and 20 coral rock. I was under the impression that the coral rock might help raise calcium levels. Also about an inch of aragonite (not live) sand.

blue_eyes53813 · 06-28-2007, 08:27 PM

whats your magnesium , PH, Alk test at as well? Magnesium is very important and helps keep calcium up. It should test around 1250-1350

HowardW · 06-28-2007, 08:32 PM

Seachem Reef Complete or Reef Calcium works well, and Warner Marine also makes good calcium supplements.

mps9506 · 06-28-2007, 08:49 PM

I keep my Calcium between 350-400 personally (mainly because my source water has low calcium and I don't feel like adding Ca. to my water change water.) But 500 IMO is high and very close to the edge of where you want to be before alk starts suffering.
Couple of good articles to help explain where you need to be and how to get there:
A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
Chemistry and the Aquarium

kathywithbirds · 06-28-2007, 09:18 PM

Ah, thanks, that's exactly what I need. I've started on the reading about calcium, alkalinity and such, haven't gotten far yet. I was wondering what other tests I should pick up.

Had the water tested at the LFS, he said my alk and magnesium were a hair high, but that's not necessarily too bad in a salt tank. I didn't ask what they were exactly, wouldn't have meant anything to me at this point.

I'll get me a alk and magnesium test, have a ph test. Ph has been pretty rock steady at 8.4 all along.

mps9506 · 06-28-2007, 10:03 PM

I honestly usually only test for alk and Ca and go to the Mg test if things get out of whack (which can happen when maintaining your levels with just kalk).

lcstorc · 06-29-2007, 04:48 AM

Here is a nice reef calculator which will tell you how much of what suppliment you need. HTH
Reef Chemistry Calculator

Frankie · 06-29-2007, 05:11 AM

Nice Lynn! I never saw that one.

Cassette87 · 06-29-2007, 07:38 AM

Nice Link lynn! thanks!

kathywithbirds · 06-29-2007, 09:07 AM

Thanks, Lynn, that's awesome! I need test kits... I feel a LFS run coming on... must resist urge to get livestock....

lcstorc · 06-30-2007, 06:18 AM

Try ordering on-line. It is usually cheaper and helps to resist temptation.

DrHank · 06-30-2007, 06:34 AM

Remember one thing though, unless you test for it, don't supplement it!!!

06-28-2007, 08:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,705 View Gallery Karma Komment	Calcium at 360-ish I just got a calcium test today and tested my tank, 37g cube. Looks like it's about 360, if I'm reading correctly I should look for 400 to 500 for corals. (don't have any yet, my tank's not that old yet.) Anyone have recommendations for good calcium supplement or something I can do to raise the calcium levels? I'm using Instant Ocean, and I just did a 10% water change about 2 days ago. There's a 6-line wrasse, domino damsel, sailfin blenny, starfish, 2 bumblebee snails, 3 nassarius snails, 3 turbo or trochus snails and a large featherduster in there. about 45 lbs rock, 25 of it was LR and 20 coral rock. I was under the impression that the coral rock might help raise calcium levels. Also about an inch of aragonite (not live) sand. __________________ (\ /) This is Bunny crying. ( ; ; ) He thinks Brainy and Bunnina . ' ' ...are having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang Start: 163.5 Current: I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale...

06-28-2007, 08:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,216 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Calcium at 360-ish whats your magnesium , PH, Alk test at as well? Magnesium is very important and helps keep calcium up. It should test around 1250-1350 __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

06-28-2007, 08:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
HowardW Midas Blenny Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: IL Posts: 118 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Calcium at 360-ish Seachem Reef Complete or Reef Calcium works well, and Warner Marine also makes good calcium supplements.

06-28-2007, 08:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,122 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Calcium at 360-ish I keep my Calcium between 350-400 personally (mainly because my source water has low calcium and I don't feel like adding Ca. to my water change water.) But 500 IMO is high and very close to the edge of where you want to be before alk starts suffering. Couple of good articles to help explain where you need to be and how to get there: A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com Chemistry and the Aquarium __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

06-28-2007, 09:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,705 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Calcium at 360-ish Ah, thanks, that's exactly what I need. I've started on the reading about calcium, alkalinity and such, haven't gotten far yet. I was wondering what other tests I should pick up. Had the water tested at the LFS, he said my alk and magnesium were a hair high, but that's not necessarily too bad in a salt tank. I didn't ask what they were exactly, wouldn't have meant anything to me at this point. I'll get me a alk and magnesium test, have a ph test. Ph has been pretty rock steady at 8.4 all along. __________________ (\ /) This is Bunny crying. ( ; ; ) He thinks Brainy and Bunnina . ' ' ...are having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang Start: 163.5 Current: I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale...

06-28-2007, 10:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,122 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Calcium at 360-ish I honestly usually only test for alk and Ca and go to the Mg test if things get out of whack (which can happen when maintaining your levels with just kalk). __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

06-29-2007, 04:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,254 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Calcium at 360-ish Here is a nice reef calculator which will tell you how much of what suppliment you need. HTH Reef Chemistry Calculator __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

06-29-2007, 05:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 7,025 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Calcium at 360-ish Nice Lynn! I never saw that one. __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

06-29-2007, 07:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Cassette87 Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Palos Park, IL Posts: 1,415 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Calcium at 360-ish Nice Link lynn! thanks! __________________ Andy My 29 Gallon Reef! My DIY LED Lights Current Status - Camping - Back 7/21/08 I'm still around people, just on a sort of "summer-time leave" Feel free to PM or e-mail me for any needs!

06-29-2007, 09:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,705 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Calcium at 360-ish Thanks, Lynn, that's awesome! I need test kits... I feel a LFS run coming on... must resist urge to get livestock.... __________________ (\ /) This is Bunny crying. ( ; ; ) He thinks Brainy and Bunnina . ' ' ...are having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang Start: 163.5 Current: I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale, I'm not looking at the scale...

06-30-2007, 06:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,254 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Calcium at 360-ish Try ordering on-line. It is usually cheaper and helps to resist temptation. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

06-30-2007, 06:34 AM	#12 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,251 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Calcium at 360-ish Remember one thing though, unless you test for it, don't supplement it!!! __________________ Jim Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html Dr Hank's 155 Bowfront:http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

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