help with calcium???

Hendersonracing · 07-23-2006, 06:51 PM

I don't know what the deal is????the calcium reading in the tank has been 350's So I decided to add some turbo calcium...I added 2 teaspoons(dry form) last night and 2 tablespoons today....Keep in mind Im dripping Kalk....well anyways it was 302 just now???why would it drop when I add to it...It clouds the water and everything but never rises??? what can I do? is 302 anything to worry about???

Hendersonracing · 07-23-2006, 07:26 PM

should I keep adding more and more calcium? til the monitor reeds right

motorslave · 07-23-2006, 07:31 PM

How are the alk and PH? Do you have a large SPS or LPS load? The Kalk is mostly for maintaining the Ca level, not realy raising it. Keep a close eye on the PH and Alk levels as you go as they are all related closely. Tell us more about whats in the tank...

Robert

Loverotties · 07-23-2006, 08:12 PM

I agree with Robert!

Hendersonracing · 07-23-2006, 09:53 PM

the ph is 8.28 the salinity is 1.023 and we only have like 8 fish....and a few corals...not very much...but I added alot of calcium to the tank but it seems it dont go up????I need to check alkalinity but last time I checked it it was pretty high???? 210 gallon?

motorslave · 07-23-2006, 11:10 PM

Well, for thqat much volume of water isnt 2 teaspoons on the small side for a dose? How about a number for the Alk. too.

Robert

Hendersonracing · 07-24-2006, 08:15 AM

its the dry form it says 1/8th teaspoon per 50 gallons?

Twitterbait · 07-24-2006, 02:52 PM

something else is off and it is precipitating your calcium out. please give us a full stat rundown on the tank. also include you kalk drip procedures.

Hendersonracing · 07-24-2006, 03:20 PM

well Its a 210

abigtroutt · 07-24-2006, 03:26 PM

I had a hard time keeping my Ca and Alk at a steady level even while dripping Kalk until I found my magnesium level to be low and I add the Mg weekly and it seems my Ca and Alk are easier to keep. This worked on my 55 gal on a 210 I dont know maybe this helps?

Hendersonracing · 07-24-2006, 03:28 PM

well its a 210 with a 50 gallon sump with 2 skimmers in the sump....I do drip Kalk I usually go through 5 gallons every 3 days I also use this as my top-off.... also I have a small 20 gallon fuge(soon to be 58 gallons)I have been adding a few teaspoons of calcium every other day...I have been told by a few people that I havent added near enough....They say 42 teaspoons to raise it from where it is(300) up to 400?

check this out its great~~~~~~~~~~

http://jdieck1.home.comcast.net/chemcalc.html

other than that I have added a small 2 part additive calcium & alkalinity

I do a water change every week(30 gallons) my ro reads 45 which Im a little concerned about but everything has been doing fine!
is that enough info...Im going to try to go by the chart and see If that will raise calcium up.....the only bad part it clouds the water something terrible..

abigtroutt · 07-24-2006, 03:33 PM

Joe thats a cool website !! Thank you!

Hendersonracing · 07-25-2006, 09:42 AM

well I raised my calcium

I put 15 teaspoons in last night at the same time I did a 20 gallon small water change....my calcium went from 300 to 650 over night should I be worried or will it come down...I guess the seachem reef salt had some calcium in it also????

Twitterbait · 07-25-2006, 10:57 AM

Slow down. with calcium that high your alk is gonna take a ride too. don't add anything until it gets to the right levels. you may even see calcium snow with a level that high. Sounds to me like something is sucking the calcium up pretty fast. I would recommend a calcium reactor for sheer effenciency at keeping the levels right. I can't tell you much more without a full analysis of allt he stats ion the tank. where is your ph and you nit, phos, amm, etc... please give us numbers. how old is your sandbed?

Hendersonracing · 07-25-2006, 11:34 AM

tank is 4 weeks old we use a pinpoint monitor...ph is 8.19 ammonia 0 nitrates 0 nitrites 0