Low Calc

Junkzoo · 11-20-2001, 10:35 AM

anyone invent a ez to dose calc yet??? still can't get calc up (280's now) and dropping,,tried B-ionic,,aragMIGHT,,sea chem's reef calcium, even a kalk drip for a while,,,,(not all at once) i us B-ionic everyday,,add aragaMIGHT in the two gallons of DI top-off daily,,,test at night ,,,calc is now at 280,,,,i used to have 440 with now trouble b4,,,,now what?

i'd like to get something i can add without worry to throw the tank off,,,alk is at 3.6,,,tank looks good,,,SPS frags are doing well,hard corals are fine,,,coraline algae is kinda pale on the back glass,,,,coraline on the LR looks well,,xenias are pulsing like crazy,all lifestock is looking healthy and happy,,,i think this all started after i upsized my lighting,,and added hard corals,,,,is the tank "eating' the calc up?

don't want to go with a calc reactor,,a calc drip i might go for,,,(my wife is a ER nurse,says a IV bag hanging off the tank will make it look like it is on life-support

) could use any help /hints here,,,,,don't want to keep getting products that don't get the calc up,,,Thanks

rochelleryan · 11-20-2001, 03:22 PM

Have you checked your Magnesium level? If your mag is too low, it can make it hard to raise or maintain your calcium level. You should shoot for a mag level between 1300 - 1500. If it's really low, you can dose with mag powder. Otherwise I use Salifert Magnesium liquid. This allows me to dose my calcium only once a week without using a drip system.

gweezpie · 11-20-2001, 05:33 PM

I had the same problem. Then someone recommed a product called reef complete from seachem....awesome brought my calc up....It works for me. No ph swings or powder. Just one bottle of liquid.

Once you bring up to the proper level you can use there product to maintain it. Not expensive. I got it at www.thatpetplace.com

Great Stuff! My coraline algae boomed after i used it.

Good Luck
Joe

Junkzoo · 11-20-2001, 05:49 PM

well, mag. level is fine,,,went to the LFS, related my problem to them,,,was gonna grab some turbo-calcium,,,did,,,,still pondering this with the owners of the LFS,,,asked if i could add anything to the water change water i had mixing up at home for a water change tonite,,,,they asked "what brand of salt are you using?" i said Instant Ocean,,,, they both got light bulbs over their heads ,,and said that's why my calc is dropping,,,,they said IO is not "good " for high calc reef tanks,does not have capabilities to contain/buffer calcium,,,hmmmmm,,,been staying with the Instant Ocean salt ,cuz i add stuff to the tank anyway,,,,anyone ever hear of this??

,,,first time i ever did this ,but i did check the calc level in the water- change water,,,quess what? it's 320 !!!added the turbo-calc to the tank,,,still gonna do a water change tonite,,,kinda playing with the idea to add a dose of turbo to the new water,,,make sense?

Demogarr · 11-20-2001, 05:58 PM

Hmmm. I don't know about "special" buffering being absent in IO. I have used Reef Crystals(same makers as IO) and I have used IO and have no problem with calcium, haven't really noticed enough of a difference to justify spending more money on reef crystals. I think enough people use IO on their reef tanks to dispute the buffering theory your lfs is using. But then again what do I know, I just do what works for me!

asmith · 11-20-2001, 07:35 PM

I disagree with your LFS on the IO preventing higher calcium levels. As mentioned above, there are too many aquarists using it with success. Surely it would be more commonly known if that was the case. I would say that one of your other parameters are off (possibly causing it to precipitate?). A good sized water change should help restore many of the elements that you may be missing.

JMO,
Andrew

Junkzoo · 11-20-2001, 07:43 PM

yup Andrew and others,,,hard to think of the IO being a problem,,had calc up to 440 b4 whatever is going on here,,,gonna do a water change tonite and add turbo calcium,,,,updates to follow,,,,,

Doug1 · 11-20-2001, 11:14 PM

Turbo Calcium is calcium Chloride, work tho long term will throw ionic balance off. I think the calc in Bionic is chloride also. I have found that using 2 part and getting calc and alk where i wanted then using kalk to maintain works well with weekly 2 part tweaking
As to the IO causing problems Bovine Excretia!!!!!!!!!!!! 26 yrs with it says otherwise

Junkzoo · 11-21-2001, 12:02 AM

Doug , i agree on the IO issue,,,makes no sense to me either,,tonite's turbo-calc (first time) and the W/C did not help,,,as per earlier discussion on the chat tonite,will prob try pickling lime drip in a day or so,,,sounds like it does not affect the "ion" thing,,,sounds like that is my problem,,,that and a new calc test kit,,,,

dwyatt · 11-21-2001, 10:38 AM

Hey folks:

For everything you ever wanted to know about synthetic sea salt mixes (and alot that you didn't), see the web site below. It is a comparison of all major brands (including IO) by the Hawaii Institute of Marine Bio. (wow - I knew I should have got my degree there!)

www.wyx.com/iheo/tank/new.htm

The look for the salt tests (ignore the tacky music if you can).

Good luck.

Doug

Spanky · 11-21-2001, 11:16 AM

Jeff,

Hit it with Turbo Ca until it's where you want it, then you can maintain with a drip. You would have to use Ca chloride for a long time with no water changes to have any negative effects.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Jerel

Junkzoo · 11-21-2001, 11:24 AM

Jerel,,,glad to hear from you about this,,,can i feel safe in "upping" the recommended dosage on the turbo-calc?
(i did double the dose today,,wanna see if it makes a difference,did raise a bit,,260 to 300) gonna get some mag/stron additive in a couple of days, can just keep adding turbo -c until i get to a good level o' calc?over a few days? thanks for the help!

Have a HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

Junkzoo · 11-21-2001, 05:01 PM

Just waiting for Jerel"s Jerel's response to my last post,,,,,He's probably fresh-water dipping his turkey!

Spanky · 11-21-2001, 05:59 PM

Actually I was giving it a formalin, malachite green bath.
It's for the in-laws you know.

How did the Turbo work out at double the dosage? BTW what is the dosage?

I just use Ca chloride (same thing) and put about two-three heaping tbs in a gallon of RO/DI, stir until dissolved and dump in sump. Keep in mind, this sump has about a 3000ghp flow.

The only time I got into trouble (a little), the Ca was low and I decided to raise it ASAP (short attention span theatre). I put about 1/2 cup in a gal of water and dumped, I don't recommend doing that.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Jerel

Junkzoo · 11-21-2001, 06:28 PM

Jerel ,,at this time,,had have 4x'ed the dosage of turbo-calc today,,,
dosage is: 1/4 teaspoon on a "heavily loaded"50 gal. reef tank,,
i put a teaspoon and a half during the course of the day,,,been in and out of the house all day,,,BTW: tank is a 75,no sump.
also,,,picked up some pickling lime(calc hydrox) today,,wat ya think on dripping that tonite? or should i keep turbo-calc'en the tank for a while??