Low calcium

[drew1092]

Hello everyone! I have been testing with Salifert Ca and keep getting what I think is a low reading, 370. Its a newer tank, only 2 1/2 months. I use RO water for weekly changes and use Tropic Marin salt. Ill be switching to the much more reasonably priced Coralife when I run out. All I have so far are softies like zoas, shrooms and xenia, coraline and 1 acropora. I have a bottle of kent essential elements that I have dosed twice with. Any thoughts on if and how to get my levels up? What could cause low Ca in a tank with no SPS? Thanks!

[Loverotties]

Add kalswasser(spelling?)I add it to my top-off.

[Frank-n-Tank]

yup kalkwasser, basic calcium hydroxide i think supersaturated in a liter of top off let it precipitate and gather from the surface of the water. that and purple up is an insane jump in ca. just watch the alk.

[drew1092]

Thanks, guess thats reefing 101. Had heard many talk about kalkwasser but wasn't sure what or how to use it. I thought calcium was for structure building and strengthening cell walls on the stony coral. Does it have other uses for softies? Sorry, I may be a little dense, didn't quite get the purple up comment. Thanks for the tips!

[Lou Ekus]

Hello Drew,

My name is Lou Ekus. I am the Director of US Operations for Tropic Marin USA. I don't normally post directly to message boards but I could not find a way to reply to you in a direct email. I wanted to let you know that switching salt mixes will not cure your low Ca level. Even in a tank like yours, with mostly softies, you will still have Ca consumption in coraline algae growth and other calcification in the tank. Since the Ca in the tank will be used in these processes on a regular basis, it is almost always necessary to ad Ca to the tank in some way. This will be true no matter what salt mix you are using. I would be more than happy to chat with you more about this by phone if you are interested in learning more about it. Just email me with you phone number and a good time to call you. My email address is: office@tropicmarin-usa.com.

[drew1092]

Lou, do you need some one to test your product? I am looking for a sponsor! Actually, I was thinking of switching purely based on price. I liked TM but it's just a little to pricey for my pocket book. But thanks for the info!

[Fat Tony]

Drew have you checked your other levels in the trifecta?
(Cal, Alk and Mag)

Even with a tank that has only softies a sandbed will consume alk which will also change your calcium levels. Coralline will also do this as well.

[drew1092]

Yes my KH alk are good, did them last week. KH10.4, alk 3.89. pH is 8.2, 8.3. I was at my LFS, they didn't have kalk, just some super concentrated calcium I didn't want to try. I picked up a bottle of kent liquid calcium as it was on sale. Should I try this? It seems easier to use than reconstituting kalk and dosing it. If this is suitable, do you just follow the directions and add like a half teaspoon (2-3cc) to your sump daily while checking my Ca levels?

I have not purchased a Mg test yet as its so expensive but I will be getting one.

[Seamore]

FYI Kalk-AKA Pickling lime but much cheaper.

[drew1092]

Oh, pickling lime. I love home remedies! Do you know of any dosing recipes? Probably could just google it. Thanks for the tip!

[Fat Tony]

1 tablespoon per gallon of distilled or RODI water. Mix it up and let it sit for several hours so that the particulate drops out of solution