Calcium Probs

[SaltwaterTeen]

My calcium still hasnt gone down and its been about a week How long 'til it will go down? How do I get it to go down, I have only been using alk supplement (Seachem reef builder alk) and thats it. It hasnt gone down at all! Is my clam sucking any calcium??

 

[johnehr]

I have a calc problem too. I think water changes are the only real safe way...

 

[Angelscrx]

Lower any additives and do another water change. What are your alk, ph, calcium params? Thanks

 

[jasontatro]

I'd recommend trying a different test kit.

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

Alk: 3.0
Ph:8.2
Cal:520

 

[Angelscrx]

I'd recommend trying a different test kit.

With your params what they are I agree with Jasontatro. What test are you using now?

 

[mattseattle]

and i'm battling a low calcium / alk problem. then again i'm tuning my calcium reactor so i expected it but still

use only Salifert test kits.....i don't trust anything else.....even if a LFS recommends it!

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

Im using the SeaTest... I spent 17bucks on it, and it is supposidly accurate...

 

[mattseattle]

well i would see if you could find someone close with a salifert test kit to test your water and compare it to the SeaTest test kit and see if the results are the same or if there are any differences.

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

Umm, I dont want to go spend another 20 bucks for a salifert and get the same results...

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

I heard on irc that my calcium levels are fine, because I dont have too much. They said that the tank is doing alright, and there really isnt too much calcium, and corals wont die from too much calcium.

 

[mojoreef]

They wont SWT but it can screw up your chemistry which will effect the critters. Are you using the oceanic salt??


MIke

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

yes oceanic

 

[The Apprentice]

What salt do you Recomend Mike

How do you feel with the Oceanic Salt ?

They wont SWT but it can screw up your chemistry which will effect the critters. Are you using the oceanic salt??


MIke

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

I dont know, are you saying oceanic is bad??

 

[The Apprentice]

oceanic Salt Questions

I dont know, are you saying oceanic is bad??

I belive it to be great salt! Saltwater Teen. I have been using it for 6 months with good results I was wondering It Mike Liked it? Or if he felt there was something else out there that is better?
I have been changing 30 gallons of water out of my system every 2-3 weeks and my chemistry is Alk: 7.0 to 8.3 Ph:8.1 to 7.8 Cal:520 to 530 And i haven't been adding anything else to my tank I do have some corals and clams but I only have 4-5 sps corals in my tank so my demand may be to small. Hope this helps..Jeff

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

So you have a cal of 520 eh? Does your corals do fine? Am I over reacting about my levels?

 

[The Apprentice]

My Corals are doing Ok

So you have a cal of 520 eh? Does your corals do fine? Am I over reacting about my levels?

The Tank is doing good i try to keep my eye mostly on Nitrates i do have a few fish mainly small ones but this one way for me to keep my tank healthy
JMHO.... jeff

 

[SaltwaterTeen]

Thats probably why I have suck high ca! Cuz I use oceanic, and I havent got many ca suckers, until I got clam, so basically, I can add some lps and let them help with bringing ca down, so I can use the 2part additives! Great!

 

[mojoreef]

I am not sure about the oceanic salt. I dont think its a good salt to start a tank with, and I dont think its a good salt to use if you dont have a lot of critters that dont use calcium.. I think its a good salt if you use it in a high calcium demand tank and do small constant water changes.

The salt seems to mix well and disolve well but the nimbers are just to skewed to begin a tank with. Cal is always over 500, mag is in the 1500 to 1600 and the alk is low as a direct effect. I am not sure what the concept was behind this salt in its formulation, the only thing I can think of is that its designed for WC's on high cal demand tanks?

Mike