Calcium question

[kc]

I used KentMarine supperbuffer and turbo cal for my 120 gl fish tank and stopped using it about 1 month ago. The cal level was about 300 and alk is about 8.3. I heard someone said that the turbo cal is not good and the reef cal is much better, so I switch my additives to SeaChem as Garf.org suggest.
4 Tablespoon Reef Plus twice a week
4 Tablespoon Reef Complete twice a week
4 Tablespoon Reef Calcium twice a week
1 Tablespoon Reef Advantage Calcium added to each gallon of makeup water during the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month.
1 Tablespoon Reef Builder added to each gallon of makeup water during the 3rd week of each month.
After a month, my alk level is around 8.3 but the cal level down to 150.
I have tried to increase the amount of reef calcium,complete and adv. cal but the cal level is lower. Any idea? Can I start dosing Kalk., or I need to wait the cal level up to 420 level then start dosing? I use Salifert as my test kit. Thanks

 

[Gordo]

What inhabitants do you have in your tank? That will help determine you calcium intake and needs.

~Gordo~

 

[kc]

I have 150 -200 lb live rock, 60 lb live sand, several mushroom, frogspawn, green stars, flower plot, zooanthus polys.
These corals don't require much cal, I don't understand where's my cal go? I change water (with RO) every 2 weeks.

 

[CarlS]

If I remember correctly that Garf formula is based off of a 55 gallon tank. I think you've adjusted the proportions but not sure if they are right since I don't know the teaspoon to tablespoon conversion.

For your tank size I wouldn't do the Garf thing. Just look at how much additives you'll go through and how expensive they are. You would be better off getting a calc reactor or just using kalk/pickling lime.

Use the SeaChem to get your levels up and then switch to kalk/pickling lime to maintain.

Carl

 

[mojoreef]

KC I would go out and get a MAGNESIUM test and take a measure. I would bet you got problems thier. DO a test and come back with the results, then we can take it from thier.


Mike

 

[kc]

I will go buy the Mag. test and test it. Thanks

 

[mojoreef]

I will give ya the short and skinny on the mag thing. Carbonate ions cuase calcium ions to percipatate and thus make them unavailable to the corals. A mag ion basically coats the carbonate ion and thus does not allow the percipation. If you water chemistry is dead on all three elements will work in harmony and raise and lower together. When its out of being ionically balanced they get all scewed and work against each other. This is what is happening in your tank. So the plan would be to identify where each elements is sitting right now and then stop all additives and work you back to being balanced. Once balanced we can find out what your tank needs in the way of elemental replenishment.

Anyway that is the layments version of what the plan is


hope it helps

Mike

 

[H20doctor]

calcium

I buffer with sea chem calcium its killer, and don't dis on GARF they are the best . I will also use straight Calcium chloride to raise my calcium level and that seems to work great. Also get a good calcium test kit I use the Salifert. good kit. Always do what works for you I have learned this over the years of reef keeping, in other words if you have a system that works for your reef and your reef is thriving and growing then keep that system, because everyone in this crazy hobbie does things differently. just my 2 cents

 

[kc]

Just went to BelowSeaLevel to check the water, the cal level is good. What happen is I did not read the instruction carefully so get the cal level very low. Thanks for all your help.
kc