When will I know when to start dosing? Did I get ripped off?

[billaweed]

I've been using "Oceanic Sea Salt" mix for my tank. It comes with calcium and trace elements in it. When I was at the LFS and was told that adding C-Balance to my tank would help coral growth and coraline algea growth (which looks pretty sweet to me), But I want to know if I was sold something I didnt really need.

I have like 2 softball size pieces of tree corals, a few 2 inch by 2 inch pulsing xenia's, some small polyps, and a couple rocks with mushrooms. One Damsil, and its all in a 50 gallon tank.

I also have about 21 lbs of live rock, and about a dozen little frags of soft corals scattered around my tank.

should I use the C-Balance? and if so, what is the correct way to dose it?

thanks

 

[shallowreef]

I would test to see what your Calcium is just with the oceanic Salt before adding more. You may be fine with just that but at some point you will need to add supplements as your corals grow and if you get more.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

You have no need for suppliments to fresh saltwater for your current livestock

 

[spongebob lover]

i agree with Mike.... you got soft corals and those don't need as calcium as much as the sps...

 

[billaweed]

ok.. so in other words .. I got ripped off? I told those F-ers at the LFS exactly what I had. Either they didn't know what they were talking about or they took advantage of a noobie aquarist.

dang it..

 

[billaweed]

Oh.. and what is a good calcium level. Mine was in the 480-510 range.. is that ok?

 

[spongebob lover]

lol probably they thought you had some sps in your tank so may be they figured they'd give you a little bit more .

Oh.. and what is a good calcium level. Mine was in the 480-510 range.. is that ok?

.......hmm yeah that's a little bit to high dood .
you want you calcium to be around 420-430 max .

 

[billaweed]

****. well Im using the Instant Ocean test kit for calcium and I doubt its very accurate. I'm sure its a little off. What is a good way to lower the calcium? Waterchange, add RO water without salt, or ????

appreciate it

 

[Krish]

If you use just ro/di water to try and flush out the calcium by not using a salt mix, you will also change your salinity by lowering that as well...Just a thought

 

[Brenden]

What is a good way to lower the calcium?

Reg water change with SW. With what you described is in your tank you do not need to suppliment CA. Reg scheduled water changes is all you tank needs.

 

[plack]

When you do a water change next time don't add anything to the new saltwater instead set a small amount aside like 8 ounces of the new saltwater before you add it to your tank and about 1 hour after your water change get another container and put about 8 ounces in it .You want to measure alkalinity and calcium levels, have the store measure them for you Both out of your tank after the water change and record them. wait 48 hours then get some more water from the tank for testing and have them measure it again. after all this you will find out how much your tank needs if any on a daily basis and dosing can be done at that point if necessary
Paul

 

[billaweed]

I did another test to double check myself and the calcium read 450. But to double check that I'll bring a sample to the LFS and let them check it for me..

what exactly will high amounts of calcium do to my coral and live stock? I'm just curious as of what I will need to look for now and in the future..

thanks

 

[Brenden]

You probably will not see any adverse effects if it is no higher than 450. If anything the corals may not open fully. Keep an eye on your Alk and PH

 

[kendog261]

You don't need any supplements with your live stock just keep up on the water changes and everything will be replenished

 

[Herefishyfishy]

If the Ca gets too high, occasionally the Mg will precipitate out and the PH will fall with it. Your 450 sounds close enough to not worry about anything. If the PH and alk are fine, then your Ca is honky-dory.

 

[mmkeeper]

At this point I would let things be for a few days and test again. Then do a water change and test. Look at your results. In a few more days test and see if you are seeing a drop in the Ca. Then you will know if you have any Ca demands.

 

[billaweed]

If the Ca gets too high, occasionally the Mg will precipitate out and the PH will fall with it. Your 450 sounds close enough to not worry about anything. If the PH and alk are fine, then your Ca is honky-dory.

ok.. My pH was between an 8.0 and 8.2 when I matched the colors. I dont have an Alk test kit yet so I dont know what the levels are on that, but for what it is worth all other tests were fine IE: ammonia [0.25], nitrate [0], nitrite [0].

I hope that helps. That Instant Ocean Ca test kit seems kinda "polky" for lack of a better term. Its one of those "add drops till the color turns from purple to blue" kind of tests then you have to multiply the amount of drops you put in by 15 to get your calcium level. It was the only one at the LFS. (I'm in Lewis County )

The reason I'm so concerned is because my tree corals dont look as pink as they usually are, but my mushrooms, polyps, and pulsing xenia's are doing great.. Could just be a fluke ..

 

[mmkeeper]

I would say that most of us like the Salifert test kits.http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Salifer t

How long has your tank been setup? You might want to do a water change to lower your ammonia.

 

[billaweed]

0.25 isnt that high for ammonia is it? That is the lowest reading on card.. To answer your question its been a little over 5 weeks since ive set up my tank.

 

[spongebob lover]

even a little bit of ammonia is kind of bad for the fishes... just keep doing water changes... that's the best way to put it .
your tank is very young .