Calcium Usage By Snails & Hermits.

JayBeDriften · 07-26-2006, 12:09 AM

As everyone probably knows from my recent threads that I have been dosing with about 1 gallon of Kalkwasser & RO/DI Water about every 3 days to keep up with evaporation within my 29 gallon nano aquarium. My levels where steady at 550ppm - 650ppm with the three corals that I have. I decided that is was time for a cleanup crew of 12 Turbo Snails and 12 Blue Legged Hermit Carbs. I just checked my Calcium level and since the addition of the 24 little guys my level dropped to 440ppm.

I never knew that they could use up Calcium that quickly. I have decided to up my dosage to 2 gallon of Kalkwasser & RO/DI Water about every 3 days to keep up with the new levels. I will keep everyone posted.

**CarmieJo** · 07-27-2006, 08:21 PM

I don't believe that you want to maintain your CA quite that (550-650) high.

JayBeDriften · 07-27-2006, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarmieJo

I don't believe that you want to maintain your CA quite that (550-650) high.

What level would you suggest I keep my Calcium and Alkalinity at CarmieJo?

**CarmieJo** · 07-27-2006, 09:42 PM

CA 450
Alk = meg/L: 3.5-4.5 or dKH: 9-12

**Amphibious** · 07-28-2006, 08:40 AM

I really concur with Carmie, Jay. By "pushing" your calcium levels to try maintaining an unnaturally high level you are flirting with a chemical disaster. I experimented with keeping my calcium this high years ago and one day I woke up to a calcium precipitate that covered everything in the tank including the glass walls. It was a bitch to scrape off and the tank eventually had to be torn down.

If Mother Nature believed the critters in the ocean would do better at 550ppm of Calcium she would maintain it there. But she knows that 450 is ideal. Why do we humans try to best Mother Nature?

veriann · 07-28-2006, 09:09 AM

its all about equalibrium! there are many many of natures solders out there doing their bit for nature! > fish are a prime example of it, they can actually effect the water around them to create a osmotic balancing effect! the top few layers of the skin on a fish is not far from our RO membranes! if the surrounding water is to high in salinity, they expel fresh water molecules through the skin & gills to nutralise the surrounding difference! huge amounts of bodily energy is used up, just like our body trying to stay walm when we are freezing> huge wastages of energy consumption! this balancing act can come at a price in extreme cases, the fishes systems can work overtime, leaving the door open to desease! but as in jarrasic park>>nature will always find a way! in our captive environments with constant bombardments she allows them to crash> hense negating any possible comeback from an imbalance! in nature this is called perpetual cataclism! <double check the spelling folks..lol

JayBeDriften · 07-28-2006, 09:51 AM

I understand "John Hammond" will go sit in the Talkingreef time out corner.

veriann · 07-28-2006, 10:34 AM

man im a dummy! i didn;t get that!

JayBeDriften · 07-28-2006, 11:11 AM

LOL John Hammond Founder and Operator of Jurassic Park. :-)

veriann · 07-28-2006, 01:17 PM

u know i have a photographic memory with movies! but u may have caught me out on that one! cause it doesn;t ring any bells whats so ever! i shall get the DVD from the store & watch it again now! >im a shocker really> thanks jay for not stomping me too hard!

JayBeDriften · 07-28-2006, 01:27 PM

LOL, Veriann, you guys don't stomp me to bad when I make a foolish mistake like maintaining my calcium at an extremely high level so I try to reciprocate the same. lol

**wwest** · 07-28-2006, 01:29 PM

ok lets test you. this is a classic movie. and the name of the leading start is scott howard. think you can guess that one without looking it up?

veriann · 07-28-2006, 02:36 PM

no, i dont think u heard me! "i would like a keg of beer"
*glowing eyes*! are we talking teenwolf?
my fav parkinson friend from way back> i liked fox in boston legal! this is one of my fav TV shows by the way!

uve got to give me alittle slack as of late west our budding scientist! im on the promotion that would dwalf normal americans income by 50fold at least! give me a clue if im wrong! im always glad or happy if im wrong> it means i need to learn more!

**wwest** · 07-28-2006, 02:40 PM

did you look that up? you are correct

veriann · 07-28-2006, 03:10 PM

to be truthful west, i will give credit where credit is due! if i use someone elses info i will crack a oneliner & include there name somewhere in the sentence! but im not joking when i say im a god! well, maybe a little ., but who pays attention to ozzies anyways!