liquid calcium questions

[coral_beauty_angel26]

Hi,


Well I finally got around to getting my calcium for my tank today. I picked up a bottle of liquid seachem calcium. I was wondering a few thing's, first it says add 1 capful (5ml) per 20 gallons. I did this I used a cap and a half for my 29 gallon setup. Now I dont have no corals in there as of now its saying I should add this twice a weak is this supposed to be every week? or is this just the fist week? I added a capful and a half tonight when should I add the next dose it just says twice a week. I also picked up a Red Sea Calcium test kit to monitor this when should I check the calcium levels and stuff thanks for your time and help I appreciate it......................Shaun

[Jasonanatal]

Originally Posted by coral_beauty_angel26

Hi,


Well I finally got around to getting my calcium for my tank today. I picked up a bottle of liquid seachem calcium. I was wondering a few thing's, first it says add 1 capful (5ml) per 20 gallons. I did this I used a cap and a half for my 29 gallon setup. Now I dont have no corals in there as of now its saying I should add this twice a weak is this supposed to be every week? or is this just the fist week? I added a capful and a half tonight when should I add the next dose it just says twice a week. I also picked up a Red Sea Calcium test kit to monitor this when should I check the calcium levels and stuff thanks for your time and help I appreciate it......................Shaun

Coral_beauty_angel26, well the answer to your question is very simple but it requires a repetitive method on your part. As you will hear repeatedly on the Talkingreef their is a saying "You Should Never Dose What Your Not Testing For".

1. Do not dose the liquid Calcium at this point. Hold off all dosing!
2. Complete your weekly water change and allow some time after the water change to use your test kit to get your actual Calcium Reading.
3. One your have your Caclium reading try dosing one capful waiting for a few minutes after dosing and then take your Calcium reading again to see exactly how much a dose raises your Calcium levels.
4. Then add accordingly to get into the range of 400 PPM to 440 PPM.

I managed to get Pink and Red Coraline Algae in 1 1/2 months using this method to dose Calcium and Magnesium into my Reef Aquarium. Hope this method helps you.

[coral_beauty_angel26]

Hi,

thanks for the help I actually thought about checking my tank first but didnt. I will get it changed out tomorrow sometime I have to go purchase r/o water kinda a nuisance................Shaun

[lReef lKeeper]

Originally Posted by Jasonanatal

Coral_beauty_angel26, well the answer to your question is very simple but it requires a repetitive method on your part. As you will hear repeatedly on the Talkingreef their is a saying "You Should Never Dose What Your Not Testing For".

1. Do not dose the liquid Calcium at this point. Hold off all dosing!
2. Complete your weekly water change and allow some time after the water change to use your test kit to get your actual Calcium Reading.
3. One your have your Caclium reading try dosing one capful waiting for a few minutes after dosing and then take your Calcium reading again to see exactly how much a dose raises your Calcium levels.
4. Then add accordingly to get into the range of 400 PPM to 440 PPM.

I managed to get Pink and Red Coraline Algae in 1 1/2 months using this method to dose Calcium and Magnesium into my Reef Aquarium. Hope this method helps you.

i agree, test first then add to get it to the proper level.

[coral_beauty_angel26]

Hi,

well I finally got around to changing out the water here is what I did, I tested my mixed salt water that has a s.g. of 1.026 and I came up with a calcium result of 350 ppm this is straight out of my five gallon bucket which was a full 5 us gallons. I also tested my tanks calcium level and I got this 350 ppm. So now, what? Should I begin adding the calcium? up to 400 ppm or would you suggest it higher? thanks so much for the time and help I am new to all of this I am using seachem liquid cal......................Shaun


I am using reverse osmosis water by the way.

[Amphibious]

coral_beauty_angel26,

ALWAYS test to get your current Calciun level before you add more. NSW (natural sea water) has a calcium level of 450ppm. That's what you should aim for. My guess is you are using IO (Instant Ocean) salt. IO is formulated to produce 350ppm Cal when mixed properly. I use IO and, when I mix a new batch, I add liquid Calcium (Ocean's Blend brand) to make up the difference. You also need to test for Magnesium. Magnesium is a very important element in keeping Calcium in solution. When it drops below the normal 1250ppm your Calcium level will drop due to it's inability to stay in solution. My advice is to get a Magnesium test kit and see where you are, 1250ppm being normal. At sometime you will have to add Mag.

Dick

[lReef lKeeper]

Agian, i agree with Dick. i keep mt magnesium as close to 1350 as possible.

[coral_beauty_angel26]

Hello,



No I am using Oceanic sea salt. I use to use the IO kind though. I am planning on keeping the easiest corals out there as I am limited on just a coralife T5 lighting source. Now are you saying when I do a water change and my replacement calcium is 350 ppm that I should be adding calcium into my bucket to catch it up to lets says 450 ppm thats already in the tank? should I do this before adding it back into the tank. what about top off water? can you get liquid magnesium? thanks........Shaun

[coral_beauty_angel26]

Okay am I doing this test correctly, this is a red sea calcium test heres what it says to do. I will skip to step 8 and 9

8. open test tube, add one drop of calcium reagent A, close the test tube and shake gently,compare the color of the sample in the test tube to the end color on the color scale. ( I did this and it stays pink)


9. Repeat direction 8 adding one drop at a time until the end color is achieved, counting the number of drops added. (this is orange)

Now here is my question am I supposed to add that single one drop from step number 8 with step 9s drops? if I added step 8s one drop with step 9s 3 drops I woud get 4 drops, I then would come up with 4 +4 =8 x50 which I would get 400 ppm

if I didnt add step 8's one drop with step 9s additional drops then I would have 3 drops and add that with step #3's 4 drops I would be getting 4 +3 =7 then I would be X 50 to come up with 350 ppm


So am I supposed to include step 8's one drop with step 9s drops or what? sorry if this confuses you I appologize just want to make sure I am testing correctly..............Shaun

[CarmieJo]

Shaun, I haven't used this brand. Are you adding the same reagent in both steps?

[Amphibious]

Shaun,

I haven't used that test kit but my interpretation would be this...

You add one drop in the 8th step. If you don't get a color change to orange, you add another drop, mix it, if you don't get a color change to orange, add another drop until you get the color change your looking for. Count all the drops and read the chart.

That would be my guess. Let us know what you get.

Dick

[coral_beauty_angel26]

Hi,

Thanks for the time to answer me you guys. I found out how to use the kit, I went to the lfs and he showed me so my calcium is 400 ppm, using oceanic sea salt mix............Shaun