Thanks for the podcast. I guess I've listened to about 12 shows now. I have a 1.5 hour commute, so I'll catch up soon. Please forgive me if you've answered this in a future show.

This question ultimately regards dosing Kalk

I have a 36g display with a fuge running about 12g. Historically, my Ca has run about 400 without supplementation and my alk has been in the meium range. Recently I bought a alk test kit and my alk now about 11kdh. Over the last month, my Ph was changing too much and I buffered and now it is more steady in the range of 8.0 to 8.3 - usually 8.2. Of course, now my Ca is down to 275. Joy joy joy.

If I understood your show correctly, I shouldn't dose Kalk until I get the Ca in line where I want it - 400 to 450.

What is the best method to get the Ca up in this range before I begin dosing Kalk?


Additional info:


Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate = 0, Temp. 78

Fish - slightly overstocked, but healthy
Coral - Monti Cap frags, birdsnest, Fiji yellow toadstool, Kenya Tree, small softies, Zoas, Xenia, Mushrooms - all alive and appear healthy but don't seem to thrive - except for the Fiji yellow toadstool and mushrooms.

Welcome to TR!

You can drip Seachem Reef Advantage - powder stuff- which will up your CA levels.

Feel free to start a "Tank Journal Thread" and post some pictures ;)
Sounds like you have a beatiful tank!

that is correct.
its best to use supplements to raise levels individually.
supplements are not meant for long term use so there best only used for adjustments.

you can use kalk if you want to raise both alk and ca, but its more of an advance trick, and can be risky if you dont know how to do it. so i wouldn't recommend it until you get use to using kalk.

once you get your levels where you want, then start dosing kalk.

then keep an eye on your levels to make sure your not dosing to much to too little. also keep an eye on PH, as kalk can affect your PH if used too much

lol how long is historicly, thats a great way to put it!

your levels have been dropping no question about it, but what about your lighting?
surviving but not thriving could also point to deteriating lighting spectrum with out added info!

hope the 2 part additives bring ur levels up without incidence

Thank you, I will dose the Ca before I get to the Kalk.

A journal??? are your kidding, it wouldn't be a journal, it would be more like an accounting - think Enron.

lol.. its ok, we all love to watch peopel progress with there tanks, and it give you a place to brag and show off (which we all love to do.. :) )

they can be found here (http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=27) feel free to start one whenever you want

Hi Tex! Welcome to TR.

Thanks CarmieJo

You can use calcium chloride to raise Ca levels without affecting Alk. I have yet to find a source though. It is used in cold climates to melt ice on roads. Anyway... I'm not really being useful, as I'm not sure where to get it.

Been googling...
It appears to be a common pool chemical used to raise calcium hardness (fancy that!?!). I recommend caution though. if you accidentally add Calcium Hypochlorite, you'll nuke your tank. Products should have an ingredient list. I would only use it if CaCl2 was the ONLY ingredient

a common calcium chloride product is something called Dow Flakes.
its normally found in hardware stores as ice melt (as Marauder-m stated)

I just had to raise my Ca last month and I think I bought some of that Seachem product too. But in the end I wasn't getting it up fast enough, so I did a couple of water changes. I have 30g display. With small tanks like ours, I think the water change method is the easiest.

Tropic Marin also has a Calcium dosing compound (I believe it's CaCl)...pretty easy to use as well!

hey RB, did u happen to find that book u were looking for in the states?

haven't had a chance yet...went to the local library to get books for Hannah, but was kind of in a rush, so I need to look again next week....