Hi,


I have set up my first reef, well my calcium level is 400 ppm using r/o water and using oceanic salt mix. Now I am trying to raise my calcium up to 450 ppm. (because thats what someone told me to aim for) and each time I add this stuff it seems to me like my skimmer is taking it out. I am using a Red Sea Prism HOB skimmer (piece of crap) should I turn this off while adding the liquid calcium in? how often should I test for calcium after adding it to my tank, right after or wait a while?Thanks in advance...........Shaun

I don't see any reason to turn off your skimmer. I would wait maybe 30 minutes after dosing to test. You could probably do it sooner, but half an hour is fine for sure. Are you having trouble getting over 400? Do you know what your alkalinity and magnesium are?

Hi,

Thanks for the time for the help. I do not have a alkalinity test nor magnesium the lfs told me not to worry about it right now I beleave he knows what hes talking about. I know alot of lfs give wrong advice but I think hes really knowledgeable. I am going to get the magnesium test soon though and the alk. I beleave the skimmer is removing the calcium though cause after I add it the skimmer starts picking it up I do believe. Thanks for your time and help again maybe I can get this all figured out. maybe the skimmer is to big for the tank? the tank is 29 gallons with red sea prism skimmer...............Shaun

well, he could know what he is talking about, but calcium, alkalinity, and Magnesium are all dependant on each other. so if you alk or mag is low you will have trouble raising the calcium adn the opposite also applies.

Nah, I don't think the skimmer has anything to do with it. What are you using to boost your calcium? I would disagree that alkalinity and magnesium aren't important. All three of these need to be in balance. Excess alk will cause calcium to precipitate, and too much calcium will drop your alkalinity. If your magnesium is too low, you will not be able to raise your calcium and alk. All 3 values need to be monitored for correct water quality. Do you know what your pH is?

Not to throw this thread off, but in my opinion, depending on what is in the tank, 400 may be OK. I agree with the ALK, MAG, Calc stuff, but maybe we are fixing what is not broke. My tank for example (mainly a softie tank) runs through very little Calcium. I was running Kalkwasser a bit and noticed that if I kept religious with my water change outs, that the calcium remained between 400 and 450 for the most part without any Kalkwasser.

Hi,

my ph is 8.3 to 8.4 I know something is the problem though cause I cannot get the cacium over 400 ppm, so I guess I should be going to pick up a magnesium kit soon. Can you get a liquid magnesium and how does this work I know I will have to add it to my main tank, if its low, then add to get it up to (what the levels supposed to be) then what about when I change my water out? will I have to add magnesium into my return water going back to the tank or how will i do this. All the help I can get will be really appreciated thank you for your time and help with all of this..................Shaun


and oh yeah,my water is seeming to be a bit cloudy should I hold off on adding the calcium stuff, and the skimmers doing something because once I add the calicum I get a good bit of foam and then looks like green color in my collection cup, my skimmers never ran like this honestly

What brand of Ca are you using? Some brands have Mg in them.

Hi,

Carmie, I am using Seachem liquid Calcium, thanks.............Shaun

You can use Tech M (by Kent, I think) to raise magnesium, but it's cheaper and easier to buy some epsom salts at the drug store. If the tank is cloudy, you may be seeing what's known as a precipitation event, where your calcium is precipitating out of solution due to elevated alkalinity. I'd pick up an alk and mag kit. You will continue to have trouble maintaining propper levels unless all 3 of these things are in balance.

Hi,


Thanks for the time and help. I will pick up those two kits asap. I will just not mess with adding anymore liquid calcium to the tank. 400 is okay for now. I will let you know when I do get the kits not sure when but I will deffinately pick them up, and get a box of epsom salts from the store thanks again I really appreciate it.............Shaun

Shaun,

I think that 400 is fine since, IIRC, you have softies. Don't start dosing Mg, or anything else for that matter, unless you are testing for it.

hi,

Carmie, I dont have any softies but thats what I am planning on doing. I just picked up a lps candy cane coral. I wont dose anything from here on out without always testing my dt water first. thanks I will just leave it alone for now until I can get the tests and stuff thanks for the help and your time............Shaun

Sounds good. I think you will still be OK at 400 with just the one stony. I would not add any others until you have your Ca a bit higher. Keep us posted.

I wouldn't even worry about CA at this point if you just have one coral. My 72g stayed at 350-380 most the time since dosing CA is too much work/complicated, and also causes more wear and tear on the pumps. This tank had softies and LPS, so higher levels weren't needed. If you see the need to have it higher, I would just switch to reef salt which should give you at least 400 and you are good to go.

Anytime your chemistry is out of wack, doing a simple water change is the best thing to do rather than dosing chemicals. And with a smaller water volume, it's already a challenge.

The red sea prism was my first skimmer too and it lasted about 9 months. Plan on upgrading when you can. Aqua C Remora would be a good choice for a replacement. They even have the nano model out now.