I own a Biocube 29 and have checked the levels all weekend and dosed with Pruple Up once daily over the weekend. the Ca reading started at 300 and has only increased to 320. Is this normal? I have 29 lbs. L/R with some Featherdusters, green leather, and Xenia.
Your magnesium level is probably low. I don't actually know what purple up is but I'm assuming it's some calcium additive. Get a test kit and see what the Mg is.
magnesium or your ALk might be too high.
also, purple up is not really a calcium supplement, it has calcium in it, but is not really intended as your sole means of raising Ca
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There is a correlation between Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium. They work together to stabilize the three of them. I would stop using Purple up and put your money into a good two part additive. I use and recommend Ocean's Blend brand of additives, plus their Magnesium. Your Magnesium is probably down around 850 ppm. It should be equivalent to natural sea water, 1250 ppm. I keep my Mag between 1300 and 1400 ppm. By doing this I can maintain Cal around 500 ppm and my Alk is 4. Buy a Salifert mag test kit and report back the results.
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
Thanks all for the tips why in the world are there so many test kits? I have one for Reef and the basic saltwater test kit. I will go out and get a better calcium supplement tonight and Magnesium test kit. Will update with new readings!
I will check the Alk tonight also. It has been hovering at 10 so hopefully the new calcium and magnesium will fix the issue so I can take a sigh of relief.
I used to have the hardest time maintaining CA and then someone recommended Seachem Reef Advantage and I've never had a problem since. It keeps up with other confusing chemistry related things also like MG.
I started out with the 2 part additives and could never get CA over 325.
And because you mentioned Purple Up- lots of people in the Atlanta Reef Club swear by that product, but I agree that it shouldn't be used as your primary source for CA. It got an award too:
"Pet Product News Editor`s Choice Awards Winner as One of the Best New Products of 2005"
And like Dick said, get a Salifert test kit.
__________________ Gwen - 2008 Atlanta Reef Club Board MACNA XX Committee 125g RR AGA "The Simple Reef Tank"
I second Gwen's suggestion. I swear by Reef Advantage as a primary means of calcium control along with Seachem Reef Builder 500 g and Seachem Reef Buffer 500 g make things easy for keeping your calcium, alk, and pH right. Reef Advantage has Mg in it, so you should be fine there.
I also dose Kalk because I like the results even more, but then you definitely have to be dosing Mg separately and there are dangers involved. When a parameter needs adjusting, however, it's Seachem to the rescue.
__________________ George
Smyrna, GA
25g reef
Coming Soon: 60g Ocea Cube (24"^3)
So I've been using B-Ionic Clacium for the past two days. My Ca levels last night were 400 Ph 8.2 and my Alk 13. I added a little more B-Ionic Calcium last night to raise it a hair more around 420. My cleaner shrimp was so happy he molted last night! Alk is a tad higher than normal but it will come down. Thanks all for the help & advice.
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why in the world are there so many test kits? I have one for Reef and the basic saltwater test kit. I will go out and get a better calcium supplement tonight and Magnesium test kit. Will update with new readings!
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