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I am new to this saltwater adventure of building and maintaining my 75 gal mixed reef tank. I have had many setbacks and frustrations, but am beginning to get into the swing of things.....I think?!? Anyway, my latest issue began with dying snails. The snails I first introduced into my tank appear to be doing fine, but ones added later almost immediately appeared to die. I tested my tank numerous times and eventually found my calciium to be a bit low (340ppm). I added some liquid calcium and snails I thought were gonners...resurrected and became much more active. I also lost a condi anenomie (to late for help for this one). I have been adding calcium regularily, with regular testing, and have experienced no more invert death (for which I am glad as I do suffer from survivor quilt when something dies due to my ignorance).
Today I read that one should not add just liquid calcium without a buffer (alkalinity). Is this true and what is it that I get?
Do you test KH regularly? Calcium and KH seem to work against each other - when one is high, the other is often low. That may be why somebody suggested to you that you need to buffer KH also.
You can get commercial alk buffers from the LFS. Seachem and Kent I know make good products, but you can save yourself a bunch of time and money by going to the grocery store and buying a box of Arm & Hammer baking soda. Works just fine as a buffer.
The big 3 you're going to want to keep in check are calcium, magnesium and alkalinity. All 3 are inter-related and important that they stay withing specific ranges.
You can use this very handy calculator to figure out how much of what to add to bring your levels in line. Reef Chemistry Calculator
Oh, also, low calcium should not have any effect on your snails. How long had they been in the tank? I notice sometimes when I add snails they're active at first, then are pretty listless for a day or two while they adjust, and then are right back to normal.
Snails are very sensitive to osmotic shock. You should try to acclimate them very slowly. After in the tank, you really want to make sure that your SG doesn't swing much. The shift in SG causes their lil' cells to blow.
I would say that they work together instaed of aginst each other. True that when one is low the other will probably be high, not only Ca and alk has to be balanced magnesuin also need to be in balance, otherwise you cant raise the ca.
EDIT:
Here is a great program, Aqua Calculator. The site is in german, but dont worry the prog is multilingual. Just hit the downloadbutton and install. Aqua-Calculator
My Ca is 420, Alk 10dKh, and I haven't tested Mg. I will get a test for Mg and let you know what that states. As another one stated I may have not given enough acclimation time (about 45 min).
I got the message regarding the importance of Mg, but could find no specific testing instrument to test for Mg. Is there a test? I did find a liquid that adds trace element, including Mg to the tank.......is this advisable or is there a specific test for Mg levels.
calcium and alk look fine to me (maybe a hair on the lower side FOR ME) but i would not add any until you are below 400. you readings also say that mag is pretty close to the right spot to me too.
__________________ Bobby
"I glue animals to rocks" 125 gallon SPS reef, 3 x 40 breeder frag system.
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