Calcium Problems

[Bigreefer]

use Kent Turbo Calcium. It will drop your alk, and PH so use it slowly.

[drehere]

What is the urgency to increase the calcium? I'd be afraid of doing too much of anything with only 10 gallons. I might suggest the patience route. Let the nitrates work their way all the way down. Get steady pH levels and plan for that additional 10 gallons stability.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but calcium shouldn't be that urgent a problem. I thought somebody recently posted a good opinion of priorities of water conditions.

[Bigreefer]

"a 2-part CA/buffer regime would be the safest route to go.."

I disagree with this highly. Liquid Reactor supplies both calcium and Alkalinity just like "a 2-part CA/buffer regime". That's the problem.

If your Alkalinity is already high, then you add a balanced calcium/Buffer, you are going raise you Alkalinity levels to dangerous levels which will spike your PH and drop your calcium.

With a high Alkalinity and a low calcium, It's best to add calcium bi-carbonate to increase your calcium levels with out raising you Alkalinity levels. Once you have your Alkalinity, PH, and calcium all in balance, then look for a balanced supplement.

I prefer either kalk or a calcium reactor to provide the balance but a "2-part CA/buffer regime" would also work.


I had hell with keeping my calcium up even with a calcium reactor until I read the following articles....

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Solutions to pH Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...ne2002/chem.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

Phosphate Issues
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...pt2002/chem.htm

Nitrate Issues
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...st2003/chem.htm



Calcium and Alkalinity

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

Purity of Calcium Chloride
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/chem.htm

Calcium and Alkalinity Balance Issues
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-...ature/index.htm

Calcium Carbonate as a Supplement (Aragamight; Liquid Reactor)
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...ly2002/chem.htm

The Relationship Between Alkalinity and pH.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/chem.htm

The Chemical & Biochemical Mechanisms of Calcification in Corals
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/chem.htm

Calcium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2002/chem.htm

Alkalinity
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...2/chemistry.htm

[Dozer]

Wow, I finally have my first opportunity to post. Been waiting for something I could contribute too without looking too newbie-stupid :)

Anyway, my thought was what kind of saltwater are you using? If you're mixing your own, I know I have been happy with the higher Calcium levels in the new Oceanic salt. Not that I would expect to completely solve your problem, but maybe it would allow you to do less supplementation?

Ok, better go introduce myself in the lounge now...

[alexwolf]

I switched to Oceanic and the 175 that I just set up tested CA at 500 three times in a row. A bit high but it seems easier to bring it down than up.

[RobertG]

WOW Alex I used the same salt, Cal after a week was at 375 3 times in a row. Are you supplementing with anything. My PH was also low 7.9ish. Oceanic dissolved fast but the ph scared me. This was with my reactor going, reactor effluent at 400. Was this test like recent or when you set it up? Couple weeks back. My CO2 was also off. At this time. So it was'nt bringing ph down.

[alexwolf]

i dont have a reactor, and it was when i set up, about a month ago. Readings have been consistent. I am using Salifert.

[Andrew]

Geary, just curious, are you using tapwater? If so, that could be the cause of elevated ph/hardness????

Andrew

[GaryP]

I'm not an expert on nano's, but shouldn't he be able to maintain his Ca/Alk with small water changes? From what I know about nano's, you are supposed to do small, frequent water changes anyway. I wouldn't think that a 10 gal. would have that high of a demand to require a lot of supplements, especially calcium.

Nano guys jump in here.

Gary

[Instar]

A pH of 8.8 with 10 Nitrogen is a double problem. Get some well balanced bacteria going in there. You may have some troubles getting things balanced when the water chemistry is all out of wack. Magnesium will help. Instant Ocean is a bit on the low side with theirs.

And a calcium reactor, unless made to size for a nano is going to really blast it. It would only take a miniscule amount. But, perhaps he is trying to use all the equipment that a large tank would use so he is ready to build a 500 gallon system one day?
Get back to square one with some one gallon water changes and work from there. Its too hard with too many things out of order and most of the time you'll mess it up more trying. With buffered systesms, there comes a point of saturation and when you reach it, everything in your tank can be lost over night if you have the wrong things going on in there. If you are adding calcium and its still low, then you are already saturated for what you have in Mg and Alk with current pH. Also, have someone else test your water to verify your test kit is accurate. Test pH at the same time every day. After 14 hours of light or more the pH will be high(er) than in the morning. Best test is in the morning, then one at night on the same day to see where you start and end. Sounds like the tank is new. This is why corals don't last in new systems - too unstable. All those links and articles will help you a lot. Good luck.

[GaryP]

Geary,

One last piece of advice. Don't take any advice from anyone at Petland. You might be getting it from someone whose only experience has been with keeping guppies. That's the problem you often have with Pet Stores. I'm not knocking pet stores, its just that they are not specialists and don't hire hobbyists like an LFS does. If you are in that part of town, do yourself a favor and drive down 281 and go to Aquatic Warehouse and talk to Tamer or do as you did this time and post something here.

Gary