Product Questions (calcium supplement)...

[cbianco]

I am currently adding this product to my tank through water changes and top offs. It is 'Reef Success Calk' by Red Sea and can be found at the following link: http://www.redseafish.com/Product.asp?dir=y&catID=91&subID=29&proID=92

Red Sea markets this product (almost) as an all in one calcium replentisher/maintainer. I am slowly understanding that there are MANY factors, when adding supplements to tanks, that need to be addressed.

1. Is this in fact a all in one product?

2. Is there a supplement that you would suggest adding to make this product more effective.

3. Are there any problems I should look out for when using this product.

I appreciate any help you can provide to me through these questions or unasked questions. I am fairly new to the hobby and could use a bit of advice.

Thanks for the help

Christopher

[eric]

I believe it's just kalk (which is a good thing). Read the thread about the "homemade kalk" or the one on "dowflake" You're usually gonna drip (add) kalkwasser (kalk dissolved in water) or use a buffer.

There ain't no all in one product.

It wouldn't be such a bad thing to use your Red Sea jar and see what it does for you and then find you can get the same stuff much cheaper.
I bought some recently just to get some kalk and was highly disappointed because I didn't realize they included a FREE calcium test, which I didn't need and took up a good portion of the jar.

Or you could use a 2 part buffer (which you can also do much cheaper).

I've gone back and forth, but the two-part was actually what finally got my calcium levels up.

BTW, be careful not to add this too quickly to your tank. A little bit could through the small tank off for a wild ride.

[GaryP]

In theory Kalk will convert carbon dioxide into bicarbonate thus increasing alkalinity. In reality, I think most of the heavy Kalk users will tell you that it doesn't create enough carbonate to keep alkalinity levels where they need to be and additional buffer needs to be added.

As with any supplement, testing is essential to tell you how good a job you are doing to keep your levels where they need to be.

[eric]

And love.

[GaryP]

For a tank your size you shouldn't have to add a lot of supplements. You should be able to handle most of its requirements with water changes.

[cbianco]

Gary

You mentioned that water changes would be most benficial to me earlier and for the sake of simplicity I think that is what I will stay with, lol. :)

Also Gary, thanks for the opportunity to see your tanks. They are great looking especially the stony tank! I am partial to the few LPS corals you have in the 125! I think I have tank envy. I'll take some of the zenia and GSP when ever you frag them out.

My next purchases will be a buffer, calcium test kit and an alk test kit.

Any particular brands come to mind as being superior for the buffer or the test kits? Gary did you tell me that I could use baking soda/washing soda as a buffer? If so, it was a ~6 to 1 ratio I belive, correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks for the suggestions!!!

Christopher

[Thunderkat]

Yeah, I saw Gary's tanks last night too, they were INCREDIBLE!!! Gary also saw my natural disaster err I mean my aquarium and its redo from start time for me :lol

Gary has seen my flake food eating cleaner wrasse!

[cbianco]

Ditto Thunderkat (re: Gary)!

Christopher

[GaryP]

Thanks guys.