calcium help

[Reefer madness92]

so i checked my cal and it was at 380 last night without top off with top off it went down to 340 ive been scraping cuttle bone into it, not alot cause i have no idea how much is too much so u can imagine how little im putting. anyway my question is about how much should i scrape off to get me at 450. it is almost time for a water change should i just change it and save the hassle. please and thanks

[hobogato]

cuttlebones are basically aragonite - CaCO3. this will increase alkalinity more than it will increase calcium. you may want to pick up some kalkwasser - CaOH or other calcium increasing additive and follow the dosing directions on the container.

[Reefer madness92]

O_O did not know that i have some sea lab 28 ive been scraping with it as i dont wanna just leave it submurged but i think im gonna go with a water change and buy some kalkwasser thanks hobogato

[allan]

another thing, at 340 you don't really have a problem. It might drive your PH down, but if your sole concern is the amount of calcium you have in the water, I'd not fret 340. Especially if you plan on doing a water change in the next week or so.

Are you stocked heavy in SPS and LPS? If not, that would be another reason not to worry.

I'm not sure what low is for calcium, but when my PH lowers I tend to burn the tips of my valida. I typically stir in a spoonful of kalkwasser to bring things back up. I actually do this each morning anyway while the DT lights are off to help balance my PH and to give the calcium levels a boost. I have a lot of SPS coral that sucks it up though.

[Reefer madness92]

just finished water change leaving me at 400:),the only thing i was worrying about was my scuba steveo hybrid cause im fairly new to coral. it didnt look stressed but it was almost out of range and i always try to keep everything perfect but def will buy additives just a little low on cash

[allan]

Kalk is relatively inexpensive. I think it's about $19 for a gallon and that lasts several months.

[Reefer madness92]

Excellent thanks for the feedback allan

[allan]

Da nada

[Sherita]

I run kalkwasser in my topoff to keep alk and ca levels stable. Allan is right, it's inexpensive and easy to get. Pretty good stuff for keeping those ca levels up.

[Bill S]

just finished water change leaving me at 400:),the only thing i was worrying about was my scuba steveo hybrid cause im fairly new to coral. it didnt look stressed but it was almost out of range and i always try to keep everything perfect but def will buy additives just a little low on cash

The scuba steveo is very hardy - I don't treat mine particularly well, because I use big water changes and salinity changes to get my anemones to split.

[allan]

Yep, I still have that frag that you gave me all those years ago. Through thick and thin.

[Reefer madness92]

It's growing fast. I wanna say I got It a week ago and it's grown from about a half inch to an inch and is branching. Can't wait til it's huge. It's kinda hard to feed myses though tents aren't long enough..