Calcium level - WHY?!
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=28817
Printed Date: October 08 2025 at 2:05pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Calcium level - WHY?!
Posted By: Yindar
Subject: Calcium level - WHY?!
Date Posted: October 23 2008 at 12:25pm
Ok, I've been dosing with B-ionic for over a month now. Also "dripping" with kent turbo-calcium mix using an Aqua-doser. I can't get my calcium level over 350.  It keeps fluxuating between 350 and 330 each time I test. I'm using a Salifert test kit to check levels. Anyone know why this is and what I can do to remedy?
|
Replies:
Posted By: Kahuna
Date Posted: October 23 2008 at 12:56pm
|
Is your tank full of sps? If so, you'll have to read and increase your dosing.
------------- Cell 801 860-7333 |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: October 23 2008 at 2:01pm
|
What is your ALK at??? ------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: cl2ysta1
Date Posted: October 23 2008 at 2:54pm
|
your probably just using that much calcium. You are either going to have to up what you are dosing or get a calcium reactor ------------- I <3 Boxers Achilles tang lover |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: October 23 2008 at 5:57pm
|
Your Ca level is dependent on more than just how much supplement you use.
1) If your dKH (alk) is higher it tends to make it harder to raise your Ca. Check your dkH and let us know your level... if it is higher than about "10" that could be part of the problem
2) Another important "factor" is your Mg level. If magnesium is too low it can be difficult to raise your standing Ca level. Check your Mg and let us know where it's at... if it is lower than around 1200 - 1250 that could be part of the problem as well...
3) Types of / quantities of corals 9especially SPS) can be a factor on Ca draw; also, if you had a few clams they tend to take alot of Ca out of the water as well...
But in your case I'd bet it is either a high dkH level, low Mg level or a combination of those 2.
 ------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: October 23 2008 at 6:44pm
|
I'm guessing your alk is high.
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: Yindar
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 12:29pm
|
Thank you all for the replys. Sorry it's taken me so long to reply for I wasn't home for the remainder of the day yesterday.
To answer your questions.
SPS = 3 small frags (all smaller than a baseball)
ALK = 3.9 meq/l which according to the test kits chart converts to 10.9 dKH
|
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: October 24 2008 at 2:48pm
Stop dosing your "alk" until the dkH drops to around 8... then you will be able to dose your Ca up to around 400 - 440 ppm easily. Once you get to 400+ on the Ca, slowly raise your alk (over a few days) back up to 9 - 10 dkH and you'll be fine. If you still have a problem with low Ca then check your Mg ------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Yindar wrote:Posted By: Bluespotjawfish
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 9:22am
|
I would also check your mag. ------------- Home of the baby Picasso! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 10:22am
|
I would like to see a pic of the tank and I would stop dosing everything until you get our evaluation of this.
To everyone commenting,
When we start telling someone with only 3 frags of SPS in an obviously new tank with a Kalk drip, that they need to dose more, there is a chance we are sending them into a whole lot of trouble. Let's get more information first, okay.
Age and size of tank?
the levels of anything else you can test for?
filtration?
lighting?
A picture is worth a thousand words  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: October 25 2008 at 1:50pm
|
I think your problem is your Alkalinity. Fix that, but I also agree with Mark. You may be dosing way too much. ------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Posted By: Yindar
Date Posted: October 29 2008 at 10:02pm
|
First of all, sorry it has taken me so long to reply. Bloody job! Second of all, thanx to those who have posted replys with their ideas for help in this matter. I'm thinking it is my Alk that is causing this mess. But not absolutely set on this conclusion though. I don't have a Mag test kit yet. Will work on that. To answer your questions Mark.. Age and size of tank? - 5 1/2 months old, 210 gal the levels of anything else you can test for? - (Tested just before posting this reply even.)
Gravity = 1.026 PH = 8.3 Ammonia = 0.00 Nitrite = 0.00 Nirate = 0.00 Alkalinity = 4.27 (it was 3.9 last week, why would this spike so high?) Calcium = 330 Phosphate = 0.00 Temp = 79 deg
filtration? - Sump/Fuge, filter sock, Skimmer, UV Sterilizer.
lighting? - 3 250w 15000k Metal Hals, 4 96w PC actinics
Pictures - from left side to right side
   How do I go about lowering my Alk? I just did a water change today before testing even.
|
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 11:31am
|
It's not necessary to lower the Alk because it's not out of range. The reason for that increase within a week is because Alk is not being used up as fast as you are adding it. If the time ever comes that you need to lower Alkalinity that is usually best done by leaving the tank alone and simply letting it use up the Alk. If it were my tank, I'd stop all dosing all supplements for a week and then retest to see what changed. If anything is outside of limits then I would add just that component. This tank has the look of a new tank, with all that green coralline algae on the rock, it's going in the right direction, but certainly does not need as much of some components as you are adding. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
Posted By: Yindar
Date Posted: October 30 2008 at 5:35pm
| Thank you for the input Mark. I'll hold off dosing anything for a week and test again. |