Calcium additives

[Starry]

Alk: 9.8 DKH
PH: 8.3
Calcium 340 :(

I'm using IO salt.
1" Caribsea Seafloor Special Grade Sand (sposed to help with Ca, but ph would have to be low I would think)

What would be the best Ca additive to use? Preferably liquid.

[DanG]

You could give Purple up a shot.

[mark]

If IO, chances you also have low Mg and without addressing the Mg, it's hard to get the Ca up. I've been measuring IO Mg out of the pail at 900ppm and the Mg/Ca ratio sort of holds at ~3:1.

Dry supplements are quite cost effective. I can't quote cost but mixing up 20g of IO salt to get a Ca of 420, it takes about 1.1 oz of Calcium chloride dihydrate available from littlesilvermax and other board sponsors.

[littlesilvermax]

Alk: 9.8 DKH
PH: 8.3
Calcium 340 :(

I'm using IO salt.
1" Caribsea Seafloor Special Grade Sand (sposed to help with Ca, but ph would have to be low I would think)

What would be the best Ca additive to use? Preferably liquid.

Sounds about right, maybe a touch low, what sg are you mkixing it to? If you are mixing it to 1.025 I would expect a little bit higher, but not much.

With IO you almost always (IME) have to add magnesium first, then calcium, or else you will just get precipitate.

Doesn't cost too much, once you have it down it is pretty easy actually.

[TRS]

Alk: 9.8 DKH
PH: 8.3
Calcium 340 :(

I'm using IO salt.
1" Caribsea Seafloor Special Grade Sand (sposed to help with Ca, but ph would have to be low I would think)

What would be the best Ca additive to use? Preferably liquid.


CaribSea PURPLEUP has my vote for a Calcium liquid, but The Reef Shoppe also sells the granular Calcium Chloride Dihydrate as an alternative DIY Calcium additive.

[KPG007]

I use SeaChem Reef Advantage. It's a powder, but add it to make up water and it's a liquid! Here is a link over at J&L: http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/product-info.php?product_ID=sc-raca0500

Good stuff

[ElGuappo]

i use purple up everyother day then add some SEACHEM REEF CALCIUM (Liquid) once or twoce a week depending on numbers. my tank is fairly small so it doesnt take much. the bonus to PURPLE UP (Liquid) is that it induces growth of your coriline algae. took about 4 days of use for me to notice new coraline. the purple up will however cloud your tank for an hour or so.

[Aquattro]

The Kent A/B is my fave for adjusting, then use kalk in your top off for maintenance.

[ElGuappo]

isnt this A/B formula made for supplimenting corals?

The Kent A/B is my fave for adjusting, then use kalk in your top off for maintenance.

[Aquattro]

No, it's a Ca/Alk supplement

[Starry]

Went with the purple up for now. Havent retested yet but will today and post results. Yer right about the cloudyness. Looked like someone poured milk in the tank for a while.

[fkshiu]

No discussion of proper reef aquarium parameters can be had without reference to the articles of Randy Holmes-Farley. Here are just a few:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102605

Taking the time to read these articles will put your knowledge lightyears ahead of just reading the back of a bottle.