purple up enough for calcium?

[bv_reefer]

for a whole year now i've been using carib-sea purple up to buffer my calcium. i'm wondering if this is enough or if i should supplement with another supplement specifically for calcium, such as kent liquid reactor or tech CB 2-part?

[Keri]

oops, nm (pls delete)

[Myka]

Originally Posted by bv_reefer

for a whole year now i've been using carib-sea purple up to buffer my calcium. i'm wondering if this is enough or if i should supplement with another supplement specifically for calcium, such as kent liquid reactor or tech CB 2-part?

Have you been testing your calcium levels with a test kit? If so, what are the readings?

If not, you need to get a test kit ASAP. Adding chemicals to your tank without testing what the levels are actually at can be very dangerous to your reef.

[bv_reefer]

o yes i've been testing calcium since day 1, calciums currently at 380, i'm just wondering if it can serve for long term use like i've been using it?

[mark]

If you're happy with the level, growth in the tank, ease of dosing, why change?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by bv_reefer

o yes i've been testing calcium since day 1, calciums currently at 380, i'm just wondering if it can serve for long term use like i've been using it?

Your calcium is a tad low, especially for an SPS tank. The majority of reef keepers like to keep it in the 400-430 range, but almost always above 400. Personally, I don't know everything that is in Purple Up (they don't list it, it's a secret), so I would not trust it to be the only calcium source. I also don't believe Purple Up does anything for coralline growth IMHO. If you want to continue using it though, by all means go ahead, but I would suggest that you supplement mostly with a high quality calcium supplement, and lower the usage of the Purple Up. For smaller tanks, I like to use Kent Liquid Calcium or Kent Turbo Calcium. A two part solution would be an even wiser idea, I like TLF C-Balance.

[i have crabs]

switching to aragamilk will give you more calcium than purple up with most of the same benifits i believe

[ShrimSkin]

On the bottle of Purple up I think it tells you to maintain calcium levels to a particlar number which I do not recall. But as stated above you wanna be over 400, I think going with a calcium supplement is a good idea. I just switeched to Tailored Aquatics Calcium and DKH and so far I am very pleased with the results. I do also add Purple Up on the days I dose calcium and its been working real well for coraline and my SPS.

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by Myka

Personally, I don't know everything that is in Purple Up (they don't list it, it's a secret), so I would not trust it to be the only calcium source. I also don't believe Purple Up does anything for coralline growth IMHO.

OK so what is the supposed benefit of Purple Up? I have been using it since I started my tank 2 months ago, primarily to encourage coraline alagae. I am using Kent salt and my clacium is regularly testing at 500 although my Mg is low.

Is there any benefit to Purple Up at that level of calcium? It tests at that same level with a fresh batch of SW as it prepares for a water change.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Oscar

OK so what is the supposed benefit of Purple Up? I have been using it since I started my tank 2 months ago, primarily to encourage coraline alagae. I am using Kent salt and my clacium is regularly testing at 500 although my Mg is low.

Is there any benefit to Purple Up at that level of calcium? It tests at that same level with a fresh batch of SW as it prepares for a water change.

Purple up is nothing more than a hugely overpriced calcium supplement, nothing more nothing less. You pay for packaging in a neat little bottle. It is a rip off for what you are getting. That being said it does work, but it costs a lot compared to other supplements/ways of doing things. It doesn't build coraline algae at all, good water parameters, a source or coraline to begin with build coralline algae. Even strong metal halides deter coralline...it lt thrives in a bit darker...Most of my tanks that had super corraline growth, i mean inches think were all on the undersides of rock, and all grew in the tanks that had the most vho actinics. It's present everywhere but thrices in the darker areas..and yes all colors. the more shade the darker/more intese the color (whatever it was). Compare calcium supplements, and buy the cheapest/least hassle free way for YOU do dose your aquarium. Regardless of what anyone else says. If it's convienent for you but not the way others do it, who cares. But you are paying way to much for what it does...way way to much.