Calcium ?

[Marcus K]

Whats the easiest foolproof way to add calcium to keep up levels? I tested the other day and found that my calcium was down to 300. Not sure I can afford the $500 for a Calcium reactor.

[reeferaddict]

Kalkwasser - read up on it though.

[mark]

or a DIY reactor http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=587186

[dirtyreefer]

Kalk is good for maintaining while calcium chloride (e.g. Kent Turbo Calcium) is best for increasing your calcium.

[reeferaddict]

After having been in this hobby for 3+ years, I DO recognize the merits of a Ca reactor... BUT... my experience has been this;

Ca reactors can cause algae blooms due to excess C02 in the water column - the nature of reactor media also adds phosphates, feeding the algae. On 4 separate occasions I have run my reactor for extended periods, dialed in my Alk and Ca perfectly and still had algae everywhere. Kalk, on the other hand, maintains Alk and Ca, and actually reduces phosphates. My experience has been better coralline algae growth and better health in general in my system - yet I have heard of great successes using reactors too... whatever you do, read up, (see some of Bev's water chemistry links), test, and make your changes GRADUALLY...

[Marcus K]

Thanks everyone, I think I will read up on the Kalk method for starters.

[Ruth]

I can only speak from personal experience and I have to say that one of the best peices of equipment I have bought is my calcium reactor. It takes time to dial it in but once done it has been great. I have previously used kalkwasser and I know that people have great success with it but I really stuggled to find a balance with PH. I have to say at the time I believe that I had low magnesium just didn't know enough to test for it.

[Beverly]

Reef chemistry calculators and chemistry links to read

Aquarium System Volume Calculator:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/volcalc.html

The Reef Chemistry Calculator:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

What is Alkalinity?

http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/f.../chemistry.htm

Calcium:

http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2002/chem.htm

Magnesium in Reef Aquaria:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm

How to Select a Calcium and Alkalinity Supplementation Scheme:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

The Relationship Between Alkalinity and pH:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/chem.htm

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

High pH: Causes and Cures:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.htm

Low pH: Causes and Cures:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

[muck]

I was wondering when you would make an appearance Bev..

[Beverly]

Just helping another fellow reefer get the skinny on the complexities of reef chemistry Glad to be of service