Raising Calcium levels

[hwcheong]

Can anyone tell me as I am still new to this. How to raise the calcium level.

Is kalkwaser help? got ppl tell me Kalk is help to maintain the calcium level. To raise have to use other calcium product,and use Kalk after the calcium reach correct level, Is this rite?

Or Kalk itself will help to raise the calcium level?

[riot]

Hi

you might want to check you calcium level in your tank forst before you dose. It also depends on your stocking level and your depletion rate. An overdose of calcium is actually worse than a calcium deficiency.

[clownman]

Can anyone tell me as I am still new to this. How to raise the calcium level.

Is kalkwaser help? got ppl tell me Kalk is help to maintain the calcium level. To raise have to use other calcium product,and use Kalk after the calcium reach correct level, Is this rite?

Or Kalk itself will help to raise the calcium level?

Yes, you need to dose calcium to raise calcium level.

Kalk is used to maintain the calcium level.

[hwcheong]

Which brand of calcium additive is recommended?

[lightningstrike]

kalkweisser do raise calcium to a certain extent if dripped regularly and religiously and if u dun hv too many calcium demanding corals like sps or clams. as for brand of calcium additives, seachem will do juz fine at a affordable price too.

[hwcheong]

Is Reefez Calcium plus good enough?

[dradttg]

Are you dosing Alkality at the same time?

Dont make the same mistake I made. If you dose Alkality, the Calcium level will drop. If you are doing both things at the same time, they will offset each other.

[Gouldian]

Are you dosing Alkality at the same time?

Dont make the same mistake I made. If you dose Alkality, the Calcium level will drop. If you are doing both things at the same time, they will offset each other.

Thats right! If we were to increase our Alkalinity drastically our Calcium will drop drastically or visi versa.

Thus it is always prudent to either drip Kalk daily and supplement with buffer weekly with Bicarbonate of soda or any other commercail preparation of buffers. Actually from my experience and from what I have read, dripping Kalk has been reported to maintain Alkaline and Calcium but it is adviseable to add buffer once you know the characteristics of your tank - which means you know the consumption of Alkaline & Calicium of your tank after monitoring for a month.

For example, my tank alkalinity will drop after one week (even with dailiy doses of Kalk) thus I add Bicarbonate of soda to increase akalinity. But for my friend, his Caclium will drop with daily doses of Kalk thus he add increase calcium weekly.

So I guess just like everything else, there is no hard and fast rules. Just monitor your tank to acertain its characteristics and maintain the Calcium and Akaline accordingly.

The other alternative is to have Deep Aragonite Sand Bed or Calcium Reactor.

[hwcheong]

Let's say I need to raise Alkality and Calcium. What can I do?

As you said raise either one will drop another. Please help ...

[dradttg]

What is your dKH now?

For my case, I am lucky that my Ca is more than 420 and my dKH is 7. Hence, I stopped dosing Ca completely and focused on dosing Reef Builder. Now my Ca is still above 420 and my dKH is b/w 8 to 9.

You have to dose both according to the instruction given on the bottle (preferably on alternative days) and monitor your water parameters (personally, I am testing once a week). You adjust your dosage according to the results of your test. That is, if Ca is much higher than expected level (> 420) and dKH is still low, you stopped dosing Ca.

Once, both parameters are ok. You can use Kalk to maintain the parameters.

[Gouldian]

Let's say I need to raise Alkality and Calcium. What can I do?

As you said raise either one will drop another. Please help ...

I would advise you to use a test kit to get a proper reading first. From there, the reefers then can advise you mah.

If not advise wrongly, later kena "flame"

[hwcheong]

Currently my KH is 7 and my Calcium is about 200 only, currently no coral as I plan to get coral for my tank.

[Gouldian]

Hi Bro, your calcium is very low and you alkaline is on moderate low.

This is what I will do:

1. Dose 1 application of Calcium up and test Ca to confirm Ca is about 400 - 420

2. test both KH & Ca later at night 1 hour after lights off

3. Determine the consumption of Ca per day

4. Daily dosing of Kalkwasser

5. Continue to monitor of KH & Ca

6. If KH still remains at 7 even after daliy doses of Kalk, consider to add buffer

7. Once both Ca & KH is at 400+ & 8 respectively, continue to dose kalk daily but only add buffers weekly after knowing the consumption of my tank

* Read & follow instructions on the labels.

* Never have a sudden increase of KH or Ca, do it slowing over a period of several days.

* Usually if your Ca or KH is moderately low it can be correct with Kalk dosing, I will only add the respective additives if it is way too low. Even then I will add them slowly.

* If after the above and your tank still read low in Ca or KH, it could mean that your tank is shortage of Magnesium. But that is another problem that you need to seek help.

Regards,

[hwcheong]

Hi Bro, your calcium is very low and you alkaline is on moderate low.

This is what I will do:

1. Dose 1 application of Calcium up and test Ca to confirm Ca is about 400 - 420

2. test both KH & Ca later at night 1 hour after lights off

3. Determine the consumption of Ca per day

4. Daily dosing of Kalkwasser

5. Continue to monitor of KH & Ca

6. If KH still remains at 7 even after daliy doses of Kalk, consider to add buffer

7. Once both Ca & KH is at 400+ & 8 respectively, continue to dose kalk daily but only add buffers weekly after knowing the consumption of my tank

* Read & follow instructions on the labels.

* Never have a sudden increase of KH or Ca, do it slowing over a period of several days.

* Usually if your Ca or KH is moderately low it can be correct with Kalk dosing, I will only add the respective additives if it is way too low. Even then I will add them slowly.

* If after the above and your tank still read low in Ca or KH, it could mean that your tank is shortage of Magnesium. But that is another problem that you need to seek help.

Regards,

Thanks for the prompt reply bro.

May I know how much can I raise the CAL per day?

Also point 7, u said continue dose kalk and add buffers weekly, what do you meant by add buffer here? forgive me if I have asked stupid Q? I dun have much experience.. thanks for your help.

[Gouldian]

You raise Ca based on the instructions given by the manufacturers. What I do is one dose - monitor for one day - test - dose if necessary.

Kalk should be a daily affairs cuz it will help maintain Ca & KH levels but it can't raise Ca or KH if they are too low.

Buffers are add to replace any depletion of Ca & KH or other minerials. I for example uses Tropic Marine Triple Buffers twice monthly and use Bicarbonate of Soda weekly. Bicarbonate of Soda is a cheap Ca buffer - It is usually use by Housewives for adsorbing odours in Fridge and for Washing Laundry.

[hwcheong]

You raise Ca based on the instructions given by the manufacturers. What I do is one dose - monitor for one day - test - dose if necessary.

Kalk should be a daily affairs cuz it will help maintain Ca & KH levels but it can't raise Ca or KH if they are too low.

Buffers are add to replace any depletion of Ca & KH or other minerials. I for example uses Tropic Marine Triple Buffers twice monthly and use Bicarbonate of Soda weekly. is a cheap Ca buffer - It is usually use by Housewives for adsorbing odours in Fridge and for Washing Laundry.

Thanks Bro...

do you know where can I get Bicarbonate of Soda as you mentioned is cheaper way.

[untouchables]

Hi

you might want to check you calcium level in your tank forst before you dose. It also depends on your stocking level and your depletion rate. An overdose of calcium is actually worse than a calcium deficiency.

bro riot, overdose of ca... what is the max before considered overdose? my sps used to be juz barely alive at 420 but since i "accidentally" pushed it to over 500, it actually looks better and start to colour up. not sure coincidence or not but at this level, so far so good. my KH is at 9 as measured last nite.

i drip Seachem Adv Calcium on odd days and Seachem Builder on even days.

read that kalk dripping is not for beginners because it affects parameter significantly if not controlled properly. best to start using reef adv calcium and once expert, go for kalk. if got money, ca reactor is best.

[hwcheong]

bro riot, overdose of ca... what is the max before considered overdose? my sps used to be juz barely alive at 420 but since i "accidentally" pushed it to over 500, it actually looks better and start to colour up. not sure coincidence or not but at this level, so far so good. my KH is at 9 as measured last nite.

i drip Seachem Adv Calcium on odd days and Seachem Builder on even days.

read that kalk dripping is not for beginners because it affects parameter significantly if not controlled properly. best to start using reef adv calcium and once expert, go for kalk. if got money, ca reactor is best.

which LFS can I find Seachem product?

[hwcheong]

bro riot, overdose of ca... what is the max before considered overdose? my sps used to be juz barely alive at 420 but since i "accidentally" pushed it to over 500, it actually looks better and start to colour up. not sure coincidence or not but at this level, so far so good. my KH is at 9 as measured last nite.

i drip Seachem Adv Calcium on odd days and Seachem Builder on even days.

read that kalk dripping is not for beginners because it affects parameter significantly if not controlled properly. best to start using reef adv calcium and once expert, go for kalk. if got money, ca reactor is best.

Sorry Bro,

Just to clarify, the advance cal is to raise the calcium, the reef builder is to maintain the Kh and PH rite? will this builder raise KH as well?

[Gouldian]

Thanks Bro...

do you know where can I get Bicarbonate of Soda as you mentioned is cheaper way.

Supermarket......

[Gouldian]

bro riot, overdose of ca... what is the max before considered overdose? my sps used to be juz barely alive at 420 but since i "accidentally" pushed it to over 500, it actually looks better and start to colour up. not sure coincidence or not but at this level, so far so good. my KH is at 9 as measured last nite.

i drip Seachem Adv Calcium on odd days and Seachem Builder on even days.

read that kalk dripping is not for beginners because it affects parameter significantly if not controlled properly. best to start using reef adv calcium and once expert, go for kalk. if got money, ca reactor is best.

Different reefers have different views. I respect yours.

[Gouldian]

Supermarket......

This is the brand I use http://www.armandhammer.com/basics/magic/

[tineng]

Buffers are add to replace any depletion of Ca & KH or other minerials. I for example uses Tropic Marine Triple Buffers twice monthly and use Bicarbonate of Soda weekly. Bicarbonate of Soda is a cheap Ca buffer

I tot Bicarbonate of Soda is used to raise KH???? me also quite new to these things...very confused now....

[Gouldian]

Correct. But there are buffers that promises to raise other minerals such as Calcium & Magnesium.

For my case, my tank will tilt toward acidic weekly thus I will add Baking soda to stabalize and maintain Alkalinity.

Twice monthly I will add triple buffers to stabalize and maintain all three minerials.

[Gouldian]

You raise Ca based on the instructions given by the manufacturers. What I do is one dose - monitor for one day - test - dose if necessary.

Kalk should be a daily affairs cuz it will help maintain Ca & KH levels but it can't raise Ca or KH if they are too low.

Buffers are add to replace any depletion of Ca & KH or other minerials. I for example uses Tropic Marine Triple Buffers twice monthly and use Bicarbonate of Soda weekly. Bicarbonate of Soda is a cheap Ca buffer - It is usually use by Housewives for adsorbing odours in Fridge and for Washing Laundry.

Dear reefers,

I would like to apologize for the errors on my part. Tropic Marine's Triple Buffers according to the package:

1. Maintain and stabalize PH

2. Maintain and stabalize KH

3. Replace trace minerials

It does not:

1. It does not directly increase Calcium

2. It does not directly increase Magnesium

Very sorry for the mistakes.