Calcium level very low how to dose correctly?

[Reds]

Last weekend just change water... but dun know why calcium level still so low... at 180 only.. supposed level is abt 400-500 right? My MG level is abt 1150... so wats the problem??? KH is 15.....

When i add the calcium to a bottle of aged water to mix.. the water become very cloudy and i use dripping mthd to top up evaporated water.... So adding the calcium directly is better? or Premix in a bottle then drip???

Plz advise thanks....

[lightningstrike]

u r having an ionic imbalance. ur Mg is abt there (a little low), Ca is way off low and kH is way off high.

Normal parameters shld read (results varies, pls dun hold me to this),

Mg: ard 1400ppm

Ca: ard 380ppm

kH: 8-12dkH

the cloudy water u see is calcium precipitation. the best and the fastest way to correct ur parameters will be to do a substantial (IMHO, preferably 50%) water change. but be forewarned that existing LS, corals, etc in ur tank might suffer negative after-effects of a sudden change in parameters.

Mg, kH, Ca r proportional and related in parts to one another (sadly, i do not hv the info on the exact proportions).

[Reds]

u r having an ionic imbalance. ur Mg is abt there (a little low), Ca is way off low and kH is way off high.

Normal parameters shld read (results varies, pls dun hold me to this),

Mg: ard 1400ppm

Ca: ard 380ppm

kH: 8-12dkH

the cloudy water u see is calcium precipitation. the best and the fastest way to correct ur parameters will be to do a substantial (IMHO, preferably 50%) water change. but be forewarned that existing LS, corals, etc in ur tank might suffer negative after-effects of a sudden change in parameters.

Mg, kH, Ca r proportional and related in parts to one another (sadly, i do not hv the info on the exact proportions).

anyone can help??? if i were to slowly add in CA slowly daily will the CA level go up?? Or i die die must lower the KH then increase the CA????

[lightningstrike]

anyone can help??? if i were to slowly add in CA slowly daily will the CA level go up?? Or i die die must lower the KH then increase the CA????

as i hv put forth,

substantial water change.

[tineng]

i concur.....substantial water change is needed...i have this problem before, when there is an inbalance, no matter how much CA you does in, it does not help.....

[RAV-65]

I know of a reefer who read the reading on the testkit wrongly, hence the erroneous reading... u sure you got the reading correctly? If yes, major water change is the only way to go...

[minsmarine]

There are two way to correct your problem

1. Change Water

2. Add Calcium Chloride ( NOT KALKWASSER ).

for solution 2, you need something like Kent's turbo Calcium. Only Calcium Chloride has conceration solution. Kalkwasser is just for normal top up water.

about 4 tea spoon of Calcium Cloride will rise about 20-40 ppm on 400L water.

here is the link you should read.

Solving Ca & Kh problem