Calcium additives
 

Currently I have 120g SPS dominant system that is being fed by a DIY calcium reator. The calcium level is around 400ppm. I just need that little bit more to put it over the top (430-450ppm). I have tried adding Kalkwasser but don't like the time consuming process of mixing the power. Perhaps liquid calcium is my solution here. Who used it, and would you recommend it? what brand and why? Any help is appreciate it.

Will -

Could you not adjust your ca reactor to make the changes?

To tell you the truth though, I don't see anything wrong with Ca at 400ppm. Seems just about right to me.

I sometimes use Seachem Reef Advantage calcium to boost the Ca a bit.


https://www.aquatichouse.com/Supplem...fAdvantage.asp

I agree with Mason, 400ppm Ca is fine, more than fine actually, anything over 300 is not bad (assuming you have the Alk to match). In fact, pushing over 400 runs you the risk of getting Ca and Alk out of balance. I.e., it's no good having Ca at say (for hypothetical example) 500ppm if you alk is 1.2 meq/l.

What is your alk sitting at right now?

To be honest I don't bother measuring Ca on a system with a Ca reactor .... just alk.

calcium
 

The reactor is 4"x14" and maybe undersized for my 30-40 heads of SPS.
I've increased the bubble count to 2-2.5 bubbles per second and don't want to go much higher to avoid mushy media. As for wanting to increase to 430-450ppm, I want to induce higher growth rate as my lighting and current are adequate already.

With adequate lighting and current already, don't you think that increasing Ca to 450ppm would increase growth more rapidly?

I've tried supplements and my tank never seems happy when I do. I've tried the calcium buffer blocks and it actually ended up killing most of the inverts in my nano. My shrimp would molt and end up legless. I've also tried Seachem reef complete but I didn't see any positive effects. My tank is at its best when I simply use Kalk drip and water changes. That's when I get the most Coraline growing. I'm sure it would be even better if I had a Calcium reactor, but I no longer add any chemical additives as I don't really believe in them.

Re: calcium
 

Actually, no, not really. :biggrin: Alkalinity is really more important when you get into these kinds of numbers.

Think of Ca as the measure of how much building blocks for which to make growth, but alkalinity as the measure of how much of those building blocks can actually be used. If you have a big pile of 2x4's ("Ca") you're going to be able to do more with those 2x4's if you actually have a hammer and some nails and a saw or stuff ("Alk"). Maybe that's not the best analogy but it's the best I could come up with.

A system with 350ppm Ca and 3.5 meq/L alk is going to have considerably better growth of SPS and other Ca drawing critters than a system with 450ppm Ca and 2.0 meq/L alk. Actually there won't be any comparison.

What sort of alkalinity do you have right now?

Re: Calcium additives
 

I think you should leave it, natural Ca is about 390ish and the growth of coral is dependent on its ability to expell Ca from its tissue. by increasing the Ca level to 450 you are actualy making it harder for the coral to grow.

my sugestion is to raise the Alk to aproximatly 12dkh while you keep your Ca about 390 to 400. I did this unintentionaly in my new house and I am getting almost twice the growth that I got when I had my Ca at 440 and my Alk at 8-9dkh.

Steve

calcium
 

Great advises guys. I will leave the calcium where it's at and check my Alk. So let me get this right. The harder the water, the more calcium could effeciently be utilized. In theory then, calcafition rate is linked directly to water hardness, and calcium being the building blocks. Woohoo, I learnt something today. :lol: :mrgreen:

Will, this just in, but I heard that you could get monster growth out of your corals by adding bleach, Windex and dog kibble in a ratio of 1:2:2 at 20lbs per 10 gallons.