Seachem Reef Complete

[BCOrchidGuy]

The bottle of reef Complete actually says on it, Ca levels above 400mg/L is NOT recommended. The bottle also recommends using Reef Carbonate or Reef builder in conjunction with the Reef Complete. "Reef Carbonate is a concentrated (4,000 mg/L) optimized blened of carbonate and bicarbonate salts designed to restore and maintain alkalinity in the reef aquarium.""Used as directed, Reef Carbonate will no deplete calcium, magnesium or strongtium which usually tent to precipitate with increasing alkalinity."

You may want to buy a SeaChem Ca test kit as it does measure all types of calcium, including calcium gluconate.

[Samw]

Yes, that's what my bottle says. I really wasn't trying to go over 500. I just didn't test for Calcium regularly and kept dosing and dosing thinking that my Calcium was being used up. My mistake. I haven't been adding any polygluconates into my tank though (which would be the Seachem Reef Calcium product). Do you think the SeaChem Ca kit will give me more accurate results than the other 2 kits? I could try it I suppose. Wouldn't hurt.

[Canadian Man]

Originally Posted by steve-s

I would be interested in your progress with the Reef Carbonate. I have used the liquid carbonate products myself and have found them to be very lacking when it comes to raising alkalinty any significant amount if you are trying to remedy a problem.

They can and are fine for maintaining levels that are already balanced though.

FYI, not sure if you know this but make sure you never add a carbonate product at the same time or near the same time as a product that contains magnesium. If added to closely timewise, they will form Magnesium Carbonate and do nothing for the alkalinity. They are best dosed several hours apart.

Cheers
Steve

Good old baking soda works wonders for raising alk. Just add it slowly and your fine.