Author Topic: All about Calcium  (Read 800 times)

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Offline Seamonster

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All about Calcium
« on: December 06, 2011, 11:41:58 AM »
R u guys testing for CA?  if so, what tests are you using? 
What's your calcium level? 
Do you dose? If so which product are you using?
Thank you for contributing to Reef College.com


Offline 0

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Re: All about Calcium
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2011, 01:01:14 PM »
I'm testing Ca once or twice a week ( trying to find the daily usage in my tank) and use Seachem Calcium Reef Status titration kit. I think if you have SPS corals and are not 100% sure your Ca dosing is stable you need to test more often. Once my Ca dropped to 320 mg/L unknowingly, stopped growth and it took weeks after correcting it to 420+ mg/L for them to start growing again.

Dose: Seachem Reef Complete Calcium daily, trying to keep my levels at 450mg/L.

I find that my tank uses approximately 20mg/L per day of Ca.

Offline ReefCowboy

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Re: All about Calcium
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2011, 04:30:17 AM »
I check mine maybe 2x a week. I am very particular about test kits, and after spending lots of $ on them, have chosen the top ones.
I like the brand Red Sea, it was the closest I have come across to the results yielded by a Salifert kit I had in the past. Obviously, no one wants to keep spending 45 bucks in test kits so I buy the red sea that can be pretty good as well and is around $18. The calcium usage is very inconsistent in my tank, and dosages are never the same. I have been able to keep it stable, and use Brightwell's Concentrated Calcion. I used to be a Seachem guy, but after trying Brightwell's products, mainly alk buffers and calcion, I noticed they not only are way stronger(+concentrated) but also come in larger bottles lasting longer.
I have been keeping my Ca around 460ppm.
I also have been keeping my alk at 4.5meq/l. These two have been giving me coraline like never before... All equipment in sump and tank have gotten covered in matter of days at those levels.

Offline 0

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Re: All about Calcium
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2011, 07:11:03 AM »
I check mine maybe 2x a week. I am very particular about test kits, and after spending lots of $ on them, have chosen the top ones.
I like the brand Red Sea, it was the closest I have come across to the results yielded by a Salifert kit I had in the past. Obviously, no one wants to keep spending 45 bucks in test kits so I buy the red sea that can be pretty good as well and is around $18. The calcium usage is very inconsistent in my tank, and dosages are never the same. I have been able to keep it stable, and use Brightwell's Concentrated Calcion. I used to be a Seachem guy, but after trying Brightwell's products, mainly alk buffers and calcion, I noticed they not only are way stronger(+concentrated) but also come in larger bottles lasting longer.
I have been keeping my Ca around 460ppm.
I also have been keeping my alk at 4.5meq/l. These two have been giving me coraline like never before... All equipment in sump and tank have gotten covered in matter of days at those levels.


How often do you dose Ca and Carbonate products? And how much are you using of each?

Just curious because I think I have to dose quite a bit of carbonate daily to keep my tank at 4-5 meq/L. My Mg is 1350 tested weekly. pH still falls quite a bit at night, down by 0.1-0.2 pH, but not that unusual.

Offline ReefCowboy

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Re: All about Calcium
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2011, 07:29:58 AM »
Babyreef,

When I was using seachem's "in vitro" line of products, which seemed to be their best stuff, I was going through liquid alk buffer bottles like crazy. My tank could never get to above 3.2meq/l with liquid buffers and I was already adding something like 75ml per day. The bottle was 400ml so go figure! Calcium not as much but a lot also. I switched to Alkalin liquid by Brightwell and I liked it because I was dosing way less, and could keep my alk at around 3.5. I tried then Brightwell's powder version, Alkalin 8.3-P and was amazed! I dissolve 3 teaspoons in 8oz of fresh water and my alk stays at 4.0-4.5 for 2-3 days. The package comes in 500g and costs a lot cheaper than the liquid form. One box should last 2-3 months. The calcion is a concentrated calcium liquid(150000ppm) and I only add 2-3 caps(5ml each) maybe 2x a week and my cacium stays at around 450.

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Re: All about Calcium
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2011, 10:53:10 AM »
Babyreef,

When I was using seachem's "in vitro" line of products, which seemed to be their best stuff, I was going through liquid alk buffer bottles like crazy. My tank could never get to above 3.2meq/l with liquid buffers and I was already adding something like 75ml per day. The bottle was 400ml so go figure! Calcium not as much but a lot also. I switched to Alkalin liquid by Brightwell and I liked it because I was dosing way less, and could keep my alk at around 3.5. I tried then Brightwell's powder version, Alkalin 8.3-P and was amazed! I dissolve 3 teaspoons in 8oz of fresh water and my alk stays at 4.0-4.5 for 2-3 days. The package comes in 500g and costs a lot cheaper than the liquid form. One box should last 2-3 months. The calcion is a concentrated calcium liquid(150000ppm) and I only add 2-3 caps(5ml each) maybe 2x a week and my cacium stays at around 450.

Interesting, from my readings, carbonate and Ca will not stay in solution very long if your Magnesium is low. Raising the Mg will allow these two to remain usable and testable in the system. Or, one could say, prevents precipitation of the two.

Did you manage your Mg differently somewhere along the time you changed products. I find the powder forms are more stable in the system than the liquid forms. Not sure if there is a difference in chemistry between the two, or if the concentration levels are different. I would agree that the Seachem liquid products do not seem very concentrated, but I like the ease of dosing. I may however switch products to see how they differ but I am worried to change everything now that things are running fairly well. I am open to change to a product that works better.

I have a $80 a month reef maintenance habit at the moment, if I could find a product that offers the same value for less money it would make me very happy.

Offline ReefCowboy

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Re: All about Calcium
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2011, 06:59:16 PM »
Babyreef,

I used to test weekly my Mg and almost every time came with it being over 1300.
I even have a brand new bottle of Seachem's "Ions" which is a Mg supplement, that i havent even opened since I never needed it.
You are correct, Mg has the ability to keep Ca and Alk stable without dropping too fast in the tank.
I have been dosing trace elements every week as well and I do water changes every other week which i believe has been enough to keep my Mg above 1200.
I really liked Seachem, but with all honesty, with Brightwell is so much easier.
The dosing is just as easy, the directions are easy to understand.
I was spending in supplements monthly:
7 bottles of alk(seachem) @ $10 each= $70
1 bottle of Calcion(brightwell) =$14
1 Bottle of TLF Phosban Media=$18
1 bag of Chemipure carbon=$15
total: $117!!!

It was obvious alk buffers were out of control. I did research and noticed many people had similar usage per day... around 50-70ml
So the only way was to find a more concentrated product. I searched for BRS(Bulk Reef Supply), but a friend has their alk buffer and it is weak too. The bottle is also small.
I tried Kent's alk buffer and it was the worst of all of them. Fresh water from my sink would have maybe helped more.
So while at the LFS i looked for other reliable sources, and Brightwell was one that caught my eye.
I started adding the liquid that comes in a 500ml bottle and found that the concentration was greater than all the others, but the dosage was still high. not as high as Seachem's but high too.
I started ordering the 2litre bottles to avoid me having to go by the store every week.
One day they had not gotten the order in for my 2l bottle so I had no choice but to grab their powder form.
Best thing ever!!
Now like mentioned before i have a package of powder that lasts 2 months at least, and is much better. Dont fall in the hype "dont mix Seachem's products with Brightwell's or others"...thats marketing so you only buy their products.
I mentioned Calcion is also my choice from Brightwell because if you check on the concentration of all competition, it is not as high as calcion's 150000ppm.
My monthly cost now with the powder:
Alkalin 8.3-P $14
Calcion $14
1 Bottle of TLF Phosban Media=$18
Carbon: do not use anymore, no bad, no good(water is clearer but not worth the hassle of another thing to worry about!
totals:$46.......


Offline DrBrain

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Re: All about Calcium
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2011, 07:15:16 PM »
46 bucks per month!!!  I wish I had that kind of money.  I am still a firm believer that your water changes will replenish all the trace elements needed for all your corals.  With the exception of well stocked SPS tanks

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Re: All about Calcium
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2011, 07:18:51 PM »
Thanks for the reply, I have the Brightwell products on my shopping list for my next visit to LFS superstore a couple hours away. I make the trip once a month and stock up on supplies I need. There prices are quite good. They carry the entire Brightwell line, including the potassium I am looking for and Alkalin 8.3-P, Calcion-P. I still have some Seachem products to use up here first but only a couple of weeks at most. Keep you posted.

Brightwell Aquatics Alkalin8.3 Powder Aquarium Buffer - 500 Gram              $9.65   


Brightwell Aquatics Calcion-P Powder Calcium Supplement - 800 Gram     $17.55   

Brightwell Aquatics Potassion Liquid Potassium Additive - 500ml                     $10.55

Brightwell Aquatics Magnesion-P Dry Aquarium Additive - 600 Gram             $13.30


Offline ReefCowboy

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Re: All about Calcium
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2011, 07:44:56 PM »
Wooow!

Nice find! that is a nice store, no doubt the best prices!
The Calcion I use is liquid, but im sure like the alk, the powder is also awesome.
When adding the alk powder, I mix 3 teaspoons in 8oz of fresh water and add to my tank. Make sure you follow whats applicable to the volume in yours. It wont be disappointing!
Ill check on your updates for the potassium, which I am very interested too!

 

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