Calcium dosing

My tank is sucking up calcium faster then i can add it. I use Seachem reef calcium alot of it. and have a hard time to get my calcium past 360. The only way i can get this item is if i oder it off line. So to save some buck's i think its time to start kalk dosing but i can only do this as a drip line. I do not have a dosing pump and i do not have a AC/jr to trun of the dosing pump if the PH gets to high. Is there away to drip line it and not push my PH up to high. Like set it for like 1 drip every 20-30 sec ?

I driped kalk for a while and I used a IV bag you can get them from medical supply places then you can set it to drip how often you would like. Have yo checked Bulk Reef Supply for your Ca supp.?

I picked up a IV bag at SWE and i just picked up Mrs. Wages at Wal-Mart $1.50 Sometime this weekend i will set it up and hope for the best lol

Just don't over due it!! I think the ratio is 3/4 of a teaspoon to 1/2 gallon of water.

Here is that podcast i spent all day looking for lol
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/podcast-episodes/674-diy-kalk-doser-video-podcast-episode-44-a.html

Just remember Kalkwasser is for maintaining Ca and alk, it is not used to raise levels.

what do you keep your salinity at? If you keep your salinity lower i have found that in other than garretts case that it is hard to get your alk, calcium levels to stay higher like what you are probably looking for in a reef, i am guessing 420 and 10 or something along those lines. Remember that magnesium also plays a crucial role in calc, and alk levels. The best way to keep your levels up is water changes and some sort of maintance program, like mrs wages. Does wages increase both calcium and alkalinity and does it affect ph?

I keep my salinity at 1.025 specific gravity. If you have lower salinity then naturally the Calcium, Alkalinity and Mg of your water is going to be lower because there is just less salt for the same amount of water. Natural Salt Water parameters for these three components are

Calcium: 410-430 ppm
Mg: 1250-1300 ppm
KH: 6.5-7.5

Typically your salt is never balanced in any of the three. Reef Crystals has Ca much lower than 400 and Alk close to 11 and Mg around 1170. You would have to boost your Ca and Mg levels up to balance for the higher Alk (unless you use some mineral acid to lower it..which I do now).

Pickling lime (aka Mrs Wages) only maintains the Ca levels if your consumption from corals is not too high. The saturation is 2 tsp/gallon and if your requirement is more than that then you need to go with 2 part or Ca reactor (unless you add vinegar to super saturate it). Pickling lime typically has Ph of 12 so adding more than 1% of your tank volume at any one time will raise your Ph too fast to affect your corals. So people use drip method or top off at night when your tank Ph is natually lower.

Hope that helps.
Vishnu

My salinity is 1.023 I will get that up to 1.025 and see if it help's

Make sure your refractometer is calibrated with a calibration solution or at least RODI water before you check your salinity. Raise your salinity slowly over a period of 1 week so your corals can adapt.
Good luck
Vishnu

LoL i still use a hydrometer i'm old school

Good to get even that calibrated. Nothing wrong with a hydrometer.
Vishnu

i have found just make sure you tap the hydrometer to make sure there are no bubbles on the swing arm.

have you ever taught about a calc reactor? i am in the works building one a 24" tall 6" diam duel chamber system and if you wash your hydrometer in a vinegar solution that will get all the gunk off and give you a better reading?

tattooedreefer wrote:have you ever taught about a calc reactor? i am in the works building one a 24" tall 6" diam duel chamber system and if you wash your hydrometer in a vinegar solution that will get all the gunk off and give you a better reading?

Im looking at alot of different options. I do need something soon my tank is sucking this stuff up fast.

bulk reef supply 2 part or calcium reactor is what i suggest for maintaining calcium after you get your salinity and parameters in line.

I usually use a Calcium reactor myself but I'm remodeling my Tank room and until then I to use Bulkreefsupply.com Bulk Mag,cal,chloride and soda ash for Alk.

icereefer wrote:I usually use a Calcium reactor myself but I'm remodeling my Tank room and until then I to use Bulkreefsupply.com Bulk Mag,cal,chloride and soda ash for Alk.

The 2 part stuf right ? I was looking at the kit for it 59.99+ship

Yeah the starter kit is a good way to get started.

yeah it is a good way to start out and if you decide you want to upgrade some day to a less maintance system like a calcium reactor than you can. You also have the capability down the road to automate the 2 part for you.

That is a starter kit for a Ca reactor?? I was thinking about doing this but not sure. When I tested yesturday my Ca was 530 and Alk was 11

Home_Depot wrote:That is a starter kit for a Ca reactor?? I was thinking about doing this but not sure. When I tested yesturday my Ca was 530 and Alk was 11

No Garrett it is a 2 part start kit.
530 Ca? what are to dosing for ml a day in cal? what's you Mag at? do you have another Cal test kit you can test side by side with? to make sure your test kit is accurate ?

if your handy you should look online there are alot of diy reactors that are really cheap to build

Anyone have a link to just how a cal reactor works ?

icereefer wrote:

Home_Depot wrote:That is a starter kit for a Ca reactor?? I was thinking about doing this but not sure. When I tested yesturday my Ca was 530 and Alk was 11

No Garrett it is a 2 part start kit.
530 Ca? what are to dosing for ml a day in cal? what's you Mag at? do you have another Cal test kit you can test side by side with? to make sure your test kit is accurate ?

I dose nothing. I for some reason aways have high Ca. I di have a Salifert I will test it next to my API and see what they come up