So i have been trying to monitor my tanks calcium consumption over the past week since i just added and Acropora Frag to my tank. My problem is my readings over the past 3 days have been all over the place and i have been trying to dose my tank with calcium but it is not changing my readings. Can calcium go bad 3 years prior to it expiration?
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Calcium Supplement
- Thread starter bootz
- Start date
I am using API Calcium Tester. As a side note i have managed to estimate that 3 drops of calcium supple raises my levels 20ppm. My readings were as follows:
Friday afternoon: 380ppm so i dosed it back up to 400 adding 3 drops
Saturday: 340ppm but i added the Acropora to the tank around 3am est due to me traveling that day. i dosed the tank back up to 400 using approxiamately 11 drops
Sunday: it tested at 320ppm and i have added so far 28 drops and nothing as changed i am actually really confused/
Friday afternoon: 380ppm so i dosed it back up to 400 adding 3 drops
Saturday: 340ppm but i added the Acropora to the tank around 3am est due to me traveling that day. i dosed the tank back up to 400 using approxiamately 11 drops
Sunday: it tested at 320ppm and i have added so far 28 drops and nothing as changed i am actually really confused/
There is a fine balance between calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. Here are two good reads from the God of Marine Chemistry:
1. Calcium and Alkalinity
2. A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH
1. Calcium and Alkalinity
2. A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH
Try taking a water sample to your Lfs,one that you trust,and have them check it. This will let you be sure your kit is good. I am also trying to dial in my supplements and not having fun doing so. Once you think you have a grasp it shows you who,s in charge. I also double test at the same time to try to avoid mistakes in testing.
No!
You really can’t overdose. If the concentration is too high, it will start to precipitate out.
falconut
NJRC Member
Maybe I'm not understanding you correctly. Do you test before and after adding? Is that how you know your tank is going up to 400ppm? 3 drops doesn't sound like much. How small is your tank. I was under the impression that all the liquid calciums were not very concentrated. So, I'm not sure how 3 drops would raise it hardly at all. Is it possible that your levels are just going down and the drops are doing almost nothing?
I think I'd start by getting a reasonably good test kit for your Ca, Mg, and Alk. I use Salifert, but I believe that you can get a kit for these from Red Sea that contains all three, called reef foundation pro, that has been getting a lot of good press, and is reasonably priced. If you find that your Mg is low, it will be difficult to get your Ca and Alk in line because they will bind to each other and precipitate out. If you are using a decent brand of "reef" type salt and do regular water changes, most of these elements should remain close to their recommended levels.
What are you using for your calcium supplement? Since your talking about adding "drops" I assume it's liquid 2 part supplement like B-Ionic?
Define "drops", like 3 drops from the bottle or from an eye dropper? I've never heard of anyone dosing in drops before. Even on my 8 gallon Biocube I dose 5 mL a day of Kent tech A/B two part. 5 ml = a LOT of drops.
Also, testing immediately after dosing will give you a false reading.
Also, testing immediately after dosing will give you a false reading.
yeah drops from the bottle. Like i said i estimated how much calcium it yielded from last time i added coral and i usually wait 30 minutes before i test again. I was hesitant to add the full 5ml per 50gallons like the bottle said. I assumed i should only use half since my tank is half the size but if you are using 5ml i will test it today and dose it up using the 5ml thanks 
I don't know about others, but when I test...cough cough... I usually test the water, dose the tank and then wait until the next evening to test again. Then dose more if needed, wait a day and test again. But that's just me.