Calcium Question

[davelin315]

If you're in Champaign, you're probably going to sailfin, and John, the owner (at least when I was there 10 years ago) is a great guy and also very knowledgeable (why does that look so mispelled?)and helpful, you should ask him, and if he recommended it, I would take his advice.

[ October 26, 2001: Message edited by: davelin315 ]</p>

 

[SB-129]

Thanks for your replies.

So the stuff is 1/2 calcium chloride and 1/2 baking soda? Anyone know the proportions and/or their relationship to the strengths usually sold? Couldn't this be home brewed cheaply?

Davelin: John recommends Tropic Marin to maintain calcium, which seems to be a reasonable but pricey option.

 

[SB-129]

Hello! I'm new to the board and have a chemistry question:

Despite dosing vinger-spiked Kalk for my makeup water (using a dosing pump) my Ca levels are falling steadily (20 ppm/day) since adding several new corals including a few SPS frags (I'm kind of amazed they're growing under my 175 10K halides).

I went to the only place in town that might carry the 2-part additive I was looking for and they were sold out indefinitely. So I purchased something called kent Marine "Liquid Calcium." It contains nothing but calcium chloride and water.

Is this stuff safe? It tests out at over 1000ppm Ca according to my Salifert kit.

If so, is calcium chloride then a good source of calcium for the reef tank? I remember delivering this stuff when I worked for a chemical retailer some years ago, many communities use it as a drinking water additive and as I recall it's pretty cheap (practically free when compared to the price of the Kent liquid.)

Thanks for your help!

 

[Anonymous]

Calcium chloride is the main ingredient of a 2 part calcium supplement, the other being Sodium Bicarbonate. So yes it is safe to use, though you'll want to add some buffer when using it to try to keep things in balance.

How much kalk are you adding in what size aquarium each day? You can actually overdose kalk and cause your calcium to precipitate out.

 

[SB-129]

^

 

[Len]

430 grams of NaHCO3 to 284 grams of CaCl2 to achieve stoichiometrically correct proportions.

Yes, this can be done cheaply.

For more info on this method (mainly its effects), here's C.Bingman: http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1998/dec/bio/default.asp

Tropic Marin is a manufacturer of synthetic sea salt, right? If so, I don't see how you can reinforce Ca levels except through very freqeunt water changes. Not a bad thing, mind you; just a rather laborioius method to elevate calcium levels.

 

[freedom75]

So is there somthing wrong with using the Kent Calcium. I have been adding it to my tank for a couple of weeks and have not seen a real difference. my water is testing out at about 300. I have a few corals . A green open brain and a toadstool. everyone seems happy but my Calcium has not risen alot since I started. Should I use somthing Else...
http://home.triad.rr.com/jwray/reef.html
http://home.triad.rr.com/jwray/brain.html

 

[Mac1]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

my water is testing out at about 300. I have a few corals . A green open brain and a toadstool.

Wait a minute, what size tank is this, and how much Kalkwasser gets dosed daily?

A few corals, with an LPS and Softie in almost any sized tank, should be well within Kalkwasser's ability to maintain... I've got a lot of SPS frags, a couple heads, and a handful of LPS and Softies in my 90 Gal, dose about 10 L's of Topoff (kalkwasser) a day, and have trouble keeping it down.... The levels start to creep up over a few weeks, and I risk precipitation. Something doesn't sound right, if you're dosing Kalk AND a two-part additive.. Is your test kit old?

- Mac

 

[freedom75]

Mac

I am only using kent liqiud calcium. My test kit is brandnew. Everybody is doing well but by the instuctions on my kit my calcium is staying low.. This is a 72 bowfront..

John

 

[DKKA]

SB-129, I used to use Tropic Marins calcium supplement (also on Johns suggestion) I think it's called Bio Calcium or something. It's easy to use and it works. I used it on my 10 gal nano and had good sps growth. It does get pricey, as you noted, but if your tank is small enough and calc demand low enough it's not a bad alternative.

Watch your salinity though. It tends to creep up with this stuff. Regular water changes are recommended to maintain ionic balance.
HTH, Dan