how do i increase my calcium?

[dsal]

Hey guys. I bought a calcium test kit and tested my water. It was at 200. I was told it should be at 400. I asked my lfs and he gave me Kents purple tech. I've used it for a week and still mo change. Is there a better product out there? I really need to raise my calcium. I have an bta that's starting to shrivel up and I was told that could be why. Please help

 

[reeferpj]

I don't think that would make a bta do that but IDK. If your mag is low that will afect your cal. Purple up should do it. I would get turbo cal tho but first check your mag and alk/DKH

 

[stingythingy45]

The calcium would have very little to do with your bta shriveling.
Have you tested ammonia?
Alk?
Mg?
Do you have a refractor?

 

[dsal]

I do have a refractor and my anonia is good. My mag was low but I been adding stuff to increase it. Haven't tested it since. My alk was a lil high, gonna do a water change and test it again. What else would cause my bta to shrivel??

 

[stingythingy45]

What kind of lights do you have?

 

[reeferpj]

How long have you had it? How long has your tank been running? What do you have for lighting? And high alk would do it

 

[dsal]

Tanks been running for 10 months. I have Current 2 x 96 lights.

 

[dsal]

I've had the bta for about 3 months and its been great. I bought a new one last Saturday and he died by Tuesday.

 

[reeferpj]

2x96 PC or T5? Even if its 2 T5s that might not be enough light but I'm not to sure about that. I had a 12inch nem and had a alk swing and its now 2inch

 

[stingythingy45]

Not enough light and probably not stable water parameters are causing the issues.

 

[MrCote]

what type of salt do you use? that plays a HUGE role in your water chemistry. I use to use reef crystals and that gave me very low PH and not enough calcium.
Now I use red sea Coral Pro and everything is right where it should be now

 

[dsal]

I usually use instant ocean but I ran out and bought sea chem. I think that is when the problems started.

 

[reeferpj]

there ya go. dont cheap out on salt. im not saying you are just putting that out there for newbees that might be reading this as well. the money you save in salt you spend 2xs in adding cal/mag/buffers

 

[dsal]

I learned that the hard way. Lol. I've been spending a bunch on chemicals. Instant ocean is a good salt though right?

 

[delta]

I doubt salt is the problem as no matter what salt you are using you need to buffer the water to make sure you have the correct parameters.

Post your current parameters and the test kits you are using. If you are saying Calcium is @ 200 something is wrong either your test kit and/or testing method

Ca
Alk
Mg
Salinity
ph
temp

Instant ocean is fine as a salt, but lets get to the problem at hand which is figuring out where your tank is at and go from there

lets not blame the salt. Too often it is easier to blame something you have no proof of when looking for a reason why things are wrong, when you do not know the actual answer

 

[stingythingy45]

I learned that the hard way. Lol. I've been spending a bunch on chemicals. Instant ocean is a good salt though right?

What chemicals?

 

[delta]

Don't even need to know what chemicals as there are inexpensive ways to buffer your tank

Dowflake (Ca), magflake (Mg) and Baked baking/washing soda (Alk) all dirt cheap

 

[dsal]

Cal. 200
PH 8.4
Temp 80
Salinity 1.023
I have API test kits. The highest # of drops for alk is 12 which =214.8 and I'm getting 14 drop so I'm over 214. Is that bad??

 

[dsal]

I've been adding purple up for calcium but it hasn't changed anything. Just bought reef fusion by sea chem to raise calcium.

 

[frank180reef]

you want calcium Chloride from bulk reef supply and the additives mentioned above

what other stuff are u dosing?