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Calcium Level

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Patriot76

Hey guys, I need some advice on keeping my calcium at accepting level. My calcium level was reading about 360 for the first 6 weeks or so that my tank was set up. Then one day i tested again and my calcium was at 300. a few weeks ago and I added 32oz of Kent Concentrated Liquid Calcium. The level then went up to 360. Within a week the level dropped back down to 320. I added another 16oz of Kent Concentrated Liquid Calcium and was reading about 350 again. About a week or so has gone by and the calcium is back to 300?????? I am running a Kalk Rector for fresh water top-offs. My total water volume is about 250 gallons. I only have a few corals in the tank at this point. My PH has been steady at 8.2 or so. Alk is reading about 2.5 or so. I am testing PH & Cacium with PinPoint Meters and Alk with a RedSea test kit. Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to add a couple more corals but I really want to make sure my water parameters are stable for a while before doing so.
 
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reefitup

I have 2 questions.

1. What type of salt are you using?
2. Do you have a magnesium test kit? If so, what are your mag. levels?
 
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Patriot76

reefitup said:
1. What type of salt are you using?
2. Do you have a magnesium test kit? If so, what are your mag. levels?
Click to expand...
1. Reef Crystals
2. No. I need to get one!

phil519 said:
the kalk reactor may be causing the alk to fluctuate...thereby affecting calc...

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems By Randy Holmes-Farley

Hope that helps...
Click to expand...

Has anyone else had similar issues since they been using their Kalk Reactors?

I've read that article in the past, but I am not a college graduate or anything, I think I may the 'For Dummies' version. I will read it again, maybe it will make more sense the second time.
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

I think...emphasis on *THINK* you are in zone 3....

you may need a calc reactor...

I'm in the same boat you are right now (in the sense that I own a kalk reactor but not a calc reactor)...so am curious to see how this thread concludes...
 
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RobSzar

it's your magnesium, get Kent tech M and raise it up, and use turbo calcium to raise you ca. I had a similar issue about a month back and now I'm steady at 410 ;)
 
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Patriot76

phil519 said:
I think...emphasis on *THINK* you are in zone 3....

you may need a calc reactor...

I'm in the same boat you are right now (in the sense that I own a kalk reactor but not a calc reactor)...so am curious to see how this thread concludes...
Click to expand...

yeah zone 3 is what i figured as well. i just read that article again, it made more sense the second time. i think that has a lot to do with the fact that it is actually quiet in my house for a change!

RobSzar said:
it's your magnesium, get Kent tech M and raise it up, and use turbo calcium to raise you ca. I had a similar issue about a month back and now I'm steady at 410 ;)
Click to expand...

i am going to get a magnesium test kit tomorrow and see where that is first. for the time being i am going to bypass my kalk reactor and just top off with fresh RO/DI. if need be, i will heed Rob's advice and try Kent tech M toraise it up, and use turbo calcium to raise my calcium up to 400 or so.


THANKS FOR THE ADVCICE GUYS!!!!!
 
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