Low Calcium Levels

[reeftank55]

I am having a problem getting my calcium levels up past 280ppm in my 55 gallon reef tank. I am using a salifert test kit to test the levels.

P.H. 8.5
Alk 10.08
Mag 1140
Cal 280

Everything else looks good!
I have tried kents 2 part solution and the levels did not change now i am trying Turbo Calcium at about 1/4 teaspoon per day and i still cant get the levels up past 280ppm. Should i be adding more calcium or is there somthing else i can do. I would like to get my calcium levels up to around 400ppm. Thanks

 

[randy holmes-farley]

I recommend that you only use calcium chloride (like Kent Turbo calcium or ESV brand), because you don't want to raise alkalinity too. It will take a huge amount. Forget the teaspoon, get out a shovel. 8O

Use Andy's calculator to see how much:

http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/cacalc.htm

 

[CraigBingman]

I am having a problem getting my calcium levels up past 280ppm in my 55 gallon reef tank. I am using a salifert test kit to test the levels.

P.H. 8.5
Alk 10.08
Mag 1140
Cal 280

Everything else looks good!
I have tried kents 2 part solution and the levels did not change now i am trying Turbo Calcium at about 1/4 teaspoon per day and i still cant get the levels up past 280ppm. Should i be adding more calcium or is there somthing else i can do. I would like to get my calcium levels up to around 400ppm. Thanks

The magnesium concentration in the system is also somewhat below typical values for tropical ocean surface seawater. So I would suggest that the salinity of the water might be a bit low. Check the salinity or specific gravity before adding a calcium chloride supplement. If you have low salinity, then the concentration of all the major and minor ions will be low.

Assuming that I trust both the calcium and the magnesium measurement, taking the system to NSW salinity will only bring the calcium concentration to ~331 mg/L, which is still a bit lower than most people would like to see it. So you will still very probably need to add some calcium chloride to get the system up to snuff.

Craig Bingman