HOT TIP Submissions -- Topic: Calcium Tips

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HOT TIPS Column: December 2006 Issue of Advanced Aquarist

December's theme is "Calcium Tips." Please submit your tips and tricks for maintaining your calcium and alkalinity levels. Your tips and tricks will help new and existing reefkeepers and also helps to bring the hobby to the next level (plus it's just cool to get published in a magazine like Advanced Aquarist).

When published, your hot tip will have your username published (along with your real name if you so desire). Every month we will be running a new HOT TIP thread so stay tuned and help out when you can.

The staff at both Reefs.org and Advanced Aquarist would like to thank you for your continued interest and support of our online community, magazine, and services.

Let the submissions begin!

Best regards,

Reefs.org and Advanced Aquarist staff

 

[Anonymous]

My tanks are low calcium with softies, corraline, a giant clam, and some halimedia.

I use the Dr. Holmes-Farley's DIY two part method:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... 4/chem.htm

With the aid of this on line calculator:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

I dissolve about a cup of either with a gallon of water. Of course, one gallon is calcium chloride and another seperate container is the dissolved baking soda.

When alk falls to 9-10 dkh or so is I dose baking soda and calcium chloride. About 200ml of each solution in my 55g. Every month or so check magnesium and if necessary add magnesium chloride and epsom salts.

I have found 50 pound bags of epson salts for $20 at a local feed and seed store. 50 pound bags of calcium chloride cost $10 and 50 pound bags magnesium chloride are $15 at a local chemical company. Baking soda is just from the grocery store. Calcium chloride is also available from local redimix concrete companies.

The calcium chloride and magnesium chloride are extremely reactive with even the humidity in the air. My original 50 pound bag of calcium chloride was almost a solid block in a few weeks ofter I opened it. So now I transfer it and the magnesium chloride to small air tight containers (gallon plastic jars, 3 pound plastic coffee cans, and so on) immediately after I open the bag.


I also filter my water with 15 pounds of crushed oyster shells with 5x water flow through them. They cost about $6 for 50 pounds and I rinse them out every month or two.

I did overdose by adding an amount every day then testing at the end of the week. So now I do the alk test before I dose.


my .02