CA testing and dosing?

[Dubge]

Ok with the addition of corals over the past 2 month I have started testing and dosing CA. Now I have been using the red sea kit (that is all that was aval at the time) and it has been showing CA at 350ish everytime I test and I have been adding Kent liquid Calcium (1 cap ful)
Well I tested last night and it was the usual 350 so I added a capful and retested this morning and it was at 300. So I added 2 capfuls this morning.
Now should I be losing CA this quick? I am assuming that I have been under dosing due to my levels being low. The most recent additions have been a Fox coral and a frogspawn (added on mon)
What should I have my CA at? 450? Is there anything else I should be testing or adding?

thanks
Ray

 

[Carpentersreef]

I like my calcium to be above 400. What's your magnesium level? You should know that if you're testing for CA.

Mitch

 

[Dubge]

Ah no one told me to test for magnesium when I had asked before. How dose that play into things? I guess I will go buy that test kit next.
thanks
Ray

 

[g.mcclean]

Here lies my MAJOR peeve. We have also starting adding coral and been diligent about testing for Ca. We were talked into a LaMotte test kit (the best?) The calcium part of the test is almost impossible to read the differentiating point on the color change. We add ESV 2 part additives. Unless the calcium is kept at a minium of 420 ppm the frogspawn will begin to lose polyp clusters. Learned the hard was with hammers which have similar reactions to low calcium. I don't believe you should have such fluctuating levels with daily dosing. Even if they are low, they would stay consistently low. I have gotten wordy but I think your problem is the test kit. Anyone have comments as to easy to read but accurate test kits?

 

[Dubge]

OK well I wasn't testing or dosing everyday untill yesterday and today. I only tested 2 other times and it was around the same. I am going to test right now and see what it comes up.

Ray

 

[Carpentersreef]

I'm pretty happy with my Salifert kits.
But I don't really test much any more. I think that you get to a point where you recognize other visible conditions in your system, and then you test the water to confirm your suspicions.
It's kinda cool when you notice that something isn't quite right, and you have a good idea what's wrong, then a test kit confirms it.

Here's a good link to our on-line magazine "Advanced Aquarist" regarding magnesium in the aquarium:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm


In the future, try the search function at the top of our web pages. Tons of info to be found! :wink:

Mitch

 

[Dubge]

thanks for the link on the magnesium.
I usually do use the search before I post but I didn't see much that helped me this time (maybe I was reading the wrong threads)
Well when I have been dosing I have been only adding enough for 50G of water (DUH stupid me) I have about 85-90G total

 

[ChrisRD]

Unless the calcium is kept at a minium of 420 ppm the frogspawn will begin to lose polyp clusters.

I've never had this problem with my Frogspawn, and I definitely know of other people with Ca levels below 400 PPM that have not had problems.

That said, I do agree that a good target number is 400-450 PPM.

 

[ChrisRD]

I'm pretty happy with my Salifert kits.

I'll second that - I like Salifert kits too.