Low calcium during cycle? Adjust?

[siskiou]

My 20G high is one week into the cycle, and my calcium test tells me it only at 180ppm.

 

I'm using IO salt atm.

 

Ph is at 8.O

Ammonia 0

Nitrites off the chart

Nitrates 15-20ppm

 

Temp 80 F

Piccolo skimmer

CPR HOB fuge

 

Should I adjust the calcium, and if yes, what would be the safest and easiest way to do this for a newbie?

 

And what could be using up the calcium in my tank?

 

This is a second cycle (had 2inch SB and two pieces of LR in it for 2 months, and DSB plus LR rubble with a little bit of unidentified macroalgae on it also for 2 months, before the main load of LR came in).

Calcium was at 440 ppm before (with Kent salt).

 

Siskiou

[Physh1]

It's unlikely that anything is really using calcium at the moment and it's the case that IO (along with most other mixes) doesn't have proper ca levels. You will be best off IMO to start getting your ca and alk up and stable. Personally I use Seachem Reef Builder and Reef Advantage Calcium (all powder mixes). I would also recommend the liquid versions of these additives or a 2 part system like ESV Bionic.

 

The Kent you used before could have had a higher value. Salt mixes IMO are far far from constant from batch to batch so I've never relied on them for my tank chemistry needs.

 

Cameron