LongPig Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 I'm drinking it right now, I "needed" it. Yeah bad test results put me on edge too. Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 From the report card they gave me. Calcium (Ca) Natural Seawater Value: 400 mg/L Acceptable Range: 350 to 450 mg/L* *These values represent only the amount of free calcium ions present in the samples. According to Randy Holmes-Farley, the total calcium concentration can be 20% to 30% higher. Tested: 133 mg/L (LOW) Your calcium level is too low. We recommend using a commercial calcium additive to raise this level. There are several methods for doing this. Calcium is a critical parameter for coral growth in reef aquariums, and chronically low levels will cause coral mortality and loss of coralline algae and other invertebrate species. chronically low levels will cause coral mortality and loss of coralline algae and other invertebrate species. I haven't "lost" any corals. My coralline is through the roof, on everything! I haven't lost any inverts either. Quote Link to comment
Rehype Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 SPS don't adjust to low calcium levels - they suffer and wither. 133ppm is not enough for any coral that I know of that produces a calcium carbonate skeleton. What i mean is the low calcium levels didnt just happen overnight its been gradual. As the corals have grown so has their uptake of calcium and it seems that regular water changes havent been able to keep up with the demand. All sps dont just wither and die from low calcium they usually just stop growing. I agree with you that that reading is very low but thats why if i asked if the sample was sent before or after a waterchange. Kalk drip was started today. Why is my Salifert testing at 490+ and they say it is 133, that is a significant difference. I guess I'm bringing a bottle of water to your place this weekend. I know that seems way off..maybe its somewhere in the middle.I was thinking the same thing we can check it against my hanna checker. Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 (edited) What i mean is the low calcium levels didnt just happen overnight its been gradual. As the corals have grown so has their uptake of calcium and it seems that regular water changes havent been able to keep up with the demand. All sps dont just wither and die from low calcium they usually just stop growing. I agree with you that that reading is very low but thats why if i asked if the sample was sent before or after a waterchange. I know that seems way off..maybe its somewhere in the middle.I was thinking the same thing we can check it against my hanna checker. The water sample I sent was before a water change. And I'm going to be honest I had gone on to week #2 without a water change (sump was scary, I didn't want to turn off the pump). Update on the tank. SC-65 skimmer is online! Kalk drip started. Lorax the YCG escaped again! I have foam on eggcrate blocking the baffles but he managed to jump the fence to the skimmer compartment. Is currently sitting next to the filter sock. Idiot. Edited July 24, 2012 by metrokat Quote Link to comment
Rehype Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 The water sample I sent was before a water change. And I'm going to be honest I had gone on to week #2 without a water change (sump was scary, I didn't want to turn off the pump). Update on the tank. SC-65 skimmer in online! Kalk drip started. hmmm that definitely clears things up a bit. Recently i stopped dosing calcium because i felt my saltmix added enough calcium between water changes and I always had readings of 450+ but after a few weeks i decided to test my calcium and found it had already dropped to 300. So i guess you really cant underestimate growing coral...Especially in our small systems. Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 hmmm that definitely clears things up a bit. Recently i stopped dosing calcium because i felt my saltmix added enough calcium between water changes and I always had readings of 450+ but after a few weeks i decided to test my calcium and found it had already dropped to 300. So i guess you really cant underestimate growing coral...Especially in our small systems. So it is also possible that low Calcium is also the cause of the SPS browning? Quote Link to comment
kgoldy Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 I received my water test results from aquariumwatertesting.com today ... **kgoldy googles** Do they do house calls? Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 **kgoldy googles** Do they do house calls? SHE's a model. THEY send you a USPS priority mail sticker for your cooties. Quote Link to comment
Rehype Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 So it is also possible that low Calcium is also the cause of the SPS browning? Possibly... like i said different species sometimes respond differently. I would say get your alk to 7-8dkh and your calcium to 420ppm(be sure to adjust it slowly) and keep it there. In a few weeks im sure those pieces will make a comeback. SHE's a model. THEY send you a USPS priority mail sticker for your cooties. You have me curious now kat i think i want to see what my "official" readings are. How long did it take to get back the results? Quote Link to comment
kgoldy Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 SHE's a model. THEY send you a USPS priority mail sticker for your cooties. But... but... Don't tell her I have cooties! Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 You have me curious now kat i think i want to see what my "official" readings are. How long did it take to get back the results? 3 days max. They send you a little kit with bottles for the samples and a return sticker. Quote Link to comment
Rehype Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 3 days max. They send you a little kit with bottles for the samples and a return sticker. hmmm thats a really fast turn around. Ill probably do that sooner than later. thanks for the info Quote Link to comment
flampton Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 you can use 3 tsp and barely get any settling. I use 1 TBSP per gallon. Wow fast moving thread Kat...Hope your calcium, dKh issues get resolved. I just wanted to chime in and let you know these two amounts Zeph gave are the same, Doesn't anyone cook around these parts? Or is it all reefing all the time? ha ha. Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 Wow fast moving thread Kat...Hope your calcium, dKh issues get resolved. I just wanted to chime in and let you know these two amounts Zeph gave are the same, Doesn't anyone cook around these parts? Or is it all reefing all the time? ha ha. You cook, I'll do the dishes! Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 (edited) The tank was so pretty this morning I took some pictures in pajamas. I guess the millipora isn't all that brown in a top down shot Niether is the Tubbs yellow Bird Nuclear Greens, and the Jason Fox Setosa I grew from a booger Also in this picture, my Jason Fox Orange eye leptastrea shows green when the polyps are retracted. This kind is known as a lucky charms leptastrea. Either way it's a score! Edited July 24, 2012 by metrokat Quote Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Wow fast moving thread Kat...Hope your calcium, dKh issues get resolved. I just wanted to chime in and let you know these two amounts Zeph gave are the same, Doesn't anyone cook around these parts? Or is it all reefing all the time? ha ha. Tsp = teaspoon, tbsp = tablespoon, equivalent to 3 teaspoons. Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 Tested the water Calcium 490 dKH 8.6 Mag 1500+ Started dosing a low concentration of Kalk yesterday, very slow drip rate. Calcium in fresh batch of salt water (Oceanic Salt) 500+ Going to do a water change today. Quote Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Tested the water Calcium 490 dKH 8.6 Mag 1500+ Started dosing a low concentration of Kalk yesterday, very slow drip rate. Calcium in fresh batch of salt water (Oceanic Salt) 500+ Going to do a water change today. Thought you used Red Sea Coral Pro, not Oceanic.... Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 Thought you used Red Sea Coral Pro, not Oceanic.... I did, but Zeph freaked me out with the "she should use REGULAR" salt. So I used oceanic for this batch since I was going to start KALK. Quote Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 (edited) I'm looking to switch back to IO or maybe regular Red Sea, depending on what has enough iodine and trace elements and such and then eventually start kalk. I use so little calcium right now even with as many stony corals as I have. What I want to know is if there is anything detrimental about running salinity at 1.020 in a reef tank. I always see EVERYWHERE to run it at 1.026 because "it's better for corals", and I assume because people mix salt to there to get more calcium and carbonate into the water, but if dosing those elements already, via kalkwasser or 2-part or such, would it be better to run at 1.020? Water is better oxygenated at 1.020, and I'll be damned if I don't want that! Edited July 24, 2012 by jedimasterben Quote Link to comment
albertthiel Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 The tank was so pretty this morning I took some pictures in pajamas. Very nice looking indeed ... where the light on yet and if so for how long ... All look great from what I can see Albert Quote Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 The tank was so pretty this morning I took some pictures in pajamas. But no pics with reflections of you. Sad. Quote Link to comment
metrokat Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 Very nice looking indeed ... where the light on yet and if so for how long ... All look great from what I can see Albert Thank you Albert. The lights were on for 20 minutes before the pictures. Everything wasn't awake yet. Quote Link to comment
mpsti05 Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Hows your midas doing? In my tank he has been the only fish no one ever screwed with from the get go, Love that fish Quote Link to comment
ZephNYC Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 I'm looking to switch back to IO or maybe regular Red Sea, depending on what has enough iodine and trace elements and such and then eventually start kalk. I use so little calcium right now even with as many stony corals as I have. What I want to know is if there is anything detrimental about running salinity at 1.020 in a reef tank. I always see EVERYWHERE to run it at 1.026 because "it's better for corals", and I assume because people mix salt to there to get more calcium and carbonate into the water, but if dosing those elements already, via kalkwasser or 2-part or such, would it be better to run at 1.020? Water is better oxygenated at 1.020, and I'll be damned if I don't want that! Lower salinity systems are popular and even benificial for fish only systems, but not in reef systems. Lower salinities are unnatural for most species. A less saline environment has been shown to kill many inverts, perticularly CLAMS, leathers and xenia (CALFO). Fish and quarantine systems benifit from lower salinities because it is conducive to ridding parasites (inverts). Im not sure about oxygen saturation at lower salinities, but lower temperatures definitely increase dissolved O2. I keep my reefs at 74 - 77F Nuclear Greens, and the Jason Fox Setosa I grew from a booger Hey batgirl, Your clam is showing. Quote Link to comment
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