Raising calc leve.

J

JumboAg99

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[10 gallon tank (It's what I have to live with until the 90 is ready to roll)

pH: 8.05 - 8.2 depending on time of day.

Alk - about 11-12 dkh

Calcium is lower than I'd like... it's 380-390 at it's highest right now.

I have BIonic 2 part which I've been using for the past couple of weeks to stabilize the readings. My question is: With pH where I want it and alk at the high end of where I want it, can I just dose the calcuium bottle for a few days to try to get that level up without crashing my tank.

I ask because I have such a small tank and the slightest change could trash the sucker if I'm not careful.]



Edited By JumboAg99 on 1097908296
 
[I usually stay away from dosing one or the other of 2 part formulas. Personally, I like using Kent Liquid Calcium and Kent Pro Buffer DKH to raise calcium without shifting ph or alc.]
 
[Just skip a day or two of the Part 1 and dose Part 2 only.

Then it should be about right. If not, do a 2.5g water change and continue dosing as normal.]
 
[Of course you will be testing alot when doing this so your tank should be fine.

I love the 2 parter made by Warner Marine "CalxMax" and you use half of what you do with B-Ionic.

I would not totally stop one of the 2 parts but would use more of one and less of the other for a week or so, if your pH hits 8.6 you are in trouble. Do you use a pH meter or a pH test kit?]
 
[
Do you use a pH meter or a pH test kit? said:
I have a pinpoint pH meter. Because I have no refugium for a tank this small, the pH moves quite a bit between day and night.

When the lights come on in the morning it's about 8.05. When they turn off in the evening they've gone up to about 8.20-8.25

I'd like to try to get that reading a bit higher over time. I'd be more comfortable with 8.1 - 8.3 as the range.]
Click to expand...
 
[For the tank that you have those readings are great. Some people get 7.8 to 8.3 as a swing.]
 
[I'm surprised with how much calcium the tank chews up with so little in it. It's only a 10 gallon and there are only three corals in it.

I already have some good purple coraline spreading over the back of the tank. Not bad for something that's only had water in it since the first week in August.]
 
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