i want to know if a 10% or 20% water change will replace calcium that is lost in your tank , i know that the calcium must be at about 420mg/l if it drops to 300mg/l will a water change replace the lost calcium or mus calcium be added ?
low calcium
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viper357
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300 from 420 is an extreme drop and water changes will not replace that due to dilution, unless you do a 100% water change, but even then you may still need to add calcium as not all salts have optimum calcium levels. When increasing your calcium you must do it over a few days, don't increase it from 300 to 420 in one shot, take about a week to do it by increasing it slowly every other day.
now the question is what would happen if you raise you calcium too fast
Mekaeel
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Hi Robert! You can safely raise your Ca using Calcium Chloride between 380 - 420. Bear in mind, when dosing plain Ca, you will be dropping you Alk. So keep an eye on your Alk and adjust using Bicarb or a Buffer.
thanks will do how do you dose bicarb
viper357
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You run the risk of precipitation. You also need to remember that your calcium levels are tied in with your alkalinity and magnesium levels, if your magnesium is too low then this will interfere with trying to increase your calcium levels. The whole idea of this is to get everything in balance, if one parameter goes out of whack it could be disastrous.
Test your magnesium level and get it up to between 1200 and 1400, you can safely increase magnesium by 100ppm per day. Once your magnesium is correct you can then work on your calcium and alkalinity.
Test your alkalinity and let us know what that is.
If you add one supplement today, it is best to wait 24 hours then test again to see what the level is at.
The way I do it is to add calcium, wait 24 hours then test calcium and alkalinity, add alkalinity supplement and wait 24 hours then test both again, I do this every 2 days until my levels are in check. I increase my calcium by about 20 to 30ppm per day.
Test your magnesium level and get it up to between 1200 and 1400, you can safely increase magnesium by 100ppm per day. Once your magnesium is correct you can then work on your calcium and alkalinity.
Test your alkalinity and let us know what that is.
If you add one supplement today, it is best to wait 24 hours then test again to see what the level is at.
The way I do it is to add calcium, wait 24 hours then test calcium and alkalinity, add alkalinity supplement and wait 24 hours then test both again, I do this every 2 days until my levels are in check. I increase my calcium by about 20 to 30ppm per day.
Mekaeel
Moderator
thanks will do
dont change things too fast,ph shock?
Yellow Tang
Salt Creep
Do you think its a good idea to add bicrb alone? For ~18 months now I've been making buffer with sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and boric acid. Also mixed a magnesium solution and used calcium chloride with it. More-or-less ionic balance achieved by doing some calculations. Had a few snow storms in the beginning but seem to have cracked the ratios.
I can give you some to try if you're willing to take the risk. I use it on my tank and that of a friend. When I used to look after other tanks I also used it on those with good results.
I can give you some to try if you're willing to take the risk. I use it on my tank and that of a friend. When I used to look after other tanks I also used it on those with good results.