Calcium Supplement at Start up ?

Should I be using a Calcium Supplement as I start up ?

2 Week old tank....80 lbs LR / some base rock / 2" sand ( new ) 3 Damsels / 1 Blue Leg Hermit / 9 small hermit cleaners / 1 Sally Lightfoot

Ammonia .15
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 15
Salinity Plastic dial says 1.025 LFS refract 1.020

Skimmer on ( about 1/4 " green slime in 6 days )
Canister has media / Chacoal
Sump running normal

 

Nothing in there that is consuming Ca yet.

 

You shouldn't supplement anything without testing for it. In your case, you salt could be on the very low side of CA, and yes you should supplement it if its low.

 

Supplement only to get close to NSW levels but like Otty said, there is no need to keep supplementing something that isn't really being used.... Technically it is by bone growth and shell formation but not at an alarming rate!

Happy reefing and learning!

 

Thanks for replies ....was wondering as I do have some inverts in the tank...and I want to try to support what coraline i have ...I read that it has iodine as well as calcium...and I thought 80 lbs of LR would suck it our of the water pretty fast.

 

Everything else that is going on in a tank that is cycling will completely eliminate the need for CA. Its not something you should be worrying about for a while

 

Also, I just noticed in your first post: if the tank is cycling, you should NOT be running the skimmer or canister filter

 

Copy that Pack....was going on what the LFS said to do .....apparently this tank had some copper residue in it from prior owner....so they said run canister filter with charcoal to filter the copper out....and as far as the skimmer ....they said to run it due to the amount of LR i have in it.... and it does produce smelly green fluid..about 1/4" over 5-6 days ....its new water and new sand ... I tested the Water last night ....still a little copper ....Ammonia is below .0 NO2= 0 No3= 15-20

 

I disagree, with this one pack....
What would be the motivation behind NOT running the canister? The skimmer, many people don't run for the first couple months but that is only to prevent it from sucking out small planktonic inverts in the tank, such as amphipod and copepod larvae. The canister would be no problem to run. That way it will begin to get colonized with beneficial bacteria right from the start, and the bio media in the canister can help the tank cycle a little bit.
I would recommend IF you plan on running the canister for the duration of the tank then start running it now.....
Just make sure you maintain the canister properly as they can REALLY be a sink for detritus, causing algal issues. Make sure you rinse the media regularly and if you choose to run carbon change it monthly-preferrably quicker.

Also carbon is not very effective at removing Cu(if I read that right) you need more of a copper removing resin, such as Seachems Cuprisorb.
Carbon is more for odor, gelbstoff, and certain organics...

Happy reefing!!