Calcium?

I was wondering... If im only keeping softies and lps do i have to monitor calcium? because i thought only sps have a calcium carbonate base and rely on the calcium levels to grow. Does that apply as well to softies and lps since they do not have a calcium carbonate base? just a thought...

 

lps have a skeleton made of calcium. they need calcium and magnesium balanced in the right 1:3.25 ratio (more or less).

 

Yes you should test for it.

 

your coralline will grow better with calcium too.

 

i mean right now i test for
calcium
magnesium
nitrite
nitrate
alkalinity
ph
salinity

i was just putting that out there. out of curiosity

 

+1

and also depending on how many Lps you have in the tank it is possible for water changes to be ok for good growth. when you have an abundance of coral is when you really have to start dosing. I would test every day for a week and then do a water change and simple math will tell you how much is being used...

as in
monday cal 420
tue cal 420
wed cal 410
thurs cal 410
friday cal 400

for a week do a water change and test again and that will let you know if you have to dose. atleast that works for me.as long as your not dropping into the mid to low 300's by the end of the week a simpe water change will be good. if you are depending on what you plan on dosing with you can adjust from the directions. or post on here some one will be able to help caluate or point you to a calculator like BRS.com on the top right corner there is a nice one that is easy to use.

 

How often do you do water changes? LPS don't use calcium as quickly as SPS does, so most folks that run a non sps dominant tank can get away with no 2(3) part or calcium reactor with only water changes.