Raising CA

Phosphate can also bind calcium ions. What's your phosphate level at? I have low calcium too, I'm pretty sure it's due to using tap to fill the tank that has phosphate in it. doh...gotta scrounge for an RO unit.

 

Ok, this post convinced me to buy the two-part dosing system from bulk reef supply. I have low calcium now (350ppm). I'm planning to add coral soon, none as of yet. What would be a good starting dose to try and bring it up a bit before introduction of corals?

Also, do I understand correctly that the way to figure out how much to dose is to check regularly to see how much your corals are using up and then continue dosing different amounts until you reach an equilibrium where the Ca level is not fluctuating greatly, and then continue adding that amount?

 

let's say you get your Ca up to 500 (or whatever). Then you do not dose for three days. In three days you measure again and your CA is 440.

Difference of 60 over three days. Your tank is using up 20 per day. So then 20ppm is your daily dose.

So then dose to get back to 500 (or whatever your target is) and then continue w/the daily dose so that you maintain the target number.

My target is 460.