Calcium ?

[jordan3548]

So I am having a terrible time keeping my calcium where I want it. Here lately its been 380-400 but my ideal level is around the 500 mark and no matter what I do it wont budge. I use the B Ionic 2 Part and dose double the calcium and still nothing. I really dont want a Calcium Reactor due to space issues. Is there anything else I can try to get it to go up?

Tank Parameters
Salt-.1023
Alk-11
PH..test kit went bad need a new one but normally 8.1
Calcium-380 right now
Nitrates-0
Nitrites-0
Ammo.-0
Mag-1200
Phos-barely detectable but there are traces of it just cant remember the reading:neutral:

Thats about everything I test on a normal basis

Oh temp is a steady 78 have the chiller set to turn on at 80 and off at 78

 

[subielover]

I would raise s.g. to 1.025-1.026, raise Mg. above 1350, lower alk to around 9, and your Ca. will be much easier to control.

 

[stedfast82]

+1 to subielover but i would go higher with mag 1450 to 1600

 

[RBursek]

+1 get Mg up a bit more. when Mg is low it is hard to get and keep Ca at prpper levels, your Mg test kit maybe off and it could be lower then you think.

 

[jordan3548]

Well I never tested Mag until about a month ago. When I 1st tested my Mag was 960 and I have been slowly bringing it up over this past month so i think my Test kit is good but I will definetely try what you said. Although I've been reefing for a long time I still have a tough time understanding what affects what in the reef chemistry world lol.

 

[RBursek]

go to the "stickies" at the top of this forum and read some of the great info on reef tank chemical articles, they explain the balance of Mg, Alk and Ca.

 

[Gazog]

I know its been said but raise your MAG to at least 1250 o 1300 and your problem should go away.
I IMO anything over that is a waste of time and money. Although everyone has thier own opinion
on this there is tons of info out there that says the same thing.

You will have to watch everything as you raise it over the span of a few days becasue when I did
this my Alk shot up to well over 13 and stayed there for a long time because as I found out a little
goes a really long way when your Magnesium is right on.

 

[beaslbob]

I suggest you shoot for 400ppm not 500ppm

my .02

 

[condor]

ID shoot for 410-440. and what test are you using for calcium

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

I try to maintain mine at 440-450 for ca and 9 for alk.

Raising your SG would also make a huge difference for your system just raise it over a few days, not at one time.