Calcium Dosing

[poo-tang]

i have a 40 galllon tank and understand that i will need to be replenishing the calcium but just want to know how everyone elseins doing it...hopefullly you have a similar size tank as mine. i know all they different ways to dose but just want everyone's opinoin on how they do it and how they like that method. no corals yet. right now i got a calcium bottle made by Kent. this could be expensive over the longterm. also heard kalkwasser can be difficult and mistakes are deadly and therefore costly.that scares me.

what if anything are you dosing your reef tanks with. the only thing else i use is trace elements by red sea once a week. i do this along with my weekly 5 gallon water change.

 

[Ter]

depends on your salt.. reef crystals, what i now use adds extra calcium about 380-400 so I dont need major dosing.. however i started with Instant Ocean, after testing I noticed my CAL levels where very low... Instant Ocean seems 2 go by the idea "we will give you the basic", and each person can add or leave as is(fish only). I go for the reef crystals, the brand costs a little more, but its less dosing. ... anyways before all that u should check ur levels.... with a good test! and check ur dkh at the same time... the two go each other in a complex dance that i have yet 2 master lol
Ter

 

[poo-tang]

i understand that when you change water you put more calcium in...but only enough for your new water...what about the other 90 percent. is this a water change only salt mix...do they make that...that would be great, a 10 percent water change mix that replenishes everything with just a 10 % water change. though figuring out exactly how much water is in a tank could be difficult as i have like 60-70 lbs of rock.

 

[Ter]

well.. not everyone has the same cal needs so.... but from what ive seen so far is that calcium goes down very slowly... so testing is the norm, then the dosing.... they sell lots of products for calcium.. some liquid some powder some with extra additives EG; magnesium and strontium it really works with your test results.. but see what ur tests say before going into action
Ter

 

[SkiFletch]

Have a look through this An Improved Do-it-Yourself Calcium and Alkalinity Additive

 

[Adrinal]

I start with a high calcium salt as well, Reefcrystals (though there are other brands out there).
Most tanks can go a long way by adding kalk (pickling lime), alone.
After that, if it isn't enough there is the two part or calcium reactor (which you can still use your kalk top off method). I have been using the two part method with a 2 part dosing pump, and like it.