Alkalinity and Calcium

[MB_Reef]

Hello all,

Is there any reason why the alkalinity in my tank drops everyday, but calcium stays stable? I am testing alkalinity and calcium daily, at the same time everyday, using Hannah checkers. Salinity is constant. Calcium results are very consistent, often getting the same exact result as the day before, or +/- 5ppm. I am using Seachem 2 part solution and I am only having to dose the "part 2" to maintain alkalinity since Calcium doesn't change. This has been going on for weeks.

Why am I not having any calcium consumption?

 

[Propane]

Drops or fluctuates?

 

[Brandont21]

does growing coraline deplete calcium?

 

[Propane]

If you are dosing calcium and it tests the same everyday that would prolly mean you are dosing the correct amount. Yes coralline will consume calcium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello all,

Is there any reason why the alkalinity in my tank drops everyday, but calcium stays stable? I am testing alkalinity and calcium daily, at the same time everyday, using Hannah checkers. Salinity is constant. Calcium results are very consistent, often getting the same exact result as the day before, or +/- 5ppm. I am using Seachem 2 part solution and I am only having to dose the "part 2" to maintain alkalinity since Calcium doesn't change. This has been going on for weeks.

Why am I not having any calcium consumption?

How big of an alk drop?

It is far easier to detect a daily alk drop than the expected amount of calcium drop.

Seachem two part is also not designed properly for 1:1 dosing despite their claims. Hard to u set stand how they messed that up.

 

[Miami Reef]

does growing coraline deplete calcium?

Yes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

does growing coraline deplete calcium?

Yes, just like corals and abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate: 18-20 ppm calcium for each 2.8 dKH of alk consumption.

 

[MB_Reef]

If you are dosing calcium and it tests the same everyday that would prolly mean you are dosing the correct amount. Yes coralline will consume calcium.

I am not dosing any calcium. Only "Part 2"

 

[MB_Reef]

How big of an alk drop?

It is far easier to detect a daily alk drop than the expected amount of calcium drop.

Seachem two part is also not designed properly for 1:1 dosing despite their claims. Hard to u set stand how they messed that up.

I try to keep alkalinity at 9.5. If I don't dose anything, I usually go from 9.5 to 8.8 in 24 hours.

 

[Propane]

I am not dosing any calcium. Only "Part 2"

my bad you did say that. What kind of corals do you have?

 

[MB_Reef]

my bad you did say that. What kind of corals do you have?

Mostly SPS and LPS with some Zoa's. It is a small 10g with about 25 frags in it.

 

[Propane]

Seems like that many frags would be using calcium if they are growing. If you know they are growing then maybe your test kit is off.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello all,

Is there any reason why the alkalinity in my tank drops everyday, but calcium stays stable? I am testing alkalinity and calcium daily, at the same time everyday, using Hannah checkers. Salinity is constant. Calcium results are very consistent, often getting the same exact result as the day before, or +/- 5ppm. I am using Seachem 2 part solution and I am only having to dose the "part 2" to maintain alkalinity since Calcium doesn't change. This has been going on for weeks.

Why am I not having any calcium consumption?

What method are you testing?
Alk and CA work as a balance and reasons alk is lower can be of course coral consumption, the salt used is high in calcium or if you just added calcium prior to testing, addition of ca can lower alk level

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I try to keep alkalinity at 9.5. If I don't dose anything, I usually go from 9.5 to 8.8 in 24 hours.

It would take several days to detect a calcium drop at that rate. Then once you do, you may need to dose all those missed doses to fix it. lol