LPS coral calcium consumption

[Kianou]

is it that fast for 5 LPS coral to consume calcium? I have one torch, two hammers, one frogspawn and one duncan coral and every time I test my calcium it is very low like 260ppm then I dose again like 5ml then after the day is ended I tested again they already consumed it it goes back to 260ppm or 320ppm.

I have 20g tank

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@VintageReefer

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

is it that fast for 5 LPS coral to consume calcium? I have one torch, two hammers, one frogspawn and one duncan coral and every time I test my calcium it is very low like 260ppm then I dose again like 5ml then after the day is ended I tested again they already consumed it it goes back to 260ppm or 320ppm.

I have 20g tank

Coralline algae is a substantial user of alk and calcium, but I think you have a testing issue rather than a consumption issue.

You’d need to add huge amounts of alk to get calcium to drop 150 ppm.

Did you measure calcium right after dosing?

Try the kit on some new salt water.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What testing kit are you using? Do you test alkalinity? Do you perform weekly water changes?

 

[Kianou]

What testing kit are you using? Do you test alkalinity? Do you perform weekly water changes?

I test my Alk weekly it is 9ppm. no I'm doing every month water change.

 

[Kianou]

Coralline algae is a substantial user of alk and calcium, but I think you have a testing issue rather than a consumption issue.

You’d need to add huge amounts of alk to get calcium to drop 150 ppm.

Did you measure calcium right after dosing?

Try the kit on some new salt water.

ohh shoot I'm might have too much calcium now I dose a lot of em because i thought it is very low. I use red sea test kit and it might be expire now my friend just gave me this test kit last month.

 

[Kianou]

but I also noticed this morning my euphylias are opening their Polyps now when I added a lot of calcium last night.

 

[SaltySippi]

I'd suspect testing issues also. Redsea is what I use too, and learning "what shade of blue" vs purple or violet or whatever... is a learning curve. That shade of purple/blue you go with can make a big difference on the test result! Just my own experience.

 

[Kianou]

I'd suspect testing issues also. Redsea is what I use too, and learning "what shade of blue" vs purple or violet or whatever... is a learning curve. That shade of purple/blue you go with can make a big difference on the test result! Just my own experience.

should i switch to other tester brand?

 

[SaltySippi]

should i switch to other tester brand?

Redsea is a solid brand and what a lot of us use. Just requires some experience to use accurately. If you want a digital readout that takes the guesswork and color interpretation out of the picture, look at the Hanna checkers.

 

[BryanM]

should i switch to other tester brand?

Generally calcium testing seems difficult. To get a 2nd opinion you might consider taking a water sample to your local LFS and ask them to test, if you have that option available to you.

Do you do regular water changes? If yes, I'd consider testing the salinity and alk of your newly mixed water and if they are spot on, your calcium cannot be that low - 5 LPS won't consume that much... As Randy stated if you have a ton of coraline algae, then that is also a factor.

In short, with regular water changes, unless the salinity is way low in the newly mixed water, it is highly unlikely that your calcium is low.

 

[Kianou]

Redsea is a solid brand and what a lot of us use. Just requires some experience to use accurately. If you want a digital readout that takes the guesswork and color interpretation out of the picture, look at the Hanna checkers.

yea, and it is affordable too that's why I also use redsea. I'll try to learn the thing that you said if it has some changes. thank you

 

[Kianou]

Redsea is a solid brand and what a lot of us use. Just requires some experience to use accurately. If you want a digital readout that takes the guesswork and color interpretation out of the picture, look at the Hanna checkers.

yea, and it is affordable too that's why I also use redsea. I'll try to learn the thing that you said if it has some changes. thank

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Salifert is a decent, inexpensive calcium test.