Adding calcium to reef aquariums
Keeping the calcium levels in reef aquariums at the right level is very important for good care. Corals and other marine creatures need calcium to stay healthy and grow. Calcium is also needed to keep the pH level high in marine systems. Calcium is naturally found in sources like live rock and aragonite ground, which is good news. These break down and release calcium into the tank water in a form that plants and animals can use.
If you only have fish in your saltwater aquarium or a reef aquarium with few plants, these calcium sources should be enough for your aquarium’s needs. But reef tanks with a lot of fish that use up calcium quickly will need extra calcium to bring these levels back up.
Taking extra calcium and increasing alkalinity
Keeping the right amount of calcium in a saltwater tank can be hard because of all the chemical reactions that happen. If calcium levels go above 500 ppm, alkalinity levels may go down. This could make the water less able to balance and cause pH changes. If, on the other hand, the pH level gets too high, calcium levels may drop because calcium precipitates out of the water. For the best calcium amounts, it’s important to find a balance between these chemical parts.
If you use commercially available calcium supplements, you won’t have to guess how much to take. However, you should still test and keep an eye on your calcium levels at least every two weeks, ideally every week, to keep them in the ideal range of 350–450ppm. While testing for calcium, it’s also important to keep an eye on the amounts of alkalinity since they affect each other.
Calcium supplements are usually taken in the form of calcium reactors, balanced liquid calcium supplements, or Kalkwasser products.
Balanced Calcium Supplements in Liquid Form
“It is very easy to take balanced liquid calcium products. These products can raise calcium levels without changing the alkalinity, and they can also do the opposite. Manufacturers have come up with two-part mixes that can keep calcium levels high and alkalinity high without causing any problems. This is why they are also called “2-part calcium supplements.” If you follow the directions on the bottle, there is almost no chance of overdosing or hurting the fish in the tank. It is very easy to use balanced liquid calcium supplements, and they work well for smaller reef tanks.
Reactors for Calcium
High-tech gadgets like calcium reactors help automatically add calcium to reef tanks that are big or have a lot of fish in them. Most of the time, these systems have a pH monitor, a circulation pump, a CO2 delivery system, calcium media, and a calcium reactor. When CO2 is pumped into the reactor room that has calcium media in it, it makes the environment acidic, which breaks down the media slowly. After the calcium is dissolved, it is mixed with saltwater. The solution is then slowly dripped into the main tank. Calcium reactors are a very accurate way to keep calcium levels steady in reef systems that need a lot of calcium.
Check your calcium levels and change your supplements as needed.
Depending on the size and number of fish in the reef tank, there are different ways to raise the calcium level. No matter what kind of calcium supplements are used, it’s important to check the amounts often. Calcium supplementation is a constant process because coral colonies, coralline algae, and other organisms that use calcium need more calcium as they grow. Regular testing helps keep an eye on how much calcium corals are using and keeps the levels at just the right amount for a healthy, beautiful coral garden.
