How important is Calcium?

[jevan23]

Just been doing a lot of reading lately, and starting to wonder if it is very important to monitor the calcium levels in a reef tank, or if it will survive without adding buffers and other fun chemicals?:crazy:

[Bayside Corals]

It depends on what kind of animals you are wanting to keep. If you want to keep SPS clams and some LPS corals then it is very important. If you plan on keeping mostly Soft corals then it is not as big of a deal. You should still strive to keep your calcium and ALK up even if you keep soft corals it's just not as important, as when you keep SPS and clams.

Colby
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[jasonkozey]

Calcium & Alk is probably the most important levels to maintain. Even in a softy tank the Calcium level should be high enough to get coraline algae to grow. You will also need to keep you Alk at the right levels as this directly relates to PH levels. Yes softys can crow with out calium. But it makes the most sense to keep your water the same as the ocean... I posted 2 important links about Calcium & PH and the other was about Kalkwasser. Read them.


Jason

[Invigor]

if you do regular water changes (like the rest of us :worried: ) you shouldn't have an issue.

:smily3:

[jasonkozey]

get more stoney's or even a bunch of LPS and your calcium level will not keep up. I change 20% every 4 weeks and I still have to add kalk every day just to stay about 380 so Jon be careful on what you tell people.

[Invigor]

different strokes for different folks, jasen.

[EmilyB]

I got by with water changes for quite a long time. As you get into clams and SPS, then you have to have to have a better supply for their uptake for sure. Large and regular water changes are still a best bet for maintaining the proper equation IMHO