REEF CALCIUM 4 L

Reef Calcium ™ 4L SEACHEM

- Liquid organic calcium source
- Maintains calcium and accelerates coral growth
- Concentrated (50,000 mg/L)

Overview

Reef Calcium ™ is a concentrated bioavailable polygluconate calcium (50,000 mg/L) designed to maintain calcium in the reef aquarium without altering the pH. Additionally, polygluconate contains neither nitrogen nor phosphorus, making it biologically impossible to lead to algae growth in a properly maintained reef system.

The complexation of polygluconate offers several advantages: it increases calcium bioavailability, provides a rich source of metabolic energy to help maintain the peak growth of coral, and prevents calcium precipitation/depletion.

Reef Calcium ™ uses a chained organic calcium rather than an ionic calcium. When a coral absorbs a molecule into its tissues, it uses the same amount of energy regardless of its molecular size. However, charged molecules require more energy. When an uncharged molecule of Reef Calcium ™ is absorbed, the coral acquires several calcium atoms along with an easily metabolized carbohydrate with less energy expended than it uses for the ionic absorption of calcium. Therefore, at lower calcium levels, corals can still absorb as much calcium through our organic chains as they would at much higher levels of ionic calcium.

Reef Calcium ™ can be used alone to maintain calcium but will provide increased levels of coral growth when used in conjunction with an ionic calcium supplement (Reef Complete®, Reef Advantage Calcium ™). Reef Calcium ™ is intended to maintain calcium levels; if calcium becomes seriously depleted, either a water change should be performed or an ionic calcium supplement should be used to restore the depleted calcium level.

Sizes: 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 4 L

Instructions

Add 1 cap (5 ml) per 80 L (20 US gallons) twice a week.

You can increase the amount or frequency based on growth response, but do not exceed 3 caps per 80 L (20 gallons) per day.

Each cap will raise calcium by approximately 3 mg/L.

Notes: Use the Reef Status ™: Calcium test kit to measure calcium. It is not necessary to exceed 380 mg/L of total calcium when using this product. Color and clarity may vary from batch to batch.

Considerations

Use Reef Status ™ Calcium to test calcium levels.

We recommend a Ca level between 380-420 mg/L with an alkalinity between 3-6 meq/L (8-17 dKH). It is advisable to make large adjustments slowly to avoid exceeding the intended level or shocking the corals and invertebrates.

DO NOT OVERDOSE

Do not exceed 15 mL per 80 L (20 US gallons) per day. Excess calcium can increase the loss of carbonate alkalinity. Do not mix directly with a carbonate supplement. Ideally, if calcium and carbonate additives are added every other day or at least 30 minutes apart.

FAQ

I've heard that Reef Calcium™ contains sugar and will cause algae growth. Is this true?

No. This is a mistaken assumption based on the premise that polygluconate is the same as glucose. Polygluconate is no more a sugar than cellulose is a sugar (it's a polysaccharide). Cotton is almost pure cellulose; if you saw cotton, would you consider it a sweet? Polygluconate can be broken down into gluconate. Corals can also break it down and use it as a carbon source, just like your biological filter (some people even add ethanol to their system to "kick-start" their biofilter... it's the same principle). In this vein, a side effect sometimes observed when using Reef Calcium™ is a dip in nitrates (if they were already high, of course). Using Reef Calcium™ poses no more problem of adding too much organic matter than feeding your fish. Gluconate is a carbohydrate; fish food also contains carbohydrates, either directly or within cellular DNA/RNA (both DNA and RNA contain cyclic carbohydrates (5-membered furanose rings) as their backbone). Thus, the risk of a problem related to Reef Calcium™ is equivalent to the risk related to using fish food. The key here is that Reef Calcium™ is not added in excess to what the tank can handle. When calcium is used, the carbon component is also necessarily used and will not accumulate. If you overfeed your fish, you will cause a problem, and if you overuse Reef Calcium™, you may encounter a similar issue. The key here is that Reef Calcium™ is not added in excess to what the tank can handle. When calcium is used, the carbon component is also necessarily used and will not accumulate. If you overfeed your fish, you will cause a problem, and if you overuse Reef Calcium™, you may encounter a similar issue. The key here is that Reef Calcium™ is not added in excess to what the tank can handle. When calcium is used, the carbon component is also necessarily used and will not accumulate. If you overfeed your fish, you will cause a problem, and if you overuse Reef Calcium™, you may encounter a similar issue.

What exactly is calcium polygluconate?

Chemically speaking, it is a complex of ionic calcium and polygluconate. The end result for the hobbyist is that you get a more stable and concentrated form of calcium than what is found in kalkwasser solutions (175 times greater than KW). It provides a unitary source of calcium and carbon that has no impact on pH and is more bioavailable and easily absorbed by calcareous animals. For those who are even more curious, read on... Polygluconate is a long-chain polymer of gluconic acid (polymerization occurs under high heat during product production). This essentially creates a long carbon skeleton with many hydroxyl groups that can participate in the formation of complexes with ionic calcium. In a complex, the lone pair electrons on the hydroxyl oxygens are shared between the oxygen and the calcium, essentially linking the two together. When two hydroxyls participate, this neutralizes the +2 charge on the calcium, creating a species with an overall neutral charge. In a chelate, there are many more bonds from the same molecule to the calcium so that the calcium is surrounded (like a claw, "chelate" is Greek for "claw" btw) and is held much more strongly due to multiple interactions. Because cell tissue is essentially "fatty," it does not like to passively let charged species through (e.g., oil and water don't mix). Hence the requirement for the presence of special enzymatic mechanisms to transport necessary cations across the cell membrane. By masking the charge on the calcium, the calcium polygluconate species is able to passively enter cells by osmosis. The cells and thus the organism as a whole do not have to "or one can maintain calcium at 370-380 and not encounter a growth drop (while still seeing growth, but not as rapid as at higher levels). Indeed, the level of calcium complex present at the prescribed dose is essentially equivalent to a much higher level of ionic calcium in terms of the amount that can be used in a given timeframe. or one can maintain calcium at 370-380 and not encounter a growth drop (while still seeing growth, but not as rapid as at higher levels). Indeed, the level of calcium complex present at the prescribed dose is essentially equivalent to a much higher level of ionic calcium in terms of the amount that can be used in a given timeframe.

My LFS told me that the only way to test calcium when using your Reef Calcium™ was with your test kit because the calcium is in chelated form. Is this true or will my Salifert Calcium test kit show an accurate calcium level in my aquarium?

Reef Calcium™ is no longer chelated; it is complexed calcium. Additionally, most tests on the market will work with our Reef Calcium™ without any issues.

I purchased the Reef Calcium™ supplement and when I opened it, there were crystals around the edge. They looked like rock candy. Is this an old product? Should I take it back to the store for a new one?

This is normal for this product and has no consequence. The crystals should return to the solution if shaken. This product, like the vast majority of our range, is designed to have an indefinite shelf life. This particular product may require occasional shaking.

What is the difference between Reef Advantage Calcium™ and Reef Calcium™?

Our Reef Advantage Calcium™ and Reef Calcium™ are completely different calcium supplements. Reef Advantage Calcium™ is a very concentrated and economical ionic calcium. Reef Calcium™ is a very easily available organic calcium complex. The calcium in this product is bound to an easily metabolized carbohydrate, so it is very available and your corals do not have to expend as much energy to use this form of calcium. Using these products together, I would consider Reef Advantage Calcium™ as your primary calcium supplement and Reef Calcium™ as your secondary calcium supplement.

What is the difference between Reef Calcium™, Reef Advantage Calcium™, and Reef Complete®? Why should I use one product over another?

Reef Complete® is the liquid version of Reef Advantage Calcium™. These are ionic calcium supplements that also provide magnesium and strontium in typical usage rates. Since they are both identical, it simply comes down to whether you prefer liquids or powders. Personally, I prefer liquids because they are easy to dose and no premixing is required. That said, powders can be very economical. Reef Calcium™ is an organic calcium intended to help maintain calcium levels in a system, while Reef Advantage Calcium™ and Reef Complete® are intended to increase calcium levels in the system. Reef Calcium™ is a calcium polygluconate that will supply more calcium to the system without corals having to expend more energy, thereby increasing growth and maintaining calcium levels. Reef Calcium™ will generally not be used to raise calcium in the system, but rather to maintain the calcium that already exists at ideal levels. If the levels are not in the ideal range, we recommend using Reef Complete® or Reef Advantage Calcium™ to raise the calcium levels.