← Glossary · 💧 Water & chemistry

Calcium

Also called: Ca

Calcium is the dissolved mineral stony corals and coralline algae use to build calcium-carbonate skeletons, kept at about 400–450 ppm on a reef.

Calcium works hand-in-hand with alkalinity and magnesium — dose or water-change to hold all three stable rather than chasing one. In a soft-coral or lightly-stocked tank, water changes alone often keep calcium topped up.

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