Q: I’ve heard that Reef Calcium™has sugar in it and that it will cause algae growth. Is this true?
A: No. This is a faulty assumption based on the premise that polygluconate is the same as glucose. Polygluconate is not a sugar any more than cellulose is a sugar (it's a polysaccharide). Cotton is almost pure cellulose, if you saw some cotton would you consider that to be a sweet treat? Polygluconate can be broken down into gluconate. The corals also can break it down and use it as a carbon source, as does your biological filter (some people even add ethanol to their system to "jump start" their biofilter... it's the same principal). In this vein, one side effect sometimes seen when using Reef Calcium™ is a dip in nitrates (if they were already up of course). The use of Reef Calcium™ presents no more of problem with respect to adding too much organics than does feeding your fish. Gluconate is a carbohydrate; fish foods also contain carbohydrates, either directly or within cellular DNA/RNA (DNA and RNA both contain cyclic carbohydrates (5 membered furanose rings) as their backbone). So the risk of a problem from Reef Calcium™ is equivalent to the risk from using fish food. The key here is that Reef Calcium™ is not being added in excess to what the tank can support. When the calcium is utilized the carbon component is also necessarily utilized and will not build up. If you overfeed your fish you're going to cause a problem, and if your overuse Reef Calcium™ you can run into a similar problem.

Q: What exactly is calcium polygluconate?
A: In chemical terms, it is a complex of ionic calcium and polygluconate. The end result for the hobbyist is that you get a more stable, more concentrated form of calcium than can be found in kalkwasser solutions (175 times greater than KW). It provides a uniary source of calcium and carbon which has no impact on pH and is more bio-available and readily absorbed by calcerous animals. For those who are even more curious, read on ... Polygluconate is a long chain polymer of gluconic acid (the polymerization occurs under high heat during product production). This creates essentially a long carbon backbone with numerous hydroxyl groups that can participate in complex formation with ionic calcium. In a complex the lone pair electrons on the hydroxyl oxygens are shared between the oxygen and calcium, essentially bonding the two together. When two hydroxyls participate this neutralizes the +2 charge on the calcium, creating an overall charge neutral species. In a chelate there are many more bonds from the same molecule to the calcium such that the calcium is surrounded (like a claw, "chelate" is greek for "claw" btw) and is held much more strongly owing to the multiple interactions. Because cellular tissue is essentially "greasy" it does not like to allow charged species to pass through it passively (e.g. oil and water don't mix). Thus the requirement that special enzymatic mechanisms be present to transport the required cations across the cellular membrane. By masking the charge on the calcium, the calcium polygluconate species is able to passively enter cells through osmosis. The cells and hence the organism as a whole doesn't have to "work" as hard to get the calcium it needs. The resulting benefit to all of this is that because the calcium complex can be more easily used one can either get enhanced growth at the normal calcium level of 400-420, or one can maintain calcium at 370-380 and not encounter any declines in growth (while still seeing growth, just not as rapid as at the higher levels). This is because the level of calcium complex that is present at the prescribed dosing is essentially equivalent to a much larger level of ionic calcium in terms of how much can be used within a given time frame.

Q: I have been told by my LFS that the only way to test for Calcium when using your "Reef Calcium" was with your test kit as the Calcium is in chelated form. Is this true or will my Salifert Calcium test kit show a accurate calcium level in my aquarium?
A: Reef Calcium is no longer chelated, it is a complexed calcium. Also, most tests on the market will work with our Reef Calcium, with no issues.

Q: I bought Reef Calcium supplement and when I opened it the pipet had crystals on it. They looked like rock candy. Was this an old product? Should I take it back to the store for a newer one?
A: This is normal for this product and is of no consequence. The crystals should go back in to solution if shaken. This product, like the vast majority of our line, is designed to have an indefinite shelf life. This particular product may need occasional shaking.

Q: I am using reef builder and reef advantage calcium. I have reef calcium but I do not use it regular. Why do I need reef calcium if I am using reef advantage calcium? Are they the same?
A: Our Reef Advantage Calcium and Reef Calcium are completely different calcium supplements. Reef Advantage Calcium is an ionic calcium that is very concentrated and very economical to use. Reef Calcium is an organic calcium complex that is very readily available. The calcium in this product is bound to an easily metabolized carbohydrate, hence it being very available and your corals do not have to expend as much energy to use this form of calcium. In using these products together, I would consider Reef Advantage Calcium your primary calcium supplement and Reef Calcium as your secondary calcium supplement.