{"product_id":"red-sea-reef-care-calcium-foundation-a","title":"Red Sea Reef Care Calcium+ Foundation A","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReplaces the calcium and strontium a growing reef draws out of the water every day.\u003c\/strong\u003e Red Sea's Foundation A (Calcium+) is a concentrated calcium and strontium supplement, dosed alongside Foundation B (alkalinity) and Foundation C (magnesium) as part of Red Sea's three-part Foundation programme for reef aquariums.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCalcium and strontium in seawater ratio\u003c\/strong\u003e — replenishes what stony corals consume building skeleton.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConcentrated liquid\u003c\/strong\u003e — 1 mL per 100 L raises calcium by about 2 ppm; no mixing required, dose straight from the bottle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDesigned to be dosed alongside Foundation B and C\u003c\/strong\u003e, in that ratio, for balanced reef chemistry rather than a calcium-only fix.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree sizes\u003c\/strong\u003e — 500 mL, 1 L and 5 L, for hand-dosing through to automated systems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWorks with a Red Sea Reef Foundation test kit\u003c\/strong\u003e to set the dose from your own measured calcium uptake.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpec\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSKU\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRED280 (500 mL) \/ RED280b (1 L) \/ RED280a (5 L)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBarcode\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7290100772157 (500 mL) \/ 7290100773789 (1 L) \/ 7290100773918 (5 L)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePosition in programme\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoundation A of 3 (A: Calcium + Strontium, B: Alkalinity, C: Magnesium)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSaltwater (reef)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDosing method\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eManual or dosing pump\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDosing and elemental targets\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e1 mL per 100 L raises calcium by approximately 2 ppm. Red Sea's published starting rates by reef type:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eReef type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTypical daily dose\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUltra-low-nutrient system\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~2 mL per 100 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMixed reef\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~3 mL per 100 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSPS-dominant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~4 mL per 100 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSPS frag \/ high growth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~6 mL per 100 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't raise calcium by more than 20 ppm in a day — spread larger corrections over several days. When dosing Foundation A, B and C manually together, add magnesium first, then alkalinity, then calcium, about 10 minutes apart, to avoid a local spike that can cloud the water or precipitate elements out of solution.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a worked example only: a 300 L mixed reef dosed at the ~3 mL per 100 L per day guide rate uses about 9 mL a day — a 1 L bottle would last roughly 110 days at that rate. Actual use depends entirely on your coral load and test results, which is why we haven't set a fixed cost-per-litre figure on this page.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat's included\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne bottle of Foundation A (Calcium+) concentrate, in the size selected. Foundation B (Alkalinity) and Foundation C (Magnesium) are sold separately and are needed alongside it to run the full three-part programme.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable for saltwater reef aquariums running stony or soft coral, clams or coralline algae, where calcium needs topping up against consumption.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot suitable for fish-only systems with no calcium demand, and not a substitute for testing — dosing calcium without checking alkalinity and magnesium alongside it can throw the three out of balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCovered by the standard manufacturer guarantee against faulty product, in addition to your rights under Australian Consumer Law. The 5 L size ships as a heavier parcel; standard delivery otherwise.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDo I need Foundation B and C as well?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes, for balanced chemistry — dosing calcium alone without alkalinity and magnesium keeping pace can push the three out of the ratio corals need, even if calcium itself reads fine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eHow much will this raise my calcium?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003e1 mL per 100 L raises calcium by about 2 ppm as a stock-solution figure — test before and after a few days of dosing to see your reef's actual response, since coral uptake affects the net change.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWhich size should I buy?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003e500 mL and 1 L suit hand-dosing on smaller reefs; the 5 L size costs less per mL and suits larger systems or a dosing pump reservoir you don't want to refill often.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eCan I dose all three Foundation parts at the same time?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot at exactly the same moment — Red Sea recommends about 10 minutes between magnesium, alkalinity and calcium when dosing manually, to avoid a local concentration spike.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eIs this the same as the RCP 4-Part kits you sell?\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eRelated but not identical — the RCP kits bundle Foundation A and B together with the two Colours trace-element bottles at a fixed reef-volume ratio. Foundation A on its own lets you buy calcium separately if your alkalinity or magnesium consumption differs from the standard ratio.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"RedSea","offers":[{"title":"500ml","offer_id":54774152954147,"sku":"RED280","price":31.4,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1ltr","offer_id":55335142916387,"sku":"RED280b","price":45.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5ltr","offer_id":55335142949155,"sku":"RED280a","price":171.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Red_Sea_Reef_Foundation_A_-_calcium_500ml.jpg?v=1782112536","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/red-sea-reef-care-calcium-foundation-a","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}