Calcium Question ???

[aquarium125g]

my calcium level is at 720ppm is that bad or good?
all opinions are welcome
thanks

 

[jackri]

Are you sure?!!
Normal calcium levels in a reef are 380-450ppm and yes that's REALLY high.. Whats your pH and alk sitting at?
I'm surprised it's not precipatating in your tank. Any ideas how it got so high?

 

[pezenfuego]

WOW! Either you're using some terrible salt, or you need to stop dosing pronto...or your test kit is messed up. your corals won't be liking the low alkalinity in that tank. How's your pH?

 

[bang guy]

Bad

 

[pezenfuego]

It's debatable whether or not this could be considered an opinion.

 

[aquarium125g]

alk is at 143,nitrate 5, phosphate 0, ph 8.2

 

[jackri]

Have you been dosing anything?
What all is in your tank?

 

[aquarium125g]

i retested and its 680. no i have not been dosing anything to the tank,

 

[jackri]

How are you testing for it?
Just seems really really off and really high

 

[aquarium125g]

am using a api reef testing kit. i get the water for water changes from my lfs which they get from the ocean.

 

[jackri]

I'd be curious to see what another test kit reads.. just sounds almost twice as high as it should be.. Can you have them test your water at all?

 

[jackri]

Also if this is the case.. they really need to stop selling water at 700ppm calcium and the levels of alk your saying

 

[aquarium125g]

i just got some water from them one hour ago. am going to test that water to see what comes up. i will get to you in 5 min

 

[aquarium125g]

oh my god am stupid. i just notice that i was reading the table wrong, the calcium is at 480. sorry about that. i got that testing kit today and it was my first time using it. thank you anyways. now at least i know i can find wonderful and helpful people in this website. thanks again

 

[jackri]

I had a feeling as the readings were almost double... 480 is on the hi side but nothing extreme like you were saying!
Good to hear all is better though

 

[pezenfuego]

Yeah, 480 is perfectly fine. It's no problem, I've done that before too lol. You aren't alone.

 

[jackri]

lol.. the drop tests I use frustrate me... its like.. you mean i have to recap this test tube 20 or so times??? then half way through --umm was that 13 or 14 or??
be easier if they just had a meter

 

[aquarium125g]

yeah its frustrating because the instruction say that you cant put your finger and it takes for ever