Calcium too high?

[shaggyblz]

For the past few weeks my calcium levels have been through the roof. Normally they stay around 450 or so but lately they have been 500 or more. I have used 2 different test kits (both Hagen) and am testing water from 2 different tanks (DT and Frag tank). The only other thing that has changed is the KH. It has dropped a little to about 90. Does anyone have any ideas what could have caused this? Is it bad? Oh, I haven't changed buckets of salt lately either(Red Sea Coral pro). No extra additives. Everything as usual. The other parameters are as follows:
Amm 0
Ni 0
Na 0
Phos 0
KH 90
Ph 8.2
Calcium 520
SG 1.025

 

[natclanwy]

Are both tanks testing high? Try and verify with another test kit if you can its possible bothof your test kits were contaminated somehow. Also test some new saltwater to see what the level of calcium is in your new saltwater mix.
Your alkilinity is very low it should be closer to 200ppm but I wouldn't worry about adjusting it until you can confirm your calcium level.
520ppm isn't extremely high and won't hurt anything so as long as your salt mix isn't high I would just let it come down on its own and increase your alk.

 

[shaggyblz]

Yes, both tanks are testing high. I am getting ready to mix some new water and check it. I am going to take some of the tank water to the LFS to let them check and see if my test's are bad.

 

[bs21]

with a ph of 8.2 or higher and an alk of 7dkh or higher calcium cannot reach over 550mg/l because at this point it is above the saturation point of the water and precipitates out. so if your calcium is high and is an accurate reading you need to adjust one of your other levels then to bring it into a normal range and from your tests it looks like your alk is low which is why you are getting a high calcium reading.

 

[shaggyblz]

Thanks. I will adjust levels accordingly. I have never had a problem with this though. What could all of the sudden make the Alkalinity drop? If anything, it is normally a little high. KH around 165. Also, what products would you guys suggest to bring this level up. Seachem Reef Carbonate?? Guess I need to order some.

 

[bs21]

calcium alk and stuff are consumed by bacteria some algeas all kinds of stuff even soft corals use it to some degree in their skelatal structure same with coraline so over time even though there may not be a high demand for it they are still used and precipitate out of the water. also elements can bind to other things in the water making them unable to be used so depending on what forms of calcium etc... that your kit tests for. it may not account for other types present or may read all calcium types in the water even the ones not available for use which gives a slightly innacurate reading changes in temp and ph, salinity, can all affect readings. the way calcium and Alk and ph interact is a very elaborate and confusing topic that goes into a lot of chemistry.
If you are interested "the reef aquarium vol 3" by Delbeek an sprung goes really indepth into reef chemistry and a plethora of other topics. It compares what happens naturally to what occurs in the aquarium. It also talks about suplementation and different types of setups and their pros cons. Great read not for the very beginner but i think it helps anyone who has had an aquarium for a while and can relate to the processes talked about through some personal experience. Very scientific at times but at the end of the different sections they tend to put all of that into more understandable lamens terms. maybe a little pricier than your average aquarium book but its also 600+ pages and lots of sweet pictures lol.
just thought i would mention it because it can answer questions with more detail and understanding than i could ever hope to.

 

[natclanwy]

Originally Posted by Shaggyblz
http:///forum/post/3002178
Thanks. I will adjust levels accordingly. I have never had a problem with this though. What could all of the sudden make the Alkalinity drop? If anything, it is normally a little high. KH around 165. Also, what products would you guys suggest to bring this level up. Seachem Reef Carbonate?? Guess I need to order some.
Magnesium could be an issue if its low it can make it hard to maintain your calcium and alkilinity levels.
Baking soda is a good additive to increase alk and if you mix a combination of baking soda and washing soda (Baked baking soda) mixed 6 parts baking soda to 1 part washing soda it won't effect your PH as much.

 

[shaggyblz]

Quick question. I haven't replaced the filters in my RO unit for about 7 months. I am getting ready to order some though. Could dirty filters cause this problem? Just curious.
Oh yeah. I'm going to get a magnesium test tommorrow.

 

[natclanwy]

I doubt it, I'm not sure what starts to show up first when the filters start getting dirty but I don't know of anything that could come through that would cause your to have high calcium and low alkilinity.

 

[bs21]

maybe if your water has high calcium levels? but i would think you would see an increase in phosphate and nitrate causing hair algea blooms etc...