High Calcium

rigdon87

Member
Alright today is wc day and i tested my dt params and came back as follows.
Amm.0ppm
Trite.0ppm
Ph.8.2
Trate.0ppm
Phos.0ppm
Cal.600ppm
Why is my calcium so high, i currently do not dose for anything,I do a 30g water change every two weeks.and i just tested my freshly made water and its sayin the calcium is 520ppm.tank is a 120 with a 40gsump/fuge.Iam also haveing some unwanted algea issues, could this be caused by the high cal.???
Any help is much appreciated.
 

bang guy

Moderator
Are you using purified water for your changes?
It could be the test kit reading high.
600 is nothing to be too concerned about as long as Alkalinity is also high enough.
Excess nutrients (Nitrate & Phosphate) cause algae problems, nothing else.
 

jackri

Active Member
I totally agree, unless it's precipatating out of the water column I wouldn't be concerned with the calcium level.
 

rigdon87

Member
yeah i have a ro/di unit and use IO reef crystals.I hope the test kit aint bad i just bought it an hour ago
.my salinity is 1.026.
 

bang guy

Moderator
You need to test Alkalinity. If it's too low then corals can't lay down skeleton. You're probably fine but Alkalinity is on the "Must Test" list for reef aquariums.
 

spanko

Active Member
Strange that you are getting that reading with reef crystals. All of the analysis I have read shows a 380 calcium reading with reef crystals at 1.023 ( I think that was the Sg level, I'll go to see if I can find some studies)
Okay a wet web media study shows 350 at 1.025 Sg.
 

rigdon87

Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3155471
Strange that you are getting that reading with reef crystals. All of the analysis I have read shows a 380 calcium reading with reef crystals at 1.023 ( I think that was the Sg level, I'll go to see if I can find some studies)
Okay a wet web media study shows 350 at 1.025 Sg.
I know thats what i thought right
.1.026 and cal.520ppm(fresh made with ro/di)
 

spanko

Active Member
Could be a different mix on that batch I guess. Have you checked the freshly mixed water before you add it to the tank?
 

spanko

Active Member
Still high, but should be okay.
Calcium should be
Natural Seawater Value: 400 mg/L
Acceptable Range: 350 to 450 mg/L
Alkalinity should be
Natural Seawater Value: 2.5 meq/L
Acceptable Range: 2.5 to 5.0 meq/L
or dkh 7 to 14
520 on reef crystals amazes me.
 

joncat24

Active Member
Yeah 520 is way high.
I read somewhere recently that IO had redone their formula. I tested a gallon of regular IO the other day mixed at 1.026
ca 480
mg1250
alk 9
I was amazed
 

rphman

Member
ok my calcium level was around 620...
i just did a water change of 10 gallons...on a 75 gallon tank...then a day later tested calcium...took like 32 drops..so guessing around 620-640..i use r/o water...i have not checked my alkalinity...so my question is how do you adjust alkalinity...
if high you do what?
if low you do what?
i have this at home which i have never used yet
ESV B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System...
so if calcium is that high..dont use the calcium part..but if alkalinity is low...i can use the alkalinity part of this...which is bottle number two to rasie alkalinity...
thanks
Wade
 

rphman

Member
so follow their instructions..? which is 1ml per 2 gallons of water...but how do i know the gallons of water in the tank..due to displacement from sand bed...and live rock..what about the water in my sump?
am i making this to difficult??
any advice??
 
Top