Is this even Scientifically possible?

b-baby80

Member
O.K. i've tested my water and my calcium was high.The LFS tested with another test and it was high.last week it was 500 even.O.K. so i was just waiting it out and letting it come down on it's own.Done nothing so far.Not even a water change yet.So then today I did my weekly water testing and it was 540
but here is the interesting part.My KH is 10.So it's normal.Wouldn't it be low if my calcium was so high?
All corals and inverts are fine and growing very well.Shrimp is molting regularly.I'm just baffled and don't know what to do??????

Is this even possible?
For a calcium of 540 but KH is 10??
 
D

dennis210

Guest
Is it possible for tank to have been dosed with calcium, readings taken before
calcium dose had been fully sucked into system, and a later reading showing yet a still higher level? YES! Water change or leave it alone calcium will come down.
low pH says buffer up so I would and recheck alk level then
 

halamaya

Member
I was told no that my tests were off and this was saturated but... Here we are both testing over 500 in calcium. I bought myself a book Aquarium Corals by Eric H. Borneman LFS said it was very good and he is super knowledgable. The book says that you can supersaturate your tank to around 500ppm. Says to keep at 450 or higher. If there is anymore than this it can cause a change in Alk. So I say we keep an eye on our alk and if all is fine we are fine.
Other than it affecting the alk which isn't good, he gives no other problems. I have a new 55 gal with 60 pounds live sand and argonite and I think it has saturated my water with calcium. My water is crystal clear for now.
 

renogaw

Active Member
calcium you want to keep around 440-450. if you want a GREAT book, look up michael s. paletta's new book, Ultimate Marine Aquariums. if you go very much higher in calcium it upsets the balance of your alk, mag, and pH. the super duper tanks keep their calcium at 440 and alk at about 9dkh.
btw, your calcium can go up on its own if the water needs to absorb it out of your rock and sand if your other parameters are screwed up.
 

m0nk

Active Member
Yeah, depending on the type of sand you have, some of it could have dissolved into the tank. Argonite is a great source of natural calcium, and combined with good calcium in my salt, I never need to dose my tank, even keeping montis and several types of LPS.
 

yosemite sam

Active Member
What is your Mg level? And are you testing the new water before you do a water change? Depending on the brand, salt mixes can very from batch to batch.
 

b-baby80

Member
I don't have a Magnesium test.It didn't come in my kit.Here are all my params from lastnight.
Salinity .025
Temp 80
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
PH 8.2
Phophate < 0.25
KH 10
Calcium 540
I use RO water from walmart right now.I know I know
I use Oceanic salt and i know it's high in calcium.I think thats where this came from maybe?Maybe from water changes before i had corals?So as long as my KH and PH are stable the high calcium should be o.k.?My water is clear and all.Theirs no way it was dosed as i have nothing to dose with.Since i've always tested high?
Can i use my saltwater calcium test.To test my source water for calcium?Will it still work?Will my phosphate kit work on my source water to?
Let me know if you need more info
 

yosemite sam

Active Member
Test the water you're going to use for a water change once you've mixed up a batch of salt. This could be the problem. You should also get a Mg kit, as it is important for the Alk/PH/Calcium relationship.
 

b-baby80

Member
O.K. will do
I'm working on getting a Mg test but i can't find one local.Is their one you recommend?
Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam
Test the water you're going to use for a water change once you've mixed up a batch of salt. This could be the problem. You should also get a Mg kit, as it is important for the Alk/PH/Calcium relationship.
 

nietzsche

Active Member
same thing happened to me. my calcium was really high at around 520ppm for a while. ive done a water change it came down to 500ppm. my clams took it down to 480ppm in a few days. still high but im still waiting for it to drop. i think as a result of having high calcium for a while one of my pumps for a filter jammed up and stopped working
 
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