Levels?

[amyandbrandon2]

Alright here's my story...55 gallon tank 4 T5 54W lights, 60 LBS of LR, 80 LBS of LS...1 scarlet hermit, 2 blue legged hermits, 1 sea star, and tomorrow I'll have an emerald crab to add into the mix. Been set up since October... I just checked my levels, and I'm afraid my Calcium is a little high..

Parameters
SG-1.026
Am-0
Nitrate-0
Nitrite-0
pH-8.4
Calcium 480-500
Phosphate-0
ALK-12
Are these readings acceptable? Should my Calcium be lower? If so how should I/Can I lower it?
Thanks!
-Amy

 

[al mc]

Other may disagree but I feel these are great levels. My calcium runs more around 420ish
but I have no problem with 500 or less.
If you decide to try to lower it...does your 'new' change water have calcium levels that are 400-450?....if so, then just a water change will help.

 

[lion_crazz]

Yes, I would say the calcium level is too high and the alk is close to being too high. Do you test for magnsium? Do you dose calcium?

 

[amyandbrandon2]

Originally Posted by Al Mc
http:///forum/post/2473791
Other may disagree but I feel these are great levels. My calcium runs more around 420ish
but I have no problem with 500 or less.
If you decide to try to lower it...does your 'new' change water have calcium levels that are 400-450?....if so, then just a water change will help.
Okay I'll test my new water tomorrow...I have another question...what does high calcium do, I know its not a good thing...but just don't know what high levels do exactly

 

[amyandbrandon2]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
http:///forum/post/2473800
Yes, I would say the calcium level is too high and the alk is close to being too high. Do you test for magnsium? Do you dose calcium?
Do not test for magnsium...should I? No I do not does calcium...this is actually my 1st time testing it, and could be wrong, but I will test again tomorrow to be certain.

 

[bigmac]

Amy, what brand of Ca test kit are you using? If its Salifert then I'd say your levels about right, if not then I'd try and double check it with another kit (not Salifert) 480-500's a little high but no worries. Whats your make up water test at?

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
http:///forum/post/2473800
Yes, I would say the calcium level is too high and the alk is close to being too high. Do you test for magnsium? Do you dose calcium?
Lion....For my knowledge. What problems are you likely to encounter with a Ca of 480-500 range?

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by bigmac
http:///forum/post/2473823
Amy, what brand of Ca test kit are you using? If its Salifert then I'd say your levels about right, if not then I'd try and double check it with another kit (not Salifert) 480-500's a little high but no worries. Whats your make up water test at?
I was using a salifert test kit for my cal and it was testing 500 and I was wondering why cause i didnt dose anything. so i had a friend check it and it was at 420. I looked into it some more and learnd that salifert had a bad batch of tests so this could be the case if she is using salifert.

 

[amyandbrandon2]

I'm currently using API™ Reef Master Test Kit

 

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by MaTT B
http:///forum/post/2473836
I was using a salifert test kit for my cal and it was testing 500 and I was wondering why cause i didnt dose anything. so i had a friend check it and it was at 420. I looked into it some more and learnd that salifert had a bad batch of tests so this could be the case if she is using salifert.
Matt, have you ever used one of their PO4 kits? I've had 3 of them over that past, oh, lets say 5-6 years. I've never ever gotten a reading other then zero, just what I want to see, right? I know their off, way off because I've double checked using our lab at work. I don't use Salifert kits any more.

 

[dennis210]

I see people post there parameters and never seem to worry about "balancing" Ca & Alk.
According to archives here at 500 Ca - Alk should be 19.6 dKH. I try to run Ca at 440 - 460 and Alk at 200 - 220 ppm CaCO3 or 11.2 - 12 dKH. Am I messing around with addatives I don't need to?

 

[amyandbrandon2]

I don't know what happened but I re-tested my calcium and alk today and got the following:
Cal-460
Alk-12
I think that sounds a little better....
Is that okay for now? I'll be recieving some yellow polyps, orange centered zoas, 2 red mushrooms, and 2 watermellon mushrooms on Wednesday and am concerned about their welfare in my tank.