Water chemistry problem

skipb

skipb

New Member
Greetings...
I have just set up a new 58g reef tank and I'm having trouble figuring out the water chemistry and look for HELP!!!!
The tank has 50lbs of LR, 40 lbs of LS.
Temp-78
SG - 1.024
pH-8.05
Ammonia-0
NItrites-0
Nitrates- <10 (unmeasureable really)
Alk-5.0
PO4-.2
CALCIUM is off the chart. Using the SeaTest test kit I put in the first part (fluid up to the markerer) then put in the power and it is suppose to turn pink. Mine turns purple. You can start counting drops and after 40 or more the color stays the color purple (hehehe, little movie joke there) never turns blue. LFS checked too, same result and they are stumped. I don't know what is going on here and I don't know if it is a bad thing. Any help would be greatly appreicated. :confused:
[ December 24, 2001: Message edited by: skipb ]
[ December 24, 2001: Message edited by: skipb ]
 
keitho

keitho

Member
well, does your tank look milky? too much calcium ions in the water will cause saturation, resulting in calcium carbonate precipitation. the calcium carbonate will slowly settle out of solution, resulting in what people call a "snow storm". do a water change, and maybe try some extra buffer in the sump to force some of the calcium to precipitate.
 
skipb

skipb

New Member
Tank looks great, not milky or anything. I did do a 50% water change yesterday but the Ca numbers were still off into the wild blue yonder, or should I way purple yonder. I'll look into doing the extra buffer in the sump.
Thanks
 
ky

ky

Member
I have found that the Sea Test kit doesn't work that well. There can be a 10 - 12 drop difference each time you use. It isn't exact enough.
 
wamp

wamp

Active Member
Red Sea Calcium Pro test kit. Extremly accurate. By the way I would not worry about your calcium level if your tank looks fine and your corals are doing well. The only time you should be worried is when you start adding chemicals or addatives ie:Kalk. In that size tank if you add Kalk every other day that should maintain your calcium abive 400ppm and that is very acceptable. I went 2 years and never tested calcium levels and everything did just fine. But thats just my luck!
 
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