GioReef Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Ok, my calcium is always at 540-560 in my tank. It's not THAT high but it's higher than i would want. I always test the fresh mix sw 24hrs after i make it and it tests at 450-480. I have been using Reef Crystals for about 1 year and like how the results are after 24hr of mixing. But when i test the params before the weekly water change, the calcium is 560 or more. I have api tests and have confirmed with my lfs. They got the same results I did. I also have several lps corals so i think that calcium should be less in between water changes... My other params are good, ph-8.3 temp-82 sg-1.026 alk-10dkh nitrate-0 nitrite-0 ammonia-0 Please help me with this situation. Thanks Link to comment
Jacobnano Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Obvious question, do you dose? Link to comment
GioReef Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 No, no dosing... Sry should have mentioned that before. Link to comment
Jacobnano Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Just something you could try: Mix the water for more than 24 hours, then test it. If it tests high it could be the salt, and it maybe didn't fully mix in those 24 hours. Link to comment
SulfurAcid Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/...ature/index.php http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/chem.htm Someone correct me if I am wrong, but if his magnesium levels are too high, or higher than normal, won't his calcium and alkalinity levels be held at that high point? Is it all possible to test your Magnesium levels? Link to comment
GioReef Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 I could get the lfs to test magnesium or i could buy the kit. I'll wait for the outcome of this question. Well, the thing i don't realize is how can it be higher in my tank than the water change water??? Link to comment
lajz9 Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Get some SPS (if you/your tank is ready/equipped), that'll suck it right up! Link to comment
Jacobnano Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Thats why I am saying see if it still tests the same after longer mixing. Link to comment
GioReef Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 LOL, can't get sps. Only have pc lights, it's the BC14 Link to comment
SulfurAcid Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Phosphate will also prevent the prcipitation of calcium carbonate, and thus keep your levels high, but I think it might be magnsium. Im pretty sure LFS will test for both for a small fee. The levels might still be high despite your WC water because you are either not allowing the water to mix and reach its final levels, or, something else is going on, and I'm too tired to explain. Calcium and alkalinity could be coming from a source in your tank Link to comment
GioReef Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Water mixes for 24 hrs with an airstone and powerhead before i test for ca, ph and sg. Link to comment
clockwork john Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Could be a bad test, too. I had an expired API calcium test, and it was telling me that my ca was at 1400 ppm. Link to comment
GioReef Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 *Had lfs test it too. Link to comment
SulfurAcid Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 I have no idea. I would take the airstone out, just to be sure it doesnt mess with the pH of the new water. pH affects the calcium in solution, so remove the airstone next time you mix water. Link to comment
GioReef Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Well, actually the airstone was added because i was using just the powerhead and someone suggested that I might have to aerate the water more for more stable ph... Link to comment
skydive Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 What are you measuring the salinity with? Link to comment
GioReef Posted September 9, 2009 Author Share Posted September 9, 2009 Refractometer primarily and sometimes the hydro too. Test the same on both. Link to comment
GioReef Posted September 10, 2009 Author Share Posted September 10, 2009 Bump... I really want an answer. Link to comment
2slo4me Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Could be a bad test, too. I had an expired API calcium test, and it was telling me that my ca was at 1400 ppm. same happened to me a while back... i was like no way.. lol Link to comment
SC73 Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Ok, my calcium is always at 540-560 in my tank. It's not THAT high but it's higher than i would want. I always test the fresh mix sw 24hrs after i make it and it tests at 450-480. I have been using Reef Crystals for about 1 year and like how the results are after 24hr of mixing. But when i test the params before the weekly water change, the calcium is 560 or more. I have api tests and have confirmed with my lfs. They got the same results I did. I also have several lps corals so i think that calcium should be less in between water changes...My other params are good, ph-8.3 temp-82 sg-1.026 alk-10dkh nitrate-0 nitrite-0 ammonia-0 Please help me with this situation. Thanks Hi, I just came across your post and dont now if you have found a solution. But, when I realized my calcium was quite high as well I tested my tap water prior to mixing and found it to already be in the 200's Anyway, I have not dosed calcium (nano 24) in months, and it stays consistantly in higher range. Link to comment
Phixion Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 My Ca is always high! Usually between 450 - 500... Never had issues with this. Have experienced it using different salts (Tropic Marin, Red Sea Coral Pro and most recently CoralLife). I rarely W/C and I have had up to 4 clams in the tank at a time in the past as well as a few SPS pieces. I've never dosed Ca either, ever. I used to think maybe it was my sand, but my tank has been set back up for 3 months now and my halimeda (great Ca indicator) has been growing like wildfire meaning my Ca levels are normal to high. Tank is currently bare bottom so I'm thinking it's my rocks maybe... Eitherway, I don't have issues with my highr Ca levels. Link to comment
scubasteve2580 Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 My Ca is always high! Usually between 450 - 500... Never had issues with this. Have experienced it using different salts (Tropic Marin, Red Sea Coral Pro and most recently CoralLife). I rarely W/C and I have had up to 4 clams in the tank at a time in the past as well as a few SPS pieces. I've never dosed Ca either, ever. I used to think maybe it was my sand, but my tank has been set back up for 3 months now and my halimeda (great Ca indicator) has been growing like wildfire meaning my Ca levels are normal to high. Tank is currently bare bottom so I'm thinking it's my rocks maybe... Eitherway, I don't have issues with my highr Ca levels. doesnt look like there are anything wrong with your numbers.. i keepmy calcium around 460 + if i can.. life in the tank will start looking poor if it is stressing.. i will tell you this from experience.. for the first 4 months my calcium was 450+ and alk was 9+.. after the tank matured a little my numbers started dropping.. i would say around the 6 month mark.. everything started looking horrible.. i had been dosing kalk and just checking my alk which stayed around 8... well, i tested everything and found out my ph was way high, my calcium was around 220 and my alk just kept dropping.. tested magnesium, 1260... i do have those numbers in check today and run about 460 cal, 7 alk (my tank looks good here, everything seems happy and its an easy number to maintain) magnesium is still around 1260 and the ph is 8.4.. so.. give it time.. i think my high calcium and alk was the sand.. if you insist on having lower number, start using instant ocean.. IO numbers suck but its really easy to adjust the parameters for some reason. p.s. tank is almost 9 months old now. Link to comment
Phixion Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Oh yeah, I'm not worried about my numbers. The only time I ever stressed about my Ca was when I tested it (2 different kits to confirm) my Ca at around 620 once!! Oddly, it wasn't precipitating out of the water either. I've had low Mg before though, something like 1130 when I sent out my water to Aquarium Water Testing once. I know it's difficult to maintain ALL levels at optimum without at least one level being low... Oh yeah, I'm not a fan of I/O salt, lol! I prefer higher Ca numbers myself and like to stick with salt that's higher in it. Link to comment
scubasteve2580 Posted October 30, 2009 Share Posted October 30, 2009 Oh yeah, I'm not worried about my numbers. The only time I ever stressed about my Ca was when I tested it (2 different kits to confirm) my Ca at around 620 once!! Oddly, it wasn't precipitating out of the water either. I've had low Mg before though, something like 1130 when I sent out my water to Aquarium Water Testing once. I know it's difficult to maintain ALL levels at optimum without at least one level being low... Oh yeah, I'm not a fan of I/O salt, lol! I prefer higher Ca numbers myself and like to stick with salt that's higher in it. honestly ive never heard of high calcium hurting anything unless it precips. i would think high calcium would be a good thing.. i used oceanic for awhile.. its really high in everything.. i may go back to it but last time i used it i had really hgih ammonia and even tested the makeup water to find 8ppm ammonia.. Link to comment
bird Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 I am new to the testing parameters and all having never really paid attention to them in the past but just did what the local fish stores told me to and kept an eye on how the corals were doing. In other words do not have much advice, but have you tested the salt mix prior to adding to the tank? Maybe it is high in calcium levels. I heard somewhere, don't recall right now where, that RC has upped their calcium levels from time to time. Could be a bad test, too. I had an expired API calcium test, and it was telling me that my ca was at 1400 ppm. My API tests 500 and my Salifert tests 450. Link to comment
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