High Calcium

jign4bass · 01/14/2006, 02:18 PM

I noticed a decline in some mushrooms in my tank and completed water tests. My results revealed:

PO4: 0
NO3: 2
SG: 1.021
ALK: 7.4 dkh
Cal: 570 ppm

I run a Reeftek calcium reactor and changed the media approximately two months ago. I did a 10% water change (20 gallons) to get the calcium down and take care of of the NO3. I also raised the drip rate of effluent from my calcium reactor to the sump to get the dkh up.

It has been three days since the above and the calcium has gone up to 585 ppm and the alkalinity up to 8 dkh. Does anyone know what the heck is going on? Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Rob

Randy Holmes-Farley · 01/14/2006, 04:13 PM

First, none of the chemical parameters the you show would cause an issue for mushrooms, although I would raise the salinity to natural ocean levels of sg = 1.026 to 1.027

That said, for calcium to decline, you need to add alkalinity over time,and not calcium. The reactor is adding both, so that is not the way to go.

Dosing baking soda to maintain alkalinity until the calcium declines will work, as long as you do not do water changes using a mix like Oceanic that has excessive calcium in it.

This article describes the process:

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

jign4bass · 01/14/2006, 09:54 PM

Thank you. I have shut the calc. reactor down and will watch the alkalinity and dose, if need so be. I understand the calcium will lower on its own. Any idea how long this will take? I know there are many variables to consider, but maybe an approximation??

Thanks,
Rob

Randy Holmes-Farley · 01/15/2006, 07:41 AM

It will take a while, but how long depends on the demand in the tank. A week or two, maybe.

01/14/2006, 02:18 PM	#1
jign4bass Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 55	High Calcium I noticed a decline in some mushrooms in my tank and completed water tests. My results revealed: PO4: 0 NO3: 2 SG: 1.021 ALK: 7.4 dkh Cal: 570 ppm I run a Reeftek calcium reactor and changed the media approximately two months ago. I did a 10% water change (20 gallons) to get the calcium down and take care of of the NO3. I also raised the drip rate of effluent from my calcium reactor to the sump to get the dkh up. It has been three days since the above and the calcium has gone up to 585 ppm and the alkalinity up to 8 dkh. Does anyone know what the heck is going on? Any recommendations? Thanks, Rob __________________ Rob "So....How much is this going to cost me?" Current Tank Info: 100 gallon mixed reef. 2X175 MH, 2X110 VHO. Euro-Reef RS6-2+ Skimmer. Precision Marine CR422 Calcium Reactor, 100 lbs. live rock. 2.5" dsb. Arctica chiller.

01/14/2006, 04:13 PM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	First, none of the chemical parameters the you show would cause an issue for mushrooms, although I would raise the salinity to natural ocean levels of sg = 1.026 to 1.027 That said, for calcium to decline, you need to add alkalinity over time,and not calcium. The reactor is adding both, so that is not the way to go. Dosing baking soda to maintain alkalinity until the calcium declines will work, as long as you do not do water changes using a mix like Oceanic that has excessive calcium in it. This article describes the process: Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

01/15/2006, 07:41 AM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	It will take a while, but how long depends on the demand in the tank. A week or two, maybe. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

01/14/2006, 09:54 PM	#3
jign4bass Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 55	Thank you. I have shut the calc. reactor down and will watch the alkalinity and dose, if need so be. I understand the calcium will lower on its own. Any idea how long this will take? I know there are many variables to consider, but maybe an approximation?? Thanks, Rob