Calcium too high?

pompom · 02/10/2008, 06:59 PM

Another newbie question. You guys were great with my ricordea questions this morning.

I think our calcium levels are too high. We initially chose Seachem reef salt b/c we planned on a reef tank. That changed as my husband decided he loved mushrooms and zoas.

Calcium is 500 last I checked last week (PH was 8.0). How do I get this lower? I assume this will continue to rise? Do I have to buy another brand of salt? (assuming a switch is possible).

We are only doing 10% water changes a week. We are going to be increasing it to 25% now that we added two small fish a week ago.

Thanks again everyone.

Tank setup:
15G Nano 17lbs live rock, live sand, AC110fuge, 96W PC
Inhabitants - 2 small occelaris, pompom crab, scarlett crabs, snails, feather duster and lots of amphipods.
Corals etc: Mushrooms (striped, ricordea yuma), zoas, toadstool leather, feather duster.

kau_cinta_ku · 02/10/2008, 07:02 PM

are you dosing anything? if you are just stop dosing. and it will fall. what is the cal. of the NSW?

pompom · 02/10/2008, 07:05 PM

No - not dosing anything at all. I think the salt we use is the source of the calcium. I will check the calcium levels of our presalted water change water thats mixing right now as well as our bottled water and post shortly.

funman1 · 02/10/2008, 07:06 PM

What test kit are you using?
I know some brands are having trouble with CA and Alk

pompom · 02/10/2008, 07:07 PM

Might not be relevant but just in case it is. The tank has been set up for three months.

CoralCaps · 02/10/2008, 07:12 PM

Could be a faulty test kit. What brand are you using? I use the SeaChem and according to their reference liquid I am doing the test correctly.

What are you keeping your salinity at? More salt, more calcium.

pompom · 02/10/2008, 07:17 PM

I'm finding out the test kit we initially bought isn't the best. We are replacing each test with more expensive ones. I've replaced three so far.

Using the cheapo test for calcium (AP) - guess this is the next test kit I'm upgrading.. Here is a benchmark then - the premixed water change water is reading 480 on the cheap test kit.

rbursek · 02/10/2008, 08:16 PM

SC Ca test kits tend to run low, IO is a good salt for FOWLR.
Bob

02/10/2008, 06:59 PM	#1
pompom Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 56	Calcium too high? Another newbie question. You guys were great with my ricordea questions this morning. I think our calcium levels are too high. We initially chose Seachem reef salt b/c we planned on a reef tank. That changed as my husband decided he loved mushrooms and zoas. Calcium is 500 last I checked last week (PH was 8.0). How do I get this lower? I assume this will continue to rise? Do I have to buy another brand of salt? (assuming a switch is possible). We are only doing 10% water changes a week. We are going to be increasing it to 25% now that we added two small fish a week ago. Thanks again everyone. Tank setup: 15G Nano 17lbs live rock, live sand, AC110fuge, 96W PC Inhabitants - 2 small occelaris, pompom crab, scarlett crabs, snails, feather duster and lots of amphipods. Corals etc: Mushrooms (striped, ricordea yuma), zoas, toadstool leather, feather duster.

02/10/2008, 07:06 PM	#4
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	What test kit are you using? I know some brands are having trouble with CA and Alk __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO

02/10/2008, 07:12 PM	#6
CoralCaps Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 217	Could be a faulty test kit. What brand are you using? I use the SeaChem and according to their reference liquid I am doing the test correctly. What are you keeping your salinity at? More salt, more calcium. __________________ Pull his finger. I dare you.

02/10/2008, 07:02 PM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	are you dosing anything? if you are just stop dosing. and it will fall. what is the cal. of the NSW?

02/10/2008, 07:05 PM	#3
pompom Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 56	No - not dosing anything at all. I think the salt we use is the source of the calcium. I will check the calcium levels of our presalted water change water thats mixing right now as well as our bottled water and post shortly.

02/10/2008, 07:07 PM	#5
pompom Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 56	Might not be relevant but just in case it is. The tank has been set up for three months.

02/10/2008, 07:17 PM	#7
pompom Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 56	I'm finding out the test kit we initially bought isn't the best. We are replacing each test with more expensive ones. I've replaced three so far. Using the cheapo test for calcium (AP) - guess this is the next test kit I'm upgrading.. Here is a benchmark then - the premixed water change water is reading 480 on the cheap test kit.

02/10/2008, 08:16 PM	#8
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	SC Ca test kits tend to run low, IO is a good salt for FOWLR. Bob