Water Test

lpkirby · 06/30/2006, 04:23 PM

Ok I think I am going crazy,

I bought a new Calcium Tester and just tested my water before hooking up my new Calcium Reactor. My new tester is a Salifert and it shows my calcium is off the chart. I went thru the first 500 and then went another 150 or so for a total of 650!!!! What should I do to correct this? Everything looks fine in the tank,

Alk is at 175 little low
PH is at 7.9
Cal- 650

Is this going to hurt anything? I just changed about 9 gallons with RO and will do more later. It is a 200 Gal.

Thanks,

lpkirby · 06/30/2006, 05:24 PM

Anybody??

crustin · 06/30/2006, 06:32 PM

your alk is low because your calcium is high http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php and http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

lpkirby · 06/30/2006, 07:44 PM

What if I buffer?? That would bring down the calcium and up the Alk... Right?? I have shut down the Calcium Reactor and turned off the CO2.. What do you all suggest to get this back to normal?

auto_loader · 06/30/2006, 08:04 PM

I would start with a water change or 2.

lpkirby · 06/30/2006, 08:11 PM

I have changed out 20 gallons out of 200 so far. Keep going? or buffer?

lpkirby · 06/30/2006, 11:26 PM

I have my Calcium down to 590, do I keep doing water changes or is it ok to leave it now and see what happens?

reefshadow · 07/01/2006, 12:14 AM

You can probably leave it, keep buffering and testing for alk, and just let it naturally fall, or keep up with the w/c's. Whatever you do, you need to get your levels right before hooking up your reactor. I had a similar occurance b/c of bad test kits for ca and alk, mine was almost 700. I didn't notice any ill effects, but was suprised how much more growth my sps and clam put on once I got the alk up into range. My ca took about 3 weeks to drop to 425 with alk supplemented daily to keep it at about 10 dkh. You do need to bump up the alk very carefully, you don't want a precip. event.

For more complete info you can look at Randy's article on how to solve ca/alk problems.

lpkirby · 07/01/2006, 07:55 AM

Thank you,

Sounds Like a Plan..

06/30/2006, 04:23 PM	#1
lpkirby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hempstead, TX Posts: 701	Water Test Ok I think I am going crazy, I bought a new Calcium Tester and just tested my water before hooking up my new Calcium Reactor. My new tester is a Salifert and it shows my calcium is off the chart. I went thru the first 500 and then went another 150 or so for a total of 650!!!! What should I do to correct this? Everything looks fine in the tank, Alk is at 175 little low PH is at 7.9 Cal- 650 Is this going to hurt anything? I just changed about 9 gallons with RO and will do more later. It is a 200 Gal. Thanks,

06/30/2006, 06:32 PM	#3
crustin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: ga. Posts: 470	your alk is low because your calcium is high http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php and http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm __________________ never give up Current Tank Info: 90g semi- reef

07/01/2006, 12:14 AM	#8
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	You can probably leave it, keep buffering and testing for alk, and just let it naturally fall, or keep up with the w/c's. Whatever you do, you need to get your levels right before hooking up your reactor. I had a similar occurance b/c of bad test kits for ca and alk, mine was almost 700. I didn't notice any ill effects, but was suprised how much more growth my sps and clam put on once I got the alk up into range. My ca took about 3 weeks to drop to 425 with alk supplemented daily to keep it at about 10 dkh. You do need to bump up the alk very carefully, you don't want a precip. event. For more complete info you can look at Randy's article on how to solve ca/alk problems. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

06/30/2006, 05:24 PM	#2
lpkirby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hempstead, TX Posts: 701	Anybody??

06/30/2006, 07:44 PM	#4
lpkirby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hempstead, TX Posts: 701	What if I buffer?? That would bring down the calcium and up the Alk... Right?? I have shut down the Calcium Reactor and turned off the CO2.. What do you all suggest to get this back to normal?

06/30/2006, 08:04 PM	#5
auto_loader Premium Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Rochelle, IL Posts: 585	I would start with a water change or 2.

06/30/2006, 08:11 PM	#6
lpkirby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hempstead, TX Posts: 701	I have changed out 20 gallons out of 200 so far. Keep going? or buffer?

06/30/2006, 11:26 PM	#7
lpkirby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hempstead, TX Posts: 701	I have my Calcium down to 590, do I keep doing water changes or is it ok to leave it now and see what happens?

07/01/2006, 07:55 AM	#9
lpkirby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hempstead, TX Posts: 701	Thank you, Sounds Like a Plan..