High Ca (600), is that a problem?

snorkeler · 11/20/2009, 07:19 PM

Hello,

My tank is relatively new (3 month old), but my Ca is high (600) since the tank was established. I'm not dosing Ca. My Alk is low (1.7) so I've been adding a spoon of Nutra Tec Marin Buffer once every three days. As far as I understood it does not increase Ca in the water.

Is this Ca at 600ppm a problem? I've read that the recommended range is 380-450 and there are warnings about low Ca but nothing specifically said about high Ca.

Tank is ~190L (50gal), I only have a crushed coral substrate (10cm), artificial LR made of crushed coral (unsure of how much, but probably around 20Kg to 30Kg), two clownfish, cleaning crew and no stony corals: only two small zoanthus colonies, one small palythoa giant button polyp colony, one small white star polyp colony. Colonies have been in the tank for slightly more than a month now, and aside form the white star polyp the others have not grown at all. In fact, as few of the zoa polyps faded away.

Should I be worried and do something about the Ca at 600, does this harm the growth of my zoas, the health of my fish, or is it not a problem? Is this naturally going to come down as I add LPS corals in the mix some day?

Thanks,

snorkeler

bertoni · 11/20/2009, 07:57 PM

600 ppm is not high enough to cause problems. How does some freshly-mixed saltwater measure? Are you using tapwater?

That alkalinity seems very low, assuming either meq/L or dKH, and I'd get it back to at least 2.5 meq/L or 7 dKH with some baking soda. The buffer you're using might be fine, too. This calculator will help with a dose:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

snorkeler · 11/20/2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

600 ppm is not high enough to cause problems. How does some freshly-mixed saltwater measure? Are you using tapwater?

That alkalinity seems very low, assuming either meq/L or dKH, and I'd get it back to at least 2.5 meq/L or 7 dKH with some baking soda. The buffer you're using might be fine, too. This calculator will help with a dose:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

I'm using RO/DI water as topoff. Regarding the saltwater, for initial and water changes I've only used water from my LFS until now, and I never tested it for Alk or Ca. This weekend I'm going to mix my first batch from the Red Sea brand, I'll test it before doing the water change.

Thanks for the calculator link!

bertoni · 11/20/2009, 08:25 PM

You're welcome! Good luck!

2_zoa · 11/20/2009, 08:27 PM

Give your salt a good shake and roll it around before you open it up. Things like to settle to the bottom.

pbnj · 11/20/2009, 10:51 PM

600 is high.....any higher and you might soon see a "snowstorm" in the tank.

plankton · 11/20/2009, 10:57 PM

If you had low Magnesium, high pH and 600ppm Calcium I believe you could actually precipitate out a snowstorm. Otherwise, should not be a problem...

Yeah, Alk of 1.7 meq/l is low... and should be adjusted up either though water changes or adding Baking Soda, etc.

Scott

11/20/2009, 07:19 PM	#1
snorkeler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brazil Posts: 250	High Ca (600), is that a problem? Hello, My tank is relatively new (3 month old), but my Ca is high (600) since the tank was established. I'm not dosing Ca. My Alk is low (1.7) so I've been adding a spoon of Nutra Tec Marin Buffer once every three days. As far as I understood it does not increase Ca in the water. Is this Ca at 600ppm a problem? I've read that the recommended range is 380-450 and there are warnings about low Ca but nothing specifically said about high Ca. Tank is ~190L (50gal), I only have a crushed coral substrate (10cm), artificial LR made of crushed coral (unsure of how much, but probably around 20Kg to 30Kg), two clownfish, cleaning crew and no stony corals: only two small zoanthus colonies, one small palythoa giant button polyp colony, one small white star polyp colony. Colonies have been in the tank for slightly more than a month now, and aside form the white star polyp the others have not grown at all. In fact, as few of the zoa polyps faded away. Should I be worried and do something about the Ca at 600, does this harm the growth of my zoas, the health of my fish, or is it not a problem? Is this naturally going to come down as I add LPS corals in the mix some day? Thanks, snorkeler

11/20/2009, 07:57 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	600 ppm is not high enough to cause problems. How does some freshly-mixed saltwater measure? Are you using tapwater? That alkalinity seems very low, assuming either meq/L or dKH, and I'd get it back to at least 2.5 meq/L or 7 dKH with some baking soda. The buffer you're using might be fine, too. This calculator will help with a dose: http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/20/2009, 08:25 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome! Good luck! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/20/2009, 08:27 PM	#5
2_zoa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,840	Give your salt a good shake and roll it around before you open it up. Things like to settle to the bottom.

11/20/2009, 10:51 PM	#6
pbnj Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 381	600 is high.....any higher and you might soon see a "snowstorm" in the tank.

11/20/2009, 10:57 PM	#7
plankton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 2,676	If you had low Magnesium, high pH and 600ppm Calcium I believe you could actually precipitate out a snowstorm. Otherwise, should not be a problem... Yeah, Alk of 1.7 meq/l is low... and should be adjusted up either though water changes or adding Baking Soda, etc. Scott