high calcium

kzickovich · 02/04/2008, 05:30 PM

I checked my calcium today and I have a question. How high is to high? and how do you lower it? Mine is reading 520 with a API test kit

LovinDaReef · 02/04/2008, 05:59 PM

I was told to stay around 400-450 (could be wrong).

I would think that waterchanges would help. Any reason your calcium is so high? Calcium additives? Or is the water like that? I thought calcium in high levels were good, but I dunno.

baloutang · 02/04/2008, 06:35 PM

520 is a bit high. Currently my tank is running near 500, ideally it should run between 400-450, but if you have sps corals they tend to like a bit more calcium for their skeleton growth.
You can just wait it out and not dose for calcium for awhile. You may want to check your other params such as PH and Alk to make sure they are stable. Higher calcium tends to stabilize your PH.

kokain00 · 02/04/2008, 08:43 PM

We just set up a tank 2 months ago and have had readings over 500 for calcium also, What brand salt are you using? We're using the coralife, and I believe its supposed to give you higher cal in your water. could be wrong about htat htough

baloutang · 02/04/2008, 09:01 PM

I use Seachem Reef salt as it seems to be much better than coralife, which I used in the past. My parameters tend to stay more normal. Fluctuation was my main problem initially when I started with Coralife. Seachem seems to keep my tank stable.

coraljunky · 02/04/2008, 09:11 PM

If your calcium is high, I'm willing to bet your alk and ph are low. When is the last time you did a water change and how often?? Raising or having high calcium will drive the alk down along with ph.

Mavrk · 02/04/2008, 09:33 PM

Calcium should be between 380 and 450 ppm.
Alkalinity should be 7 - 11 dKH (2.5 - 4 meq/L).

Your calcium will come down on its own, but your alkalinity needs to be within range or you will have issues. What does your alkalinity read?

Read this article to help:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

02/04/2008, 05:30 PM	#1
kzickovich Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zion Il Posts: 959	high calcium I checked my calcium today and I have a question. How high is to high? and how do you lower it? Mine is reading 520 with a API test kit

02/04/2008, 05:59 PM	#2
LovinDaReef Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 267	I was told to stay around 400-450 (could be wrong). I would think that waterchanges would help. Any reason your calcium is so high? Calcium additives? Or is the water like that? I thought calcium in high levels were good, but I dunno.

02/04/2008, 06:35 PM	#3
baloutang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California Posts: 440	520 is a bit high. Currently my tank is running near 500, ideally it should run between 400-450, but if you have sps corals they tend to like a bit more calcium for their skeleton growth. You can just wait it out and not dose for calcium for awhile. You may want to check your other params such as PH and Alk to make sure they are stable. Higher calcium tends to stabilize your PH.

02/04/2008, 08:43 PM	#4
kokain00 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 53	We just set up a tank 2 months ago and have had readings over 500 for calcium also, What brand salt are you using? We're using the coralife, and I believe its supposed to give you higher cal in your water. could be wrong about htat htough

02/04/2008, 09:01 PM	#5
baloutang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California Posts: 440	I use Seachem Reef salt as it seems to be much better than coralife, which I used in the past. My parameters tend to stay more normal. Fluctuation was my main problem initially when I started with Coralife. Seachem seems to keep my tank stable.

02/04/2008, 09:11 PM	#6
coraljunky Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: FL Posts: 557	If your calcium is high, I'm willing to bet your alk and ph are low. When is the last time you did a water change and how often?? Raising or having high calcium will drive the alk down along with ph.

02/04/2008, 09:33 PM	#7
Mavrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California - South Bay Area Posts: 2,775	Calcium should be between 380 and 450 ppm. Alkalinity should be 7 - 11 dKH (2.5 - 4 meq/L). Your calcium will come down on its own, but your alkalinity needs to be within range or you will have issues. What does your alkalinity read? Read this article to help: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm