Calcium at 620 ... Worry?

A.VOID · 03/18/2008, 01:00 PM

My calcium is too high. Only 3 frags in the tank, and 2 are softies.

Any issues, or just let it run its course?

kau_cinta_ku · 03/18/2008, 01:09 PM

what are you dosing to get the cal. that high? what is your alk. and mag. levels at? what is your sg.? IMO i would do a 20% water change just to bring it down some. mainly because with the cal. that high it will make your alk. low.

Bebo77 · 03/18/2008, 01:13 PM

and what test kits are you using?

keefsama2003 · 03/18/2008, 01:16 PM

i had been dosing my Coral QT tanks with 2 part for 3 months before i started stocking it not realizing
CA = 800
KH= 380

so i added a few sps and lps to the tank hopefully with the abundant amount of CA they will get some really nice growth.

Bebo77 · 03/18/2008, 01:19 PM

doesnt work like that keef....

keefsama2003 · 03/18/2008, 01:25 PM

i was hoping it did but i do have a WC sched for the next few days when i get a chance and i have not dosed any 2part since testing.

are there any adverse effects to having the CA and ALK so high ?

i honestly didnt even realize i was dosing as its become habbit to do certain things in a certain order.

but i do document all of my parameters and these are the only 2 that are severely off.

A.VOID · 03/18/2008, 01:33 PM

High Calcium makes Alk low?

R'uh-r'oh!

My alk has been around 14 dKH (too high). Maybe this will bring it down. I didn't test that today.
Ph has been 8.0 - 8.1
Salinity is pegged at 35ppt
Nitrates were high, but they're a managable 20ish now

I only dosed Calcium once. I guess my salt mixture was sufficient.

Besides low Alk, what else could be a side-effect of high Cal?

(No, Mag test yet ... )

Test kit was an aph

seapug · 03/18/2008, 01:45 PM

Either something is off with one of your kits or you are walking the borderline of crashing your tank.. If you have high alk and high calcium you will typically depress pH. This is what often happens on tanks that use calcium reactors. If you aren't careful and your pH gets too high you could force a Calcium precip. snowstorm.

A.VOID · 03/18/2008, 02:33 PM

OK, I just retested Alk and pH (my numbers were from a few days ago)

Alk has dropped to 11 dKh
pH with lights on at 8.0 ish ( I really need a new kit for this one. Color matching sux a$$)

kevin2000 · 03/18/2008, 03:06 PM

Your alkalinity is fine - std range is 7-11 in aquariums with 11 considered better than 7 by many.

PH naturally fluxuates and has a wide range of "normal" .. PH of 7.9 - 8.5 is very common.

Here's a link discussing water parameters.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

03/18/2008, 01:00 PM	#1
A.VOID Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbus Posts: 985	Calcium at 620 ... Worry? My calcium is too high. Only 3 frags in the tank, and 2 are softies. Any issues, or just let it run its course?

03/18/2008, 01:13 PM	#3
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	and what test kits are you using? __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

03/18/2008, 01:16 PM	#4
keefsama2003 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: long island Ny Posts: 3,635	i had been dosing my Coral QT tanks with 2 part for 3 months before i started stocking it not realizing CA = 800 KH= 380 so i added a few sps and lps to the tank hopefully with the abundant amount of CA they will get some really nice growth. __________________ { Something witty and entertaining } Current Tank Info: 300g / 90gal sump / 90 gal refugium / 3x54watt T5 bulbs

03/18/2008, 01:19 PM	#5
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	doesnt work like that keef.... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

03/18/2008, 01:25 PM	#6
keefsama2003 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: long island Ny Posts: 3,635	i was hoping it did but i do have a WC sched for the next few days when i get a chance and i have not dosed any 2part since testing. are there any adverse effects to having the CA and ALK so high ? i honestly didnt even realize i was dosing as its become habbit to do certain things in a certain order. but i do document all of my parameters and these are the only 2 that are severely off. __________________ { Something witty and entertaining } Current Tank Info: 300g / 90gal sump / 90 gal refugium / 3x54watt T5 bulbs

03/18/2008, 01:09 PM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	what are you dosing to get the cal. that high? what is your alk. and mag. levels at? what is your sg.? IMO i would do a 20% water change just to bring it down some. mainly because with the cal. that high it will make your alk. low.

03/18/2008, 01:33 PM	#7
A.VOID Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbus Posts: 985	High Calcium makes Alk low? R'uh-r'oh! My alk has been around 14 dKH (too high). Maybe this will bring it down. I didn't test that today. Ph has been 8.0 - 8.1 Salinity is pegged at 35ppt Nitrates were high, but they're a managable 20ish now I only dosed Calcium once. I guess my salt mixture was sufficient. Besides low Alk, what else could be a side-effect of high Cal? (No, Mag test yet ... ) Test kit was an aph

03/18/2008, 01:45 PM	#8
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Either something is off with one of your kits or you are walking the borderline of crashing your tank.. If you have high alk and high calcium you will typically depress pH. This is what often happens on tanks that use calcium reactors. If you aren't careful and your pH gets too high you could force a Calcium precip. snowstorm. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

03/18/2008, 02:33 PM	#9
A.VOID Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbus Posts: 985	OK, I just retested Alk and pH (my numbers were from a few days ago) Alk has dropped to 11 dKh pH with lights on at 8.0 ish ( I really need a new kit for this one. Color matching sux a$$)

03/18/2008, 03:06 PM	#10
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	Your alkalinity is fine - std range is 7-11 in aquariums with 11 considered better than 7 by many. PH naturally fluxuates and has a wide range of "normal" .. PH of 7.9 - 8.5 is very common. Here's a link discussing water parameters. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php