Calcium

Drock169 · 10/17/2007, 07:36 PM

Hey,

I need some advice on how to lower my calcium. I'm using a Red sea Ca test kit. its currently reading 550ppm which I think is way too high. my dKH is at 11.2 tested with a salifert test kit. I dose with Kalkwasser. pH around 8-8.1, any help with this would be appreciated.

01rs25 · 10/17/2007, 07:57 PM

Being new to the saltwater hobby, but also rather proficient in the freshwater hobby, I would recommend a waterchange. It seems as though if you take out atleast 20% of the water and reduce the Kalkwasser that you are adding in. You will find that your calcium will decrease.

sohal1025 · 10/17/2007, 08:01 PM

Do you put anything else in other than kalk.

kau_cinta_ku · 10/17/2007, 08:12 PM

just stop dosing kalk for a few days and it will come down. do you have alot of sps or LPS in the tank?

IslandCrow · 10/17/2007, 08:25 PM

It seems strange that kalk alone would get the Ca that high, unless you've dosed quite a bit, and as a result would probably have a really high PH. You may want to get a second opinion on that reading, but otherwise, I'd do exactly what Sam suggested.

chk4tix · 10/17/2007, 09:10 PM

I had the same thing happen on my 30g tank a few days ago. I am not sure why CA was so high, but I did a 10-15% water change and it reduced it enough to be in the parameters

kau_cinta_ku · 10/17/2007, 09:13 PM

my guess is he don't have much in the tank that uses cal. so using the kalk makes it raise

Drock169 · 10/17/2007, 09:27 PM

softies and shrimp are in my tank, I use Kalk to raise the pH, should I consider switching to another buffer instead?

Pross33 · 10/17/2007, 09:31 PM

It is my experience that the DKH and Calcium have a direct relationship with each other. Typically if the DKH rises the calcium comes down and when calcium goes up DKH should come down.

I must agree water changes are one of the best things to do to get your parameters back under control, and if you do not have ionic balance - DKH and Calcium balance your corals will not use the calcium. Also If you do not have many corals you will not need much calcium in the tank.

Pross33 · 10/17/2007, 09:38 PM

I use Kent Turbo Calcium and Kent Superbuffer dKH. I alternate MWF buffer 2 tsp and TUE Thur SAT Calcium 2 tsp added to sump. I also use Salifert test kit for Calcium and Buffer which is very acurate.

kau_cinta_ku · 10/18/2007, 03:40 PM

if all you have is softies and shrimp. then I would stop using kalk to bring your pH up or you will always have problems with high cal.

look here for other reason and a cure to raise you pH without using kalk
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

Drock169 · 10/18/2007, 04:38 PM

I've already read that article. Already in the process of using a reverse photoperiod, just waiting for a fuge light to arrive. Although, I may still try using a kent marine pH buffer

marduc · 10/18/2007, 04:48 PM

http://web.archive.org/web/200211270...v2002/chem.htm

With th CA that high water changes will be your best bet.. I would go with a salt mix that is lower in Ca (ie. Instant Ocean as opposed to Reef Crystals). A couple of water changes will lower it some, stop adding Kalk, use washing soda (bake baking soda at 300 degrees for an hour) to raise your alkalinity as it starts to drop, this will also raise your PH slightly (although 8.1ish is not a problem, a slight nudge up won't hurt you

). in time things will slowly get back in line, when it does, then balanced additives (kalk) can be resumed.

10/17/2007, 07:36 PM	#1
Drock169 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 318	Calcium Hey, I need some advice on how to lower my calcium. I'm using a Red sea Ca test kit. its currently reading 550ppm which I think is way too high. my dKH is at 11.2 tested with a salifert test kit. I dose with Kalkwasser. pH around 8-8.1, any help with this would be appreciated.

10/17/2007, 07:57 PM	#2
01rs25 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: B-more Posts: 52	Being new to the saltwater hobby, but also rather proficient in the freshwater hobby, I would recommend a waterchange. It seems as though if you take out atleast 20% of the water and reduce the Kalkwasser that you are adding in. You will find that your calcium will decrease. __________________ I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance... By fleeing the scene of an accident. Current Tank Info: Reef

10/17/2007, 08:01 PM	#3
sohal1025 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Elyria Ohio Posts: 1,737	Do you put anything else in other than kalk. __________________ THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!! ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank, Reef Radiance led lighting,20gal long sump,SuperReefOctopus,phosban reactor

10/17/2007, 08:25 PM	#5
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	It seems strange that kalk alone would get the Ca that high, unless you've dosed quite a bit, and as a result would probably have a really high PH. You may want to get a second opinion on that reading, but otherwise, I'd do exactly what Sam suggested. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

10/17/2007, 08:12 PM	#4
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	just stop dosing kalk for a few days and it will come down. do you have alot of sps or LPS in the tank?

10/17/2007, 09:10 PM	#6
chk4tix Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 53	I had the same thing happen on my 30g tank a few days ago. I am not sure why CA was so high, but I did a 10-15% water change and it reduced it enough to be in the parameters

10/17/2007, 09:13 PM	#7
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	my guess is he don't have much in the tank that uses cal. so using the kalk makes it raise

10/17/2007, 09:27 PM	#8
Drock169 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 318	softies and shrimp are in my tank, I use Kalk to raise the pH, should I consider switching to another buffer instead?

10/17/2007, 09:31 PM	#9
Pross33 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 3	It is my experience that the DKH and Calcium have a direct relationship with each other. Typically if the DKH rises the calcium comes down and when calcium goes up DKH should come down. I must agree water changes are one of the best things to do to get your parameters back under control, and if you do not have ionic balance - DKH and Calcium balance your corals will not use the calcium. Also If you do not have many corals you will not need much calcium in the tank.

10/17/2007, 09:38 PM	#10
Pross33 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 3	I use Kent Turbo Calcium and Kent Superbuffer dKH. I alternate MWF buffer 2 tsp and TUE Thur SAT Calcium 2 tsp added to sump. I also use Salifert test kit for Calcium and Buffer which is very acurate.

10/18/2007, 03:40 PM	#11
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	if all you have is softies and shrimp. then I would stop using kalk to bring your pH up or you will always have problems with high cal. look here for other reason and a cure to raise you pH without using kalk http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

10/18/2007, 04:38 PM	#12
Drock169 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 318	I've already read that article. Already in the process of using a reverse photoperiod, just waiting for a fuge light to arrive. Although, I may still try using a kent marine pH buffer

10/18/2007, 04:48 PM	#13
marduc Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 780	http://web.archive.org/web/200211270...v2002/chem.htm With th CA that high water changes will be your best bet.. I would go with a salt mix that is lower in Ca (ie. Instant Ocean as opposed to Reef Crystals). A couple of water changes will lower it some, stop adding Kalk, use washing soda (bake baking soda at 300 degrees for an hour) to raise your alkalinity as it starts to drop, this will also raise your PH slightly (although 8.1ish is not a problem, a slight nudge up won't hurt you ). in time things will slowly get back in line, when it does, then balanced additives (kalk) can be resumed.