If Calcuim is more than 500ppm , what should I do???

bina770 · 03/23/2009, 07:06 PM

My Calcium is more that 500ppm. What should I do. I use the RED SEA test kits. And according to the color chart, the test water only turned blue-(the end result) after I added 0.3, meaning= 3 more drops into the test. Which means I add 1.0 mil plus 3 more drops.

On the instructions it clearly says if you added more than 1.0mil, then your calcium is more than 500ppm.

What should I do. I just did a water change 1 week ago.

My tank is 2 years old, but recently moved from Chicago to Canada (as you know) and now then tank is back up and cycling for 21 days. I used the same water, and have done 2 water changed in these 21 days.

jterrell · 03/23/2009, 07:15 PM

Don't worry about it. Just do normal water changes.

bina770 · 03/23/2009, 07:21 PM

should I dose any calcium, or not. How much 1mil,,, 2mil,,,etc...??

jterrell · 03/23/2009, 07:28 PM

No, don't dose cal until you have enough coral to use it.

davewbush · 03/23/2009, 07:29 PM

You don't need to dose any until it comes down. If there is not much in your tank to consume the cal then water changes will be enough to keep it up.

Mine is 520 and I haven't added any in 2 weeks. I do a 10 gal water change and it seems to stay there. I wont dose any until it gets back down to 400. I may be a few more weeks.

airdog67 · 03/24/2009, 01:06 AM

I agree with davewbush, 520 isnt the end of the world. I had the same problem when I upgraded my tank and the lfs said it was no big deal. my corals quickly brought down my levels.

Pippin86 · 03/24/2009, 01:57 AM

bina770,

The high calcium level in itself is not a problem, but you should check the Alkalinity levels. There is an ionic ballance between calcium and alkalinity- if one is really high, the other one could be really low. The alkalinity stabilizes the pH of the water, much more important to the health of the critters than calcium, which is more growth oriented.

That being said, the easiest and safest way to correct both of these (especially in a tank recently moved) is to do some more water changes, as jterrell suggested, separated by at least a couple days.

good luck
-Paul

RokleM · 03/24/2009, 08:13 AM

I agree with Pippin86. I would highly suggest checking some of your other parameters (most importantly alk) to ensure nothing else is off. If you're majorly concerned, as mentioned some large water changes would work (but obviously ensure your new water has the correct parameters as well since there isn't any clear answer as to why your cal is that high in the first place).

03/23/2009, 07:06 PM	#1
bina770 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 251	If Calcuim is more than 500ppm , what should I do??? My Calcium is more that 500ppm. What should I do. I use the RED SEA test kits. And according to the color chart, the test water only turned blue-(the end result) after I added 0.3, meaning= 3 more drops into the test. Which means I add 1.0 mil plus 3 more drops. On the instructions it clearly says if you added more than 1.0mil, then your calcium is more than 500ppm. What should I do. I just did a water change 1 week ago. My tank is 2 years old, but recently moved from Chicago to Canada (as you know) and now then tank is back up and cycling for 21 days. I used the same water, and have done 2 water changed in these 21 days.

03/24/2009, 08:13 AM	#8
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	I agree with Pippin86. I would highly suggest checking some of your other parameters (most importantly alk) to ensure nothing else is off. If you're majorly concerned, as mentioned some large water changes would work (but obviously ensure your new water has the correct parameters as well since there isn't any clear answer as to why your cal is that high in the first place). __________________ -Eric-

03/23/2009, 07:15 PM	#2
jterrell Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ruidoso, NM Posts: 263	Don't worry about it. Just do normal water changes.

03/23/2009, 07:21 PM	#3
bina770 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: chicago Posts: 251	should I dose any calcium, or not. How much 1mil,,, 2mil,,,etc...??

03/23/2009, 07:28 PM	#4
jterrell Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ruidoso, NM Posts: 263	No, don't dose cal until you have enough coral to use it.

03/23/2009, 07:29 PM	#5
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	You don't need to dose any until it comes down. If there is not much in your tank to consume the cal then water changes will be enough to keep it up. Mine is 520 and I haven't added any in 2 weeks. I do a 10 gal water change and it seems to stay there. I wont dose any until it gets back down to 400. I may be a few more weeks.

03/24/2009, 01:06 AM	#6
airdog67 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Earth, I think Posts: 234	I agree with davewbush, 520 isnt the end of the world. I had the same problem when I upgraded my tank and the lfs said it was no big deal. my corals quickly brought down my levels.

03/24/2009, 01:57 AM	#7
Pippin86 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 12	bina770, The high calcium level in itself is not a problem, but you should check the Alkalinity levels. There is an ionic ballance between calcium and alkalinity- if one is really high, the other one could be really low. The alkalinity stabilizes the pH of the water, much more important to the health of the critters than calcium, which is more growth oriented. That being said, the easiest and safest way to correct both of these (especially in a tank recently moved) is to do some more water changes, as jterrell suggested, separated by at least a couple days. good luck -Paul