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Unread 01/07/2010, 12:38 PM   #1
frd72
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high levels of calcium

how can i make my calcium levels down, right now i am sitting at 520 ++ ppm?
other water parameters are good..


thanks


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Unread 01/07/2010, 12:45 PM   #2
jefathome
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Water changes or waiting...


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Unread 01/07/2010, 01:27 PM   #3
JeF4y
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Any idea how they got that high?


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Unread 01/07/2010, 01:32 PM   #4
AwkwardParrot
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Whats you Mag, Alk, PH, and Oxygen levels. They can all affect what is happening.


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Unread 01/07/2010, 01:43 PM   #5
sedor
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Are you dosing Ca into the tank? Some reef salt mixes such as reef crystals contain Ca levels in the 500 range. If you don't have any coral in the tank I wouldn't worry about it, if you do, consider switching salts and adding supplements yourself when you make up the water. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to test some fresh salt water so you can tell what your salt is doing to it.


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Unread 01/07/2010, 01:55 PM   #6
Peter Eichler
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sedor View Post
Are you dosing Ca into the tank? Some reef salt mixes such as reef crystals contain Ca levels in the 500 range. If you don't have any coral in the tank I wouldn't worry about it, if you do, consider switching salts and adding supplements yourself when you make up the water. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to test some fresh salt water so you can tell what your salt is doing to it.
What makes you think corals will be harmed in any way by a calcium of 520?


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Unread 01/07/2010, 01:55 PM   #7
Peter Eichler
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AwkwardParrot View Post
Whats you Mag, Alk, PH, and Oxygen levels. They can all affect what is happening.
None of those will cause calcium to be high...


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Unread 01/07/2010, 01:58 PM   #8
MatthewLaw
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water change and monitor.

if you're heavily stocked in corals, wont the corals use up the calcium in a realtively small period of time?


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Unread 01/07/2010, 02:07 PM   #9
Whisperer
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First, double check if it is a true measurement. You may want to bring a sample to your LFS for measurement, they do it for free in general.
Then, if it is proven, you may do a good amount of water change to bring it down or you may just wait until the corals use up the calcium. Make sure you have adequate carbonate and Mg as well. I would do the latter if the corals do not show any signs of stress. Keep in mind, abrupt changes in parameters are more dangerous.


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Unread 01/07/2010, 03:02 PM   #10
jb61264
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Eichler View Post
None of those will cause calcium to be high...
Can you elaborate Peter...I thought Alk levels affected the ability of corals to use up Ca in the water...if his Alk was extremely low, wouldn't it be limiting his corals ability to use up Ca?

Here is a good article on making one-time Ca and Alk corrections.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm


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Unread 01/07/2010, 03:13 PM   #11
ritter6788
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Are you using Coralife Salt? It's always in the 500 range.


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Unread 01/07/2010, 06:37 PM   #12
frd72
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thanks a lot to everyone, i was overwhelmed of all the ideas shared...

I am using Kent salt mix, which is on 480+++ CA..
Now i switched back to instant ocean which is on 380 CA
My set up is a 35 g tank with 20 g sump,soft corals and only 6 kinds of fish..
I have a Phosban reactor with Rowa media.
Coralife 220 skimmer..

PH, Alk, Nitrate, and Phosphate are all good...
I have 1.025 salinity @ 78 degrees water temperature

thanks,
tedy


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Unread 01/08/2010, 11:30 AM   #13
frd72
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anymore??


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Unread 01/12/2010, 07:39 PM   #14
frd72
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today i bought some magnesium maybe this will help stabilize the calcium levels...

thanks,
tedy


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Unread 01/13/2010, 10:38 AM   #15
ritter6788
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frd72 View Post
today i bought some magnesium maybe this will help stabilize the calcium levels...

thanks,
tedy
Do you have a magnesium test kit? I wouldn't add anything at all unless you are testing for it. I don't think adding magnesium will help lower your calcium. Lower magnesium can cause calcium and alkalinity to drop but your calcium is high. I would do water changes only. 480 calcium is not bad.


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Unread 01/24/2010, 04:55 PM   #16
frd72
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works out pretty good for me now, the problem on my high calcium was mainly my test kit, for some reason i was using it on a wrong way. yes i test magnesium first before adding more, it was 1000 now 1250 and still working on it..

thanks,
tedy


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