Calcium Levels off the charts

sinkingbeach · 05/02/2006, 12:10 PM

I tested last week when doing my water change it was 380 using Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Calcium Test Kit(this particular kit is 4weeks old), just finished doing my water change and test and find I'w way above the chart using same test kit. I retested just to make sure it was done properly and get the same result. I add 25cc B-Ionic daily(25cc alkalinity, 25cc Calcium), have been doing so for a very long time and have nevr come up with this kind of result.

A. How do I bring it down, do I need to do something about this immediately or just not dose til it gets down to a reasonable level.

B. Will the corals(sps mainly) I have be ok if I wait out this spike?

C. Any ideas as to why it would spike like this over a weeks time when previously would always test a little low?

Thanks

sinkingbeach · 05/02/2006, 12:13 PM

I also use NSW for water changes so it's not the salt.

ONEMANBAND · 05/02/2006, 12:22 PM

Check your alkalinity.

sinkingbeach · 05/02/2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ONEMANBAND
Check your alkalinity.

Approx.(off the chart) 620 ppm

13.0 dKH

7.8 ph

Snowboarder2757 · 05/02/2006, 01:33 PM

I had high Calcium levels a few weeks ago, and I just stoped dosing for a week or so and kept testing until it was in a reasonable level.
As far as corals go...mine did fine, I didnt lose anything, but I guess I got lucky.

ONEMANBAND · 05/02/2006, 01:42 PM

I agree, lay off the 2 part for a few days and see what happens, thats a really strange problem not sure what could cause it unless the NSW was really out of whack, the 620 CA level wont really hurt anything unless CA starts coming out of solution( looks like snow) just look out for alkalinity to start falling, if it starts to drop consider adding buffer. Test for Magnesium if you have a test kit is about the only other thing I know to check out. Good luck.

sinkingbeach · 05/02/2006, 02:22 PM

The "dumbest reefer award" goes to yours truely

, my wife noticed how I was going thru the B-Ionic so to save some cash she purchased the large containers, unbeknownst to me it's concentrated and I've been dosing it like the normal sized ready for use bottle I always get.

ONEMANBAND · 05/02/2006, 02:35 PM

Ah, time to start thinking CA reactor!! High upfront cost, then just a couple dollars a month for CO2 and Media.

sinkingbeach · 05/02/2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ONEMANBAND
Ah, time to start thinking CA reactor!! High upfront cost, then just a couple dollars a month for CO2 and Media.

Have been thinking about it but with the cost of JB concerts this year and the fact that he just added another one locally it will be awhile before I can afford one.

Scuba_Dave · 05/02/2006, 05:33 PM

620 isn't bad, depending upon how much your tank will use in a week. I really messed up & was close to 900 at one point
I lost my cleanup crew & shrimp/inverts

05/02/2006, 12:10 PM	#1
sinkingbeach Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 867	Calcium Levels off the charts I tested last week when doing my water change it was 380 using Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Calcium Test Kit(this particular kit is 4weeks old), just finished doing my water change and test and find I'w way above the chart using same test kit. I retested just to make sure it was done properly and get the same result. I add 25cc B-Ionic daily(25cc alkalinity, 25cc Calcium), have been doing so for a very long time and have nevr come up with this kind of result. A. How do I bring it down, do I need to do something about this immediately or just not dose til it gets down to a reasonable level. B. Will the corals(sps mainly) I have be ok if I wait out this spike? C. Any ideas as to why it would spike like this over a weeks time when previously would always test a little low? Thanks

05/02/2006, 12:22 PM	#3
ONEMANBAND Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 726	Check your alkalinity. __________________ At birth,Chuck Norris came out feet first so he could roundhouse kick the doctor in the face. NOBODY delivers Chuck Norris but Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 75 reef/100 aggressive

05/02/2006, 01:33 PM	#5
Snowboarder2757 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 120	I had high Calcium levels a few weeks ago, and I just stoped dosing for a week or so and kept testing until it was in a reasonable level. As far as corals go...mine did fine, I didnt lose anything, but I guess I got lucky. __________________ Andrew 30g reef 50g planted Current Tank Info: 30g reef, 55g planted

05/02/2006, 01:42 PM	#6
ONEMANBAND Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 726	I agree, lay off the 2 part for a few days and see what happens, thats a really strange problem not sure what could cause it unless the NSW was really out of whack, the 620 CA level wont really hurt anything unless CA starts coming out of solution( looks like snow) just look out for alkalinity to start falling, if it starts to drop consider adding buffer. Test for Magnesium if you have a test kit is about the only other thing I know to check out. Good luck. __________________ At birth,Chuck Norris came out feet first so he could roundhouse kick the doctor in the face. NOBODY delivers Chuck Norris but Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 75 reef/100 aggressive

05/02/2006, 02:22 PM	#7
sinkingbeach Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 867	The "dumbest reefer award" goes to yours truely, my wife noticed how I was going thru the B-Ionic so to save some cash she purchased the large containers, unbeknownst to me it's concentrated and I've been dosing it like the normal sized ready for use bottle I always get.

05/02/2006, 12:13 PM	#2
sinkingbeach Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 867	I also use NSW for water changes so it's not the salt.

05/02/2006, 02:35 PM	#8
ONEMANBAND Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 726	Ah, time to start thinking CA reactor!! High upfront cost, then just a couple dollars a month for CO2 and Media. __________________ At birth,Chuck Norris came out feet first so he could roundhouse kick the doctor in the face. NOBODY delivers Chuck Norris but Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 75 reef/100 aggressive

05/02/2006, 05:33 PM	#10
Scuba_Dave EMERTXE YID Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Asylum, South of Boston, MA Posts: 10,362	620 isn't bad, depending upon how much your tank will use in a week. I really messed up & was close to 900 at one point I lost my cleanup crew & shrimp/inverts