Calcium to high

[JKLUSAF]

My Calcium has sky rocket up since my last water change. its 870 mg/L, i've lost my torch coral and losing my Green Slimmer Staghorn, is there any buffer to bring it down? any store open?:hypnotyized:

Justin

[Bill S]

Justin,

The quickest/best way to do this is with water changes. HOWEVER, that's a pretty big number. How did it get that high? Have you been dosing anything? You mentioned previously that you didn't have a Ca kit - who tested it, and are you SURE they got it right?

Please feel free to call - we'll be up until midnight. I also have tons of salt and RO/DI, if you are in need. 210.663.8079.

[Gilbert]

i would re-test specially if your not dosing anything

[JKLUSAF]

Bill & Mike, thanks for the help again , i'm cutting out at at 1100 today to start another water change and head over to B & B to check my water along with picking up some up. It was a late night change about 12gals last night...in bed at 1230 up at 5...ehhhh

Justin

[JKLUSAF]

really not sure whats going on with my water. aquarium designs tested my water and they results weren't that off then my test, so i went over to B&B and had jeremey test the water and his results seemed to be way different, his read pretty normal. so i'm changing another 20gals now and another tonight or tomorrow.

Justin

[sharkboy]

first thing first and make sure results are accurate...but water changes can't hurt!

[Bill S]

What kind of kits did AD and B & B use?

[JKLUSAF]

B&B used the API and AD used salifert

[JKLUSAF]

all right after the second water change, 15gal last night 20gal today, i was hopeing this calcium problem would go away. pH 8.2,ammonia .25, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, salinity 1.021, alk 3, and this time the calcium went up 926. i don't know whats going on. My calcium tester is the instant ocean reefmasters kit. the calcium kit says to muiltple the number of drops by 15 after the water turns blue. here's a question, does anyone else use this kit and is when it starts to turn purple or when it looks blue. maybe i'm doing this wrong.

Justin

[Bill S]

Did you test some of the fresh mixed water?

When titrating, quit when it goes to purple and stays that color. One more drop should push it over the edge to blue.

I can't imagine you are having a Calcium problem at this point, UNLESS you have a bad bucket of salt. As I said last night, it wouldn't be the first time!

When you dosed Ca a few weeks ago, was it ALL dissolved? Is there any way that some could have precipitated out and its re-dissolving? I don't think so. But...

I'd also try to get that salinity up a few ticks to 1.024

[JKLUSAF]

yea i tested the water i got from jeremy its fine. he was telling me my cal was 400, but if your saying once it starts to turn purple stop, my numbers will be right. i try that tomorrow morning

when i did dose it was liquid form

i'm going to bring up the salt tomorrow, the other thing i just found out was the skimmer pump burnt out. just got done sending email to redsea. that skimmer is only 3weeks old

my head hurts and i'll get back at it tomorrow

Justin

[CoryDude]

Justin,

I don't think Instant Ocean Ca test kits are reliable for levels above 500-600 meq/L. I would get similar results above 850+ ppm with that kit. When I double checked against a Seachem kit, the level was actually around 550 meq/L.

I got more accurate results using the Instant Ocean when I would dilute the test sample with 1/2 RO/DI water and then multiply the results X2. Just a personal experience so it may not apply to your situation.

[GoldCorals]

i'm going to bring up the salt tomorrow,

my head hurts and i'll get back at it tomorrow

Justin

mine too.
at 1.021 SG synthetic salt calcium should be around 335.
if your calcium is higher than that at 1.021 ,do u have a respectable way to measure the SG, w/o juice I wouldn't
wanna bring salinity up w/o knowing if the calcium test was
even near respectable. raise your salinity at this point would/should raise your calcium as well.........

my head hurts...

[Bill S]

Justin,

Speaking of which, how are you measuring your specific gravity (what instrument) and did B & B check your specific gravity?

[JKLUSAF]

Jeremey checked it, 1.022, Refractometer and that is what i'm reading.

Justin

[JKLUSAF]

thinking about it, what was the brand of testing kit you referred me too?

thanks

Justin

[Texreefer]

Justin, I have my kiddo today but I may be able to get by this afternoon and look at things for you,, I have a refractometer and salifert test kit

[JKLUSAF]

i'm heading home know, just give me a call mike 850-218-1899

[Texreefer]

I'm also concerned about that level of ammonia with not nitrite or nitrate readings, could be signs of a more pressing problem.

[Texreefer]

I'm also concerned about that level of ammonia with not nitrite or nitrate readings, could be signs of a more pressing problem. any recent changes, like additions of live rock, or disturbing the sand bed?

[JKLUSAF]

no new rock or big disturbence with sand bed

[Bill S]

Mike, I think he has a bad ammonia kit. Some of those show a trace, when there is none.

Salifert is my kit of choice.

[JKLUSAF]

thanks Bill