Too MUCH CALCIUM?

[BioCube14]

I was doing a calcium test on my tank for the first time using a AP calcium test kit and its saying my calcium levels are double what they should be anyone know how I can fix this?

[JimD]

umm, Need specific numbers...

[BioCube14]

well calcium should be around 400-500 mine are more like 700

[BioCube14]

Im thinking I should stop using the bionic 2 part ? Maybe do less frequent water changes? I do 1 or 2 gal or so every 4 days I have a 14 gal tank. No fish just coral.

[Troy Valentine]

What is your ALK level? If you don't know don't add any buffer, or you could see a snow storm in South Texas. I think I would get a new CA kit first, try Salifert

[Texreefer]

If you are following a dosing schedule but do not have enough demand to use all that,, you will start to build up an unhealthy amount of calcium,, if you haven't seen any ill affects at this point just do as the others suggested with the ALK test and water changes,, and also try a different test kit for Ca,, I really don't think it is that high,, or you would see some bad things happening to your corals

[BioCube14]

well some of my zoos are not opened up all the way and some corals dont look their best. I have a salifert kit but its like a science project i think it takes about 3 days to complete the test. hehe. My readings are screwed up so I want to get it in range then use my salifert kit to get a better reading the AP kit is simple compared to the salifert . I also have a salifert ALK test I will try that and see what i get. I dont think I should dose bionic everyday I remembered when i first set this tank up i never dosed and my corals grew like crazy. Im guessing just simple water changes every week will be fine for now until i get my tank back to normal.

[erikharrison]

If it's a dropper style kit, you should drop one drop, shake it, drop another, shake it etc. Since you are rigid on your maintainence, water changes alone should do you well without having to dose. Still mostly softies right?

[BioCube14]

yea mostly softies slowly getting into the more harder stuff LPS SPS but before i go all out I need to get my water correct. Im going to cut back on the bionic and also the water changes and test every 2 or 3 days until i get better readings. I am obviously still learning how to balance my tank.

[caferacermike]

I do not trust the API kits. I had the same problem with them saying I always had around 800ppm. I'd see my Alk up around 11 or 12 and CA at 800, my understanding is that would be impossible. You'd have to be mega dosing MG, ALK and CA like a crazy Italian to pull it off. You might find someone with a Salifert or Seachem test to compare your readings with.