Calcium is always too high

[Abe]

Hi
Mi calcium is always over 650, and my alkalinty is way too low. I have stopped dosing kalkwasser completly, but my calium doesn't go dowm. I also stopped dosing c-balance, because this raises calcium levels too. I have already used two different test kits and they all give the same results. Should I add c-balance annyway, since it increases alkalinity?

I have a 90 gallon tank and 30 gallon refugium.

annybody have any ideas?

Abe

 

[newreefman1]

Theres an analogy in A.Calfos propgation book thats the bowl of marbles....say you have 100 marbles...if 70 are calcium, 30 are alkalinity... if 65 are calcium then 35 can be alkalinity....etc...but there can only be 100 marbles....so if your cacium stays high, your alkalinity can never increase. I would suggest lowering or stopping dosing any calcium suplements and adding a buffer to bring up your alk. Once it gets reasonable.....does equally whatever it is you dose..ie...BIONIC>

HTH
J

 

[KanUCme]

I use the two part KENT Marine Tech*CB partA and Tech*CB partB in equal proportions every other day. It has buffer and calcium all in one.

 

[tlc]

how old is your system?
what is the tank mostly comprised of? sps, lps, softies
if less than a year old i would suggest doing small frequent water changes. around 18-24 gallons every 8-10 days.
your water chemistry is out of whack and you dont want to jolt the system with to many quick changes.
when your chemistry starts to equalize start using a two part sytem. they are all good and will accomplish good results. i use powders like seachem reefbuilder(alk) and reef advantage(ca). powders are a little cheaper. hth.

 

[Enkidu]

You could always do a water change for a temporary fix.

 

[jimmy n]

Think of alkalinity as giving your corals the ability to use calcium. Without it, your calcium will remain high, but unused. Try buffing up your alkalinity and your calcium will fall and your corals will begin to grow.

Jim

 

[randy holmes-farley]

Abe:

The answer to your problem is very simple: add an alkalinity supplement. Add more. Then add more. Then add more.

Eventually, the calcium will drop, the alkalinity will rise, and you'll be fine. But I can't emphasize enough: you will need a lot of alkalinity supplement.

Don't add anything with calcium in it for a while.

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
Test both a newly made water and RO-DI water for Ca and alk, and let us know the value. You used to dose kalk, so what is in your tank that will bring the Ca down?

 

[Abe]

I just purchased a small container of kent dKH buffer and will start dosing emidiatly. At the moment I hardly have any invertebrates in my 90 gallon tank.
2-brain corals (from caribbean)
about 10-ricordeas
4-small mushroom corals
1-tubastrea (having trubble feeding it)
1-small coral I collected while snorkeling, dont know what it is.

I have two firefish that are always hiding and won't eat. I think its because of a female blue head wrasse I have that is a bit aggressive. Does anybody know how to get one of these out?

Abe

 

[randy holmes-farley]

wnofaknd:

<< Ca usually precipitates out of solution above 550ppm. >>

Of course, he states that his alkalinity is low, so the supersaturation of calcium carbonate may be no higher than most tanks with 400 ppm calcium.

FWIW, calcium of 600 ppm and seawater alkalinity (2.5 meq/L) is no more likely to cause a precipitation than is 400 ppm calcium and 3.75 meq/L alkalinity (at the same pH). Many people keep the latter just fine. They'd should be equally well able to maintain the former.

 

[wnfaknd]

get new test kits, i bet they are messed up.
i doubt your Ca level is that high.
Ca usually precipitates out of solution above 550ppm.

 

[tlc]

the species you have are not huge ca users. get your levels back in order than ease off on the supplements. not sure what test kits you are using but i like lamotte for ca and alk...

 

[MandarinFish]

Isn't baking soda the same thing as the expensive sea-buffer stuff Kent makes?

It's all bicarbonate right?

 

[randy holmes-farley]

Mandarin:

No, it isn't likely the same thing, but it is close.

Most buffers are a mixture of sodium bicarbonate(baking soda) and sodium carbonate (washing soda).

Baking soda alone is perfectly fine except that it will tend to lower pH.

Sodium carbonate alone is also fine, but will tend to raise pH, just as limewater does.