Can't get Calcium level passed 350 ppm.

[Reef Guy11]

Hey everyone,

I don't know what else to do. I have a Knops Calcium reactor On my tank, I have added just the Calcium from B-Ionic and still will not go passed 350 corals are still doing good. PH is 8.20 shown by my Neptune Controller. Don't what else I can do. I did you Crushed Marble as a DSB, I thought that had something to do with, as I found that it does not really acted as a buffing system. So I added Agro Live sand from Caribb Sea still nothing. Please help!!!!! Parameters are all good. I also have a Fuge on my system. :?

 

[vair]

At one point I thought I could not get my calcium up, changed test kits and that was the problem. Tested both kits and sure enough one was' peaked out' at 320. Hopefully it's that easy for you.

Good luck

dave

 

[Ben1]

The test kit could be the problem.

Otherwise try Kent Marines Turbo Calcium or Tropic Marins Bio calcium, both work great for additional CA input.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Darrel..i find it hard to believe you cant get the levels up...I know youre not lying but there is definitely a problem somewhere...maybe check the test kits....I hear salifert is good...i use a red sea...i imagine its pretty accurate too....Perhaps the corals are sucking up calc faster..do you have lots of corals...if so try increasing the dose....definitely check test kit first...

 

[Reef Guy11]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the input. I will try a different test Kit I use Sea Chem Calcium tester I have had it for a long time now. So I will get the Red Sea from Work and Try that and see if that is the Case. I have have 9 different SPS Corals, 2 Leathers one Unbrella leather and one small Devils hand, GSP, a couple dozen Mushrooms, Frogspawn, Torch Coral, Small Hammer Coral, 2 Clams one Blue Maxia, one Sqaumosa, ETC.

Lord Have you tried the Fuge yet. I hope you are having good Sucess with it.

 

[wasp]

Happened to me, I could not get it much past 350 (or so I thought). When I got another test kit, it tested at a little over 600. So I took a sample to the LFS who tested it, it was over 600. So the origional problem was my test kit.
However, I once did have a problem getting the calcium up, turned out to be a lack of magnesium, which is needed to hold the calcium in the water. Started dosing Seachems Reef Advantage Calcium, which eventually did the job, because it contains the right amount of magnesium and others that is needed for the calcium.

 

[Ben1]

Red Sea is one of the worst test kits available. I use salifert but LaMotte is also good.

 

[Anonymous]

If your test kits are good.

This is what I have done and it worked for me.

Check you magnesium as well.

I doesd Tech-M to get my Magnesium up.

Used allot of Turbo calcium to get the paramters in check.

Read this article as well.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
_________________
fullmelt hash

 

[Reef Guy11]

Well Guy's I got the RED SEA Calcium test kit and sure enough it read my Calcium level at 450 ppm instead of 350. So go figure now that Sea Chem test kit is History. Thanks guy for the help. I might Just try Salifert test kit to see we carry it but it doesn't sell much here I will see if have any and take it home.

 

[Anonymous]

So Ben how is Red Sea the worst...i can think of some others that are more worse...

 

[reefsnreptiles1]

Red Sea is one of the worst test kits available

I agree. Red Sea test kits are notoriously inaccurate. For calcium and alk Salifert is one of the best.[/code]

 

[Ben1]

So Ben how is Red Sea the worst...i can think of some others that are more worse

Which ones are worse?

Do a search there has been lots of post over the years how poor these test kits are. The salifert are not that expensive and work much better.

 

[Reef Guy11]

We need to order more of the Salifert at the Shop. When we get it in, I will test. The red Sea reads 100 ppm more than my old Sea Chem, so I think that is a Plus.

 

[Anonymous]

Yep, just discovered that the Red Sea test kit that I bought 2 months ago and have been using ever since was consistantly telling me I had 100-150 ppm higher calcium concentrations than I actually had. Too bad I didn't figure this out until $300 worth of sps colonies rolled over on me. :x I am now using a Tropic Mar. kit with much better success.

 

[danny254]

What is your current magnesium level, because that will play a big part as to how much calcium stays in the water. And also it would help to know your carbonate alkalkinity level, because if thats really high it might have something to do with your calcium. All of these elements have to be balanced to get proper levels.

HTH,
Danny