Calcium to High

[pjhoehn]

This time last year I was combating an algae problem! I was doing w/c every few days and cut my photo period back water chemistry was fine Calcium in the low to mid 400 the tank was starting to come around and I was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I had a Rio pump nuke the tank. The only thing left in the tank alive was a Purple Tang the tank cycle again ammonia skyrocketed. I don’t recommend a pump nuking to get rid of algae but it works the Tang would beg for food every time I walked by because there was nothing in the tank to graze on. I left the tank alone for a few months. I began to see life on my live rock and decided that I had to do something with the tank. I check the water Nitrites, Ammonia were at 0, PH was a just under 8.0 dkh around 6-7 Calcium was I thought 0 so I started to add about 1/2 tsp. Calcium chloride along with my top up Kalkwasser daily after a couple of weeks. I still had no reading. I have 50-gallon tank I thought I do a big water change to help bring the calcium up so I did a 20 gallons water change. I checked the water that I was adding, thinking that the test was giving bad readings it was at 375. I did the water change checked my calcium level to my surprise it was I thought 0. I was beginning to think the ionic make up of the water was out of whack. At that time all that was in the tank was that P. Tang, I thought I would add a coral frag. to see what would happen. I went to LFS and explained my dilemma to the clerk who shook his head and said he had no clue. I picked up a branching Hammer frag. for $10.00 put it the tank it opened within 20 minutes more then at the store. I thought the water couldn’t be that bad. I have since found out that my calcium is close to 1000 it takes almost 2ml of reagent to get a color change. I’m adding Reef Buffer at 1 tsp. every few days to hold my PH just over 8.0 and my dkh at 8-9 if I add more it precipitates out. I'm wondering if I should do a few small water changes to try and lower the calcium level. The little hammer frag. is looking awesome really opening and has started to divide.

 

[Baianotang]

?
I would not trust a reading of calcium at 1000. Get another brand for the test kit. Calcium in my limited knoledge would have precipitated long before getting to that level, but not 100% sure.
Anyway good luck.

 

[pjhoehn]

That's what I thought also I was using an old Salifert Calcium test and followed it up with same age Strontium test and went out and bought a new Salifert calcium test kit all read about the same. My reading of 1000 is an assumption because the test kits don’t go that high.

 

[ChaoticReefer]

I still question your test results. Calcium precip. out at around 500 ppm.

Did you buy the test kit at the same store? If so, you probably just re-bought your old test kit, because it might have been sitting on the LFS's self just as long as your old test kit.

Salifert test kits are pretty good, so I wouldnt blame it on the brand.

Water changes never hurt, so go ahead and change the water and see what happens.

 

[pjhoehn]

I didnt buy the test kit from the same store as a matter of fact the first test kits were bought one online the second LFS and a few months later the last kit from an other LFS. I agree Salifert test are quite reliable as my change water tests in spec. 375-400 so that tells me a few things the test kit I'm using is good and I'm doing the test correct.

On my change water its runs about .20 ml's to color change on the tank its taking about 2.0 ml's.

 

[pjhoehn]

I didnt buy the test kit from the same store as a matter of fact the first test kits were bought one online the second LFS and a few months later the last kit from an other LFS. I agree Salifert test are quite reliable as my change water tests in spec. 375-400 so that tells me a few things the test kit I'm using is good and I'm doing the test correct.

On my change water its runs about .20 ml's to color change on the tank its taking about 2.0 ml's.

 

[psuedo74]

IM CURRENTLY GETTING READINGS OF cALCIUM AT 800, 900 ETC AND i AM FREAKING, i KNOW YOURS IS AN OLDER POST BUT i WAS JUST SEARCHING THROUGH RFO TO TRY AND FIGURE MY DILEMA OUT

WHAT DID YOU END UP DOING? i ALSO HAVE A hAMMER THAT LOOKS GREAT...

tHANKS

 

[psuedo74]

IM CURRENTLY GETTING READINGS OF cALCIUM AT 800, 900 ETC AND i AM FREAKING, i KNOW YOURS IS AN OLDER POST BUT i WAS JUST SEARCHING THROUGH RFO TO TRY AND FIGURE MY DILEMA OUT

WHAT DID YOU END UP DOING? i ALSO HAVE A hAMMER THAT LOOKS GREAT...

tHANKS

 

[cdeakle]

What would be the downside of calcium in this range??

 

[psuedo74]

I SUPPOSE "SNOWING" IN THE TANK AND THE LOSS OF CORALS..,

 

[Kevin1000]

Heres an article that might help

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm