Reef Crystals

[crox99]

I did a water change last night and before I put the new water I tested the salinity level, as a always do, but this time I wanted to test for the calcium. I have been hard for my to maintain my CA at around 400 even with heavy doses of CA supplements. I couldn't believe that the newly made water at SG of 1.025 had the CA level at just below 300!!!!! I use the Pinpoint CA monitor so I believe it's pretty accurate. Is it possible that I have a bad batch of RC?

 

[Craig]

what's the magnesium and alk at?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

i never noticed calcium to be low but magnesium was always low on every batch of saltwater i made with reef crystals....

 

[crox99]

I didn't test the Mg since my tank stays at 1500 without dosing anything so I didn't bother.

 

[jackson6745]

You should correspond the results with a salifert or other CA test. The monitor could be off.

 

[crox99]

You should correspond the results with a salifert or other CA test. The monitor could be off.

I recalibrated the monitor several times. Does temperature influnce the Ca level?

 

[cali_reef]

I recalibrated the monitor several times. Does temperature influnce the Ca level?

Indirectly yes, temperature affects salinity so as you match salinity at the wrong temperature everything else goes out of whack. What was the temp of the water you were mixing?

 

[crox99]

I know salinity is affected but I didn't know that the calcium is as well. I would say that the temperature of the water was around 70.