Advice! Calcium overdose!

[dudemeister]

Yes I made the cardinal sin of Apex and left something running that should have only been running temporarily. Bottom line is I dosed a week+ worth of BRS Calcium solution into my 150 gallon system in 24 hours (about 3/4 of a gallon). Everything seems ok so far. Question is, is it ok to leave it be for a few days until the levels go down or should I be doing a big water change? I didn't measure the level but it has to be off the charts. I was going to test it Thursday to see where it stands.

Thanks

 

[thefuz]

w/c is always a good option i think. i have no idea if it's even possible to OD on Ca+ but the fastest "safe" reduction method may be w/c. i don't believe there's a way to chemically reduce it w/out introducing unwanted side effects. if your system is already going through Ca+ that quickly why not just stop dosing a few days and see what happens?

 

[skip0211]

I wouldn't worry too much .. If you really overdosed, you would "snow" the tank and your calc test kit would register almost zero .. Been there done that.

 

[dudemeister]

No snow- I OD'd Calc not Alk. Seems ok so far. Thank you for the replies.

 

[behlke]

How high did the calcium get in the aquarium? Test your balues and see what it is actually reading. Also check alk. If there is percipitate them you will be low on alk.

 

[dudemeister]

Interesting thing- I tested last night which was 24 hours after I discovered the ongoing OD. Ca 475, KH 10.3 and Mg 1500+. Seems like no harm so far. I have resumed normal dosing but I have tweaked the Ca down a bit for now so as not to add too much right now. Also cut the Mg for obvious reasons. Bottom line everything is alive and seems happy so that's a win I guess!

 

[behlke]

Congrats!

 

[Masedaddy]

That's great!! I was worried...

 

[dudemeister]

Update on the OD- all is still alive and well but that Calcium HAD to go SOMEWHERE.... Turns out it went into my sand bed. I went to stir the sand a bit and it was solid rock! I had to get in there with my hands and crush up the pieces while my dopey clownfish brutally attacked me! No worse for the wear.

 

[scolley]

Cute little Nemo my a**! Clowns can be downright mean!

Glad the calcium worked. And don't feel bad, I suspect MOST people with controllers have made the same mistake. It's almost inevitable with controllers. I know I have. Glad yours worked out OK.