Calcium high?

[JammyBirch]

I just got through cycling, tonight I did a 25% water change and tested the water. Everything looks good except calcium...

Sg. 1.024
Ph. 8.2
Alk. 8 drops
Am. 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Calcium 557???

I measured this 2 nights ago and it was 528, I don't know if there is such a thing as too high but this is close to the limit of the Hanna checker, 200-600

Let me know what you think...

 

[thegrun]

I'm not a big fan of the calcium Hanna checker, but if the test is correct, the big drawback to high calcium is that you will need to clean your pumps more frequently.

 

[JammyBirch]

I'm not a big fan of the calcium Hanna checker, but if the test is correct, the big drawback to high calcium is that you will need to clean your pumps more frequently.

I'm going to compare with a friend of mines Red Sea kit and see what's up...I may be messing up the process somehow as well.

Calcium is the big thing that coral need right, once coral is added I wonder if the level would naturally decrease.

 

[thegrun]

Soft corals use very little calcium, but any stony coral will use it (along with calcifing algae like coralline).

 

[Wryknow]

I'm guessing that you're using a reef salt like Reef Crystals or something? Reef salts typically boost their calcium, Alk, and Mag to a high level - which is what you're paying for with "premium" reef salts. As your coraline algae starts to grow and you (potentially) add hard corals they will consume the elements as needed and you'll start seeing the levels drop. As long as demand is low water changes should be able to keep your ALK/calcium/mag levels at NSW or better. Nothing to worry about IMHO - you're just providing calcifying critters an all-you-can-eat buffet to help them grow faster. (You will have to clean your pumps mroe frequently though

 

[Heathcoot]

well you wont have to dose but i would test every week and possibly add some stony corals to help pull some calcium out of the water

 

[disc1]

Calcium is the big thing that coral need right, once coral is added I wonder if the level would naturally decrease.

Calcium and alkalinity both are important. The coral use it in a very balanced way to build their skeletons. For every calcium ion they take up they also take one carbonate ion. The carbonate is the alkalinity. That should work out to about 7ppm of calcium for every 1dKH of alkalinity.

Since there is already so much more calcium in the water than alkalinity, it is more likely that they will push the alkalinity low way before they can push calcium down. So alkalinity is really the one to watch.

 

[JammyBirch]

So alkalinity is really the one to watch.

Great info there...i didn't really understand Alkalinity but it's starting to make sense now.

 

[mchammer]

I just got my Hanna calcium checker the other day and my calcium reading was 562 first time and then a second test 523. My Salifert test was 480 so I don't think the Hanna checker is off so much as my reading for the sailfert test was subjective. I did adjust my two part as to raise my ALK and lower my calcium. My ALK was low 6.44 Hanna Checker this goes along with what disc1 was saying about the relationship of calcium and alkalinity.

 

[Zer0.]

Calcium and alkalinity both are important. The coral use it in a very balanced way to build their skeletons. For every calcium ion they take up they also take one carbonate ion. The carbonate is the alkalinity. That should work out to about 7ppm of calcium for every 1dKH of alkalinity.

Since there is already so much more calcium in the water than alkalinity, it is more likely that they will push the alkalinity low way before they can push calcium down. So alkalinity is really the one to watch.

This is how my tank is. after 5 months or so (and adding a few lps and 1 tiny sps frag) I am having to dose to keep alk around 8. while calcium is still around 460 (started at about 550-560) as kent marine mixes very high cal.

I lose about a quarter dKH per day. Not sure how much calcium drops per day yet, as i check it less often, I will probably just start dosing to keep even once it hits about 420.