calcium is always high!why?

[jenate20]

I have a 72 gallon reef thats loaded with corals but for some reason my calcium is always above 500ppm it seems like i never dose calcium . im always dosing alkalinity ( reef biulder by seachem) is there a reason why my tank has slowed down on the intake of calcium.

 

[FishWife1]

Mine is the same way - what type of salt are you using? I have been using Oceanic and my calcium was up around 690ppm. I have switched to week WCs with Reef Crystals, just did my second one this evening. I'll check it in a couple of days. I also threw in a couple of pieces of halimeda hoping to gobble up some of the calcium.

BTW, do you have coralline growth? I don't.

Laurie

 

[jenate20]

i am currently using instant ocean but was using oceanic and my calcium was depleted more often with the oceanic however since the switch to instant ocean my calcium stays high and my alkalinity drops dont make sense since oceanic has more calcium in it, As for corraline growth i dont get nearly as much since i stopped dosing kalkwasser but my ph still stays in check

 

[CookieJar]

damn! I wish I had that problem. I have a hard time keeping calicum high enough for anything but softies/ easy LPS.

 

[GVR-4579]

Have you checked your water for calcium before adding salt? It could also be that your salt, wich does add calcium and elements, is addin unusable calcium to the system. If its unusable calcium then it wont go away.

 

[evilelvis]

I have the same problem. I use Oceanic and have tested using Salifert and Instant Ocean tests...same results...off the charts. I only have shrooms and zoas though so I guess my usage is nill. I did switch to Reef Crystals which out of the box tested "normal" (can't remember the exact params, but it was less) so I think it's just Oceanic is high.

I have not tested my R/O water...maybe I will for giggles. I could literally go a month and not have any change.

 

[CapitalO]

There is a strong relationship between alkalinity and calcium. If the calcium levels get too high (ie 500) alkalinity tends to drop. High alkalinity levels tends to make calcium precipitate. Keep alkalinity around 2.5-3.5 meq/L (7-10 dKH) and eventually your calcium levels will go down. Around 400 is optimal.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

what exactly do you mean by "calcium precipitate"? Surely it doesnt rain calcium? lol

 

[JohnnyM2]

Actually it does! Calcium easily forms compounds, such as calcium carbonate. In solution the calcium compound ionizes and disolves. The more acidic the solution the more calcium will dissolve but as your water conditions change they can cause calcium compounds to come out of solution and form deposits on rock, sand , equipment. In severe cases the resulting precipitate can be clearly visible.

 

[CapitalO]

When calcium is dissociated (dissolved), it is a calcium ion with a +2 charge. It will react with other molecules with a -2 charge (ex. Phosphate and carbonate). This is why kalkwasser (calcium hydroxide) precipitates phosphates and lowers carbonate alkalinity.

The precipitation occurs when an insoluble product is formed from two soluble reactants. The insoluble product is the precipitate. The cloudiness associated with high calcium levels is actually calcium carbonate, an insoluble molecule formed from a calcium and carbonate ion. Hope that made some sense

 

[sir_dudeguy]

gosh i wish i understood all this chemistry mumbo jumbo! I read through all those chemistry articles and now feel dumber :lol: