Calcium Issue!!

[InADream]

Tuesday, I tested my calcium and it read 360 ppm... So i adjusted it and added the proper dosage... I tested it again yesterday and it read 460ppm (a little high read vial wrong)... Today I read my calcium and it was at 360 ppm again... Is it possible that my tank used 100 ppm of calcium in a day... I am trying to adjust it so i can begin a 2 part dosing system...

My alk has been consistent and reads 10 kdh... I have a few SPS and a 4 inch clam in there... There is a pink birdnest 3"x3", an ORA Blue Tort 3", a 1 inch green slimmer frag, a purple tipped acro frag at 2", a green stylophora, and a candy cane coral... I also have a ton of zoos and a frogspawn...

Is that enough coral to use up that much calcium, or is my test kit bad... I will have my LFS test it tomorrow but need some opinions...

Dream

 

[BangkokMatt]

Your calcium should not be fluctuating to that extent. You need to leave a day before dosing and testing to get an accurate result but it sounds like you are doing that. What test kit are you using and how old is it.

 

[InADream]

I am using a API test kit and have been for 4 months and it has always been accurate, I test before going to LFS and compare results... It has never been wrong, until now...

Dream

 

[Craig Lambert]

"I am using a API test kit and have been for 4 months and it has always been accurate"

How do you know? What did you compare it against?

Your test kits aren't the best. Test kit or not, if you can't raise calcium you have low magnesium. Test your magnesium. Do you use IO salt? If so, your freshly mixed saltwater has a mag. level of around 1170, which is very low. It should be around 1300. Once you get it there, you will be able to raise your calcium.

Here's a calculator to help:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html

 

[InADream]

Hey craig I know this test kit is no the best I have salifert for the rest just got this because my LFS had no other kits... My mag level was at 1155 and I raised it back up to 1250 the other day I guess I will have to recheck it and see if it is low again or something.. Raising the calcium is not the issue it is keeping it up at 430 that is, it seems to drop so fast back to 360-380...

Edited: I just got done testing the calcium and it is at 400ppm right now... I will be getting to the fish store today, to verify... I will also try and get the magnesium up to 1300 today and see if that helps...

Dream

 

[InADream]

Ok I just got back from the fish store and my calcium is at 460 and my test kit is screwed up... Also my magnesium is at 1290... Is That ok or go higher? I just bought a Salifert test kit and tried to compare the results to their kit and I got a different reading... Not to bad his was 460 mine was 445...

Either way I appreciate the help and from this point on will only be purchasing Salifert test kits....

Dream