calcium

[mickela]

I just tested my water and the calcium is sky high but everything else is where it belongs.I'm not sure how to bring this down.Any ideas would but great.I am hoping a water change will help.

 

[Dave VG]

Just let it go. It will go down as it is used by the corals. Just keep track of Ph etc.

 

[fatrip]

yea if you are not haveing the calcium persipitate out in a cloud like form....it really isnt tooo high...lol...but what would be sky high for you any way?? just wondering. if you really want it down you could either put some alk buffer in and it will persipitate out....Nwrogers likes that one...lol...or do a 35 % water change...but i would just leave it alone...

 

[mickela]

I only have 2 mushrooms who have shrunk due to this but everything else seems to like it.Sky high is a little over 700.I have been using coral builder along with liquid calcium,I think it's to much.I am cleaning a light brown film off the glass everyday and I never had that problem until the calcium went to high.I did a water change yesterday so now I'll leave it for a day or 2 and see what happens.

 

[Dave VG]

Let it go down on its own. It will not hurt a thing. Usually trying to correct things and overreacting just causes more issues. Mushrooms are one of the toughest corals. They will be fine. I try to keep calcium between 380 to 450. Usually stays around 420. Dose less or less often once it comes down this will correct it. You may want to pick one thing to dose with for now, coral builder or the liquid calcium.

 

[Piazzon12]

mickela, if all you have is soft corals, you wont have to add weeky doses (like the directions say). I'm guessing that's how you got so high in the first place. Softies use very little calcium and Alk, so you just need to get it at the right level, and then just check it every once in a while and adjust as necessary.

 

[nwrogers]

The only thing I would worry about with a calcium level that high is having your alkalinity drop. It sounds like you are not dosing a 2-part solution but just a calcium supplement. Is that right? I wouldn’t dose any more calcium until you can get your calcium and alk balanced. The best method for 2-part IMO is to make your own using Randy’s instructions…

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

I use Recipe #2 because I am too lazy to bake the baking soda :lol: Anyway it works great and is a really great and cheep solution. For right now just make up the alkalinity part and slowly dose that until your calcium levels drop and things balance out. After that make sure you always does calcium and alk in equal parts. The chemistry part of this hobby can be one of the most intimidating and confusing parts but hang in there and you will get it. All of us could stand to learn more especially me

Here is a good article to get you started…

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php

Make sure you continue asking questions and one of us will be happy to help out :thumbsup:

 

[mickela]

Thanks for all your help guys.I was using coral builder to get the Coraline to spread faster.I guess I'll stick with patients.lol