Help please :)

[cowboyswife]

I just tested all my parameters, and my ph is a little low and my calcium is kind of high. Would a water change help?

 

[lifesworksataol]

water changes always help :-D but i am not sure if it will raise your ph - what is your calcium at? - ph might change after the lights are on for a few hours

 

[cowboyswife]

pH is at 8.1 and calc is at 520.

 

[cowboyswife]

Typo - calc is at 540.

 

[lifesworksataol]

oh wow - yea water change would be good - which salt are you using? - what is the calcium in it before you add it into the tank?

 

[cowboyswife]

I use instant ocean salt, and I havent had a calc problem until, well, right now. lol I dont know what the calc is before I add it to the tank. I never though to check. =\

 

[lifesworksataol]

time for work - but i would make up a batch of replacement water and give it a check - you dont add calcium do you or kalk- i would just do a water change

 

[cowboyswife]

Ok sounds like a good plan. Ive never added calc, kalk, or any kind of supplement, so Im just at a total loss. And from what Ive read on here, IO salt usually gives a low calc reading. I dunno... I already have a ton of RO/DI water made, so now its time to mix it and see what the deal is. Thanks for the help!!

 

[cowboyswife]

Then again, it could be my test kit. I really need to invest in Salifert.

 

[lusenut2]

I wouldnt stress over it, do a water change and you should be fine.

 

[cowboyswife]

Sounds good to me

 

[DJChesnutRabbit]

If I were you, I'd check my ALK too.

 

[cowboyswife]

I did, alk is fine.

 

[chrisstie]

For some reason my Alk will run high and my calcium low. I've contributed it to overskimming but.. weird chemistry stuff indeed!

IO salt is somewhat notorius for low calc too

 

[cowboyswife]

I asked the same question in the reef chem forum to get a better idea of what's going on. I was told that since Im not dosing calc, kalk, or using any supplements, to just leave it. Likely test kit error.

 

[cowboyswife]

Here is the reply I got, "Calcium at 540 ppm is not a big deal, and if you are not supplementing anything, I wouldn't do anything about it except routine water changes. Some salt mixes (like Oceanic ) have that much to start. I recommend keeping it lower, but if you are dosing nothing, I'd leave it. "

Yes sir, what ever you say, Mr. Chemist! Thanks for all the help you guys!!!

 

[cristhiam]

I would leave it alone, IO doesn't go that high in calc without supplements. 370 - 380 at 1.026 that what I used to get.

 

[cowboyswife]

I dont use supplements.

 

[cham]

There is a REALLY good chance your test kit is off. I wouldn't do a water change.

If you not dosing anything then there is no way your CA is that high. Instant ocean calcium levels are about 370-380.


Stop by a LFS (IIRC sea in the city will), most will be happy to test some of your basic paramaters and steer you in the right direction.

IMO, Salifert is one of the best test kits for the $$.

 

[cowboyswife]

I wish I lived close enough to Sea in the City to drive over there. My husband just got some other test kit the other day for his upcoming tank, so I may bust it open and see the results of that one.