High calcium level in reef tank about 600 ppm

[BOBPH87]

have high calcium level in tank of about 600ppm.tank is well astablished.over 5 years.the salt mix also reads about 600 ppm,use oceanic and coralife both read high.problem is calcium percipates in tank(looks like snow when stied up).any help would be appreciated.why so highwhat can be done to bring calcium level down

 

[PatMayo]

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It will come down on its own but will take time. You could also try doing a partial water change but not too much at once.

Are you suplimenting calcium at all? How many corals do you have in the tank?

You might try switching to Instant Ocean mix. It is lower in calcium. You may have to add calcium but at least you won't have this problem.

Regards,

Pat

 

[steve the plumb]

water change or let the calcium deplete on its own.What is your mag level at?I use coralife salt but I didn't test it.Is your test kit good?If its snowing its high but if you do a water change with new salt at 600 it won't do anything.Maybe try another salt.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Oceanic does have excessive calcium in it. The best way to deal with it is to supplement alkalinity only (as with baking soda) and let the calcium decline slowly over time on its own.

This article has more info:


Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm


this may also be useful for dosing baking soda:

Reef Chemicals Calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

 

[Adamsqn]

HI i have question is ok to have High Calcium Level in aquarium fish only I have 600 ppm

 

[tmz]

It's ok but s more desirable to be sub 500ppm . Natural seawater is around 380ppm(rcommended range 380 to 450 or so). Fish don't need it. Where is it coming from? Are you dosing supplements? What ssalt mix are you using?

 

[Adamsqn]

I use Oceanic Natural Sea Salt Mix

 

[tmz]

IIRC, that has high calcium. Are you testing the mix before water changes?

 

[bertoni]

Personally, I wouldn't worry. You might see a bit less precipitation on pumps and heaters with a lower calcium level, but the difference is unlikely to be large.

 

[Adamsqn]

tmz yes but I never test for calcium with next water change I will test and use different salt

 

[panicy]

I have about the same levels and I use coralife marine salt. I haven't checked the CA levels prior to adding it into the DT. I will on the next water change but I'm willing to bet its high. My tank is only ~3 months old so I don't have any corals yet. Only 5 fish and a nem so I don't think that anything is really using (much of) it to deplete it. I don't have any cloudy issues though and everything else (KH, Phos, PH, Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite) is in perfect range

 

[tmz]

I've used caralife for abut 9 years. I used t have very high calcium levels. The formula was changed a while ago; It now goes about 450ppm at 1.0264 per my tests.