cowboyswife
New member
I just tested everything, and my calcium is at 540 and my pH is at 8.1. Everything else is ideal. Would a water change help or is there something else I need to do?
Parameter questions
- Thread starter cowboyswife
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sir_dudeguy
Active member
8.1 is fine for your pH. Just make sure its not going up and down a lot.
540 is high for sure...what salt are you using? Did you use any calcium buffers?
A waterchange wont do much to lower that if its from the salt imo.
540 is high for sure...what salt are you using? Did you use any calcium buffers?
A waterchange wont do much to lower that if its from the salt imo.
cowboyswife
New member
I use Instant Ocean salt, and Ive never added buffers or anything.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
hmm...thats pretty weird...IO is known to have LOW calcium, not HIGH lol. And you've never dosed anything to the tank? If not, i'm no good with the chemistry stuff (like on how alk and calcium are dependent of eachother or something.)
What i could gather from the chemistry articles was that if alk was too low, it would let the calcium get really high. I THINK. But that is strange how IO got you that high...
What i could gather from the chemistry articles was that if alk was too low, it would let the calcium get really high. I THINK. But that is strange how IO got you that high...
cowboyswife
New member
I know, I havent had a prob with the calc and IO until, well, right now. And no, Ive never dosed it with anything. I just dont get it because my alk is fine. Im so confused lol
sir_dudeguy
Active member
maybe ask in the chemistry forum? I seem to be the only one pitching in on this thread at the moment, and i got no clue on all that type of chemistry stuff lol.
The chemistry forum might take longer to get a response, but they'd know for sure. And who knows..maybe someone else will pitch in here by the time you post in the other section
The chemistry forum might take longer to get a response, but they'd know for sure. And who knows..maybe someone else will pitch in here by the time you post in the other section
cowboyswife
New member
Ok, I'll ask there. Thanks for your help 
sir_dudeguy
Active member
dang, good call 
cowboyswife
New member
API. =\
Frick-n-Frags
New member
maybe take your water to the LFS that does tests for a buck or whatever and get a "second opinion"
or better yet apply that dollar toward a Salifert Ca test kit. That kit is a known entity, known accurate. Actually you should just get it if you don't have it. many of us use it and can get you through the initial weirdness of how to use it. Once you know, it is easy and precise as heck.
edit: just don't do anything crazy until you double check that Ca level (always use your animals as a barometer too. If they are all fluffy and happy, you may not want to do anything radical because things actually may not be too wrong and you could actually make things way worse)
or better yet apply that dollar toward a Salifert Ca test kit. That kit is a known entity, known accurate. Actually you should just get it if you don't have it. many of us use it and can get you through the initial weirdness of how to use it. Once you know, it is easy and precise as heck.
edit: just don't do anything crazy until you double check that Ca level (always use your animals as a barometer too. If they are all fluffy and happy, you may not want to do anything radical because things actually may not be too wrong and you could actually make things way worse)
cowboyswife
New member
I know how great Salifert is, and if you want to give me the money for one, Id be grateful
cowboyswife
New member
I never do anything crazy to the tank. All my corals and critters are very happy and healthy, so no worries.
Frick-n-Frags
New member
heh, maybe you could just take a sample for a test at the LFS then. Usually high Ca and alk don't exist too well together.
Hopefully your alk really is in line too. you can have that high of Ca with too low of alk
OK, what brand is your alk test?
Hopefully your alk really is in line too. you can have that high of Ca with too low of alk
OK, what brand is your alk test?
cowboyswife
New member
API lol
cowboyswife
New member
Thanks kfowler!
Frick-n-Frags
New member
not to belabor the point, but if you are going to have anything precise, your alk and Ca test kits are probably the two most important. followed by your hydrometer/refracto and pH measurer. (although when alk and Ca are square and you have good gas exchange, the pH takes care of itself which is why pH is #4)
those 4 things, and the relatively little money those cost compared to the value of the stuff in the reef should not be an issue, especially a couple of $15 test kits.
those 4 things, and the relatively little money those cost compared to the value of the stuff in the reef should not be an issue, especially a couple of $15 test kits.
cowboyswife
New member
If I dont have the money, I dont have the money. Nothing I can do about it right now.
Paintbug
New member
i would also recommend getting that calc level double checked at the LFS, or another reefer thats local. i can feel you on the cost of the salifert kits, even seachem kits, but its money well spent. once you get results from the LFS or where ever, you will know if your test kit is off. i use a seachem test for calc myself. the API kit at my LFS was $20. i got the seachem kit for $22 online.
