to much calcuim

[manutd16]

My test results are saying I have 620 mg/l of calium in my tank. is that bad? or is my tester wrong? and how would I get it to lower?

 

[gillies]

Have you been adding calcium? If so, how? If not, I'd suspect your test method. What type of calcium test are you using? You could always do a 30% water change to settle things down if the test fugures are accurate.

 

[raynist]

What test kit did you use? Did you do a second test to confirm?

I am not sure what happens when it is so high. I think it might lower alkalinity which is bad, can you test that also?

 

[manutd16]

just bought the test kit from elmers yesterday is an aquarium pharmaceuticals with doc welfish on it. I as using purple up, I was told that helped raise the cal levels. I just got a bunch of coral frags yesterday and was hoping this level was inaccurate.

 

[raynist]

If you have been adding purple up and don't have any corals that are using the calcium then this is probably a correct reading.

 

[manutd16]

so the high levels will go down now with corals in the tank?

 

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8453456#post8453456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by manutd16
so the high levels will go down now with corals in the tank?

I suppose, but it really depends on how fast the corals will use the calcium, if you just have small frags it may take awhile.

I would do a search on high calcium levels and see if it is bad. I imagine at some point you can have so much that it causes a problem, but if the corals look healthy you should be ok.

 

[raynist]

From what I have been reading, having a really high Ca level can lower PH and lower Alk and possibly precipitate out.

 

[Steven Pro]

Yes, if you drive the levels too high, you can eventually cause a precipitation event.

 

[manutd16]

well my ph is reading out at a 8.4 on one test and 8.6 on another and my alk is reading at normal dead middle on normal......Im gonna do another calc test and if it still says high maybe tomorrow Ill purchase another one

 

[manutd16]

whats a precepitation event?

 

[raynist]

It will look like it snowed in your tank from the calcium preciptating out of the water.

 

[manutd16]

does that explain the salt creep everywhere then lol?

 

[greatgman001]

you think thats high

mine in a 20 g high was 941 ppm!!!!!!!!!!!
rayinst will confirm this

 

[manutd16]

did anything bad happen with levels that high? Im just sick of all the headaches lol! Ive got myself a refugium up and running where I dont have to worry bout overflowing and flooding my 2nd floor. now I just want my coral frags to grow and make me happy as long as i do my daily job!

 

[greatgman001]

yes my corals died except the frogspawn that is being cared for by another member

 

[BeanAnimal]

gman... I think you had some other water issues...

the high calcium alone will not kill the corals. Don't add any more purple up for a while... let the level drop on it's own. You should be fine. If you are that concerned do a small water change.

Bean

 

[manutd16]

I havent had any of that preciptating like a snow storm in my tank at all.

 

[gillies]

Do a water change and toss the purple up in the garbage. This hobby can be so, so simple if you just stick with the basics.

 

[greatgman001]

bean
it was a combination of several factors
very high ca
ammonia, nitrates, low ph, not enough light, etc.