effect of high calcium

nicodim55 · Dec 16, 2010

Question for all you experts out there. I just came from my local LFS and picked up a couple of SPS's and I tested the water in the bag for calcium and the test result was at 520 using API tester. I then tested the water in my tank and the result was 820! My question is, what is the adverse effect on corals be it LPS or SPS from having calcium level this high?

My calcium level has been over 700 or higher for the past 4 months. I stopped dosing 4 months ago, and I haven't dosed anything since then. All corals looks healthy, all polyps on all of my SPS are all extended. Is my tank ok? Should I be worried for having such high level of calcium? Please shed some light on this. Thx

triggerman71 · Dec 16, 2010

calcium

From my personal experience api test kits are not as accurate as elos,tropic marine or salifert. I would compare with one of these ,chances are its the api test that is off.

nicodim55 · Dec 16, 2010

triggerman71 said:

I thought about that as well but like I said I tested the water in the bag and it was 520 and mine was 820.

triggerman71 · Dec 16, 2010

high calcium

I had a api, salifert and tropic marine test kits and the api was way off on the calciumit was showing over 500ppm when on both the tm and salifert it was at 380ppm.

nicodim55 · Dec 16, 2010

triggerman71 said:

Gotcha, I will probably take a sample of my water to the local LFS this weekend and have them test it for me. Thx triggerman71

bella aqua · Dec 16, 2010

I strongly recommend you test your magnesium as well

zigginit · Dec 16, 2010

as long as you dont have percipitant or a "snow storm" going on i think you ok. i here thats what happens when your CA is to high

nicodim55 · Dec 16, 2010

bella aqua said:

With this high level of calcium do you think my mag is off too?

DETANE · Dec 16, 2010

Remember I told you that Epcot and Seaworld keep calcium above 500. your all good!!
The coral will slowly intake all the CA, just dont add anymore CA to your system. Trust the word of a Marine Biologist.

gumbii · Dec 16, 2010

i keep my ca at 520-540 with no ill affects, other than super fast evap rate... i just wouldn't let it go higher than 550...

OCReefMadness · Dec 16, 2010

Calcium high is not effect to the corals unless your AlK is low or high. Btw, check your Mag to make sure is above 1300 ppm, so it can keep the balance of ALK and CAL.

nicodim55 · Dec 16, 2010

DETANE said:

I gotcha D:rock: I haven't added anything for about 4 months.

nicodim55 · Dec 16, 2010

ReefPlanet said:

Kool, I will have it checked out this weekend, hopefully:fisheye:

JOSE CASAS · Dec 16, 2010

How did the cal get so high?

nicodim55 · Dec 16, 2010

JOSE CASAS said:

It's been like that for the last 4 months since I stopped dosing. API tester is only 3 months old. A lot of ppl here say it's not very accurate so I will be taking a sample of water at the store so they can test it.

nicodim55 · Dec 19, 2010

Well guys I think I figured out why my cal is at 700 or above sometimes. Thanks to THE JOEY from Reef Central, he was kind enough to let me come over his place and test his water with my tester to see if my tester accurate or not. We also used his tester to test my water and the results were the same with my tester. We tested for cal = 700, alk = 5-6 being low. So, we ruled out the tester being bad. He asked me what I use to top off my water and I said I get my water from the water store. He then suggested to test it for cal, so when I got home that's exactly what I did.

The cal level in the water was 280ppm! All this time I've been dosing calcium without knowing it lol.

My buddy Detane came over and tested my water as well with his tester and the results were the same. He also tested for mag = 1350.

Thx guys for helping me solve the mystery all I need to do now is find another water source for my top off. Brian, thanks again for the monti frags

bella aqua · Dec 19, 2010

Very cool, it's always nice to be aware of all the things you do, sometimes unintentional

DETANE · Dec 19, 2010

no worries bro,, its all good.

nicodim55 · Jan 8, 2011

Ok guys I did a major water change today. I changed 40 gal and tested cal and alk. Yesterday cal was at 720, today after water change is at 620. Alk yesterday was at 6, today after water change is at 8. Should I do another 40 in a week?

effect of high calcium

nicodim55

Member

triggerman71

Member

nicodim55

Member

triggerman71

Member

nicodim55

Member

bella aqua

New member

zigginit

New member

nicodim55

Member

DETANE

GOD is good all the time.

gumbii

2

OCReefMadness

New member

nicodim55

Member

nicodim55

Member

JOSE CASAS

Premium Member

nicodim55

Member

nicodim55

Member

bella aqua

New member

DETANE

GOD is good all the time.

nicodim55

Member

Latest posts