Calcium 780/795

Pager880 · Jul 12, 2022

Hi all is it even possible for calcium level to be... 780/795 as just done a test with salifert new kit. And can only get a reading in low resolution mode. As normal no colour change at all... Is this even possible or duff kit

Lavey29 · Jul 12, 2022

Not from straight water changes with salt mix. Are you dosing calcium? If not then you probably have a bad test redult and need second opinion.

Pager880 · Jul 12, 2022

Lavey29 said:
Not from straight water changes with salt mix. Are you dosing calcium? If not then you probably have a bad test redult and need second opinion.

Yer gunna go to me local shop. Tomorrow c if thay can test 4 me... No water changes.. And turned calcium doser to 0.put tube in a pot to ensure no malfunctioning doser. But nothing stays empty so not randomly dosing by itself.... Just hovers around them numbers

Lavey29 · Jul 12, 2022

Pager880 said:
Yer gunna go to me local shop. Tomorrow c if thay can test 4 me... No water changes.. And turned calcium doser to 0.put tube in a pot to ensure no malfunctioning doser. But nothing stays empty so not randomly dosing by itself.... Just hovers around them numbers

Well if your dosing calcium and alk and your calcium has gone up like that because no intake from corals you better check alk to because they typically go up and down together.

But I'm leaning more towards faulty test results.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 13, 2022

Try the test in your new salt water.

Pager880 · Jul 13, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Try the test in your new salt water.

Yes going to mix some up today. But go to nip out to get a new thermostat digital 1 as just broke mine.

Pager880 · Jul 15, 2022

Just done a test on some freshly mixed water. Tested. Normal resolution staying pink no change in colour just blue to pink... So done low resolution blue to pink back to blue doubled reading on chart came out at 620...so thinking bad test kit

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 15, 2022

Pager880 said:
Just done a test on some freshly mixed water. Tested. Normal resolution staying pink no change in colour just blue to pink... So done low resolution blue to pink back to blue doubled reading on chart came out at 620...so thinking bad test kit

Could be. Nothing personal intended, but I’d reread the directions twice to also be sure you are doing it exactly as directed.
I’ve sometimes I thought I remember how to use a particular kit, but remembered incorrectly. lol

Pager880 · Jul 21, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Could be. Nothing personal intended, but I’d reread the directions twice to also be sure you are doing it exactly as directed.
I’ve sometimes I thought I remember how to use a particular kit, but remembered incorrectly. lol

Yer doing all correct. Even watched the latest youtube video. With new instructions.. Still hovering around 770. Been the same now for 6 weeks. Dont no wear the calcium is coming from as haven't done a water change in months.... Im toataly baffled.

Shirak · Jul 21, 2022

What did your local shop find? What salt are you using and salinity?

Pager880 · Jul 23, 2022

Shirak said:
What did your local shop find? What salt are you using and salinity?

Kent marine salt.. And went today couldn't test calcium as ran out of stuff... So waste of time. Salinity 1.029.... So recalibrate with my calabration fluid.. And is reading. 1.029 salinity.. So on high side. So going to bring salinity down over next few days..

Shirak · Jul 23, 2022

Pager880 said:
Kent marine salt.. And went today couldn't test calcium as ran out of stuff... So waste of time. Salinity 1.029.... So recalibrate with my calabration fluid.. And is reading. 1.029 salinity.. So on high side. So going to bring salinity down over next few days..

Hmmm The Kent Marine reef salt says 550-575ppm Ca at 1.024-1.026sg. 1.029 is on the high side and could be partly the reason for your Ca readings. Might want to look into what you are using and calibrating for measuring salinity to make sure you have that at the correct level.

BoriReefer · Jul 23, 2022

My calcium was extremely high for awhile initially. I used dry rock for the scape and attributed it to that. As the tank matured it balanced out drastically.

Pager880 · Jul 24, 2022

BoriReefer said:
My calcium was extremely high for awhile initially. I used dry rock for the scape and attributed it to that. As the tank matured it balanced out drastically.

Yer my tank has been running for nearly 2 years

Pager880 · Jul 24, 2022

Just bought a aquaforest pro. Kit so thets c what that says when turs up

Shirak · Jul 24, 2022

Pager880 said:
Just bought a aquaforest pro. Kit so thets c what that says when turs up

You might try taking some freshly mixed salt water at 1.025 -1.026sg and see if you are in the range Kent says it should be at. Hobby kits have a degree of error too. I assume you are using RODI for evaporation top up? Personally I wouldn't worry about high Ca it as long as salinity is where you want it. Being high on Ca isn't a big deal but if it's caused from incorrect salinity then it would be a concern to me.

Pager880 · Jul 27, 2022

Well tested today. With the aquaforest pro. And over 500.so salifert test kit must be reading accurately.... So just going to test once a week. Let it come down by itself...

Pager880 · Sep 12, 2022

Still not came down much. 700.... Haw long will it take to come down on its own..

ReefGeezer · Sep 12, 2022

Seems to me you would have some precipitation or calcium build-up happening. Hey @Randy Holmes-Farley could there be something in the tank that is causing a false reading?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 12, 2022

I personally think it is unlikely to be this high, but if it is, it will not come down without adding tons of alkalinity over time. A drop of 200 ppm calcium will take up more than 28 dKH of alk.