Calcium and GH reading off the scale !!!!

Shergar11 · Mar 20, 2013

Hi folks I have a 182 litre tank been setup for about a month had quick cycle with cured rock and live sand, added my 2 clownfish from nano tank a couple of weeks ago along with 2 crabs a shrimp and 6 snails, all are still alive ( well 1 crab died but don't know why) I have just been testing and my calcium test will not even begin to turn blue on the api test kit after adding 30 drops, 26 drops is 520 so this is crazy high!!!!! Also my gh test was the same it wouldn't turn the colour it should after reaching 18 dh so I stopped as I think this is very high also. Is this dangerous to the tank and does. Anybody have Any ideas why this is ??? my results are below

Aquarium 2 parameters are Temperature: 24
Salinity: 1.026
Ammonia, NH4: 0
Nitrate, NO3: 15
Nitrite, NO2: 0
pH: 7.8
Alkalinity, KH: 8
Calcium, Ca: >520
Phosphate, PO4: 0
General Hardness, GH: > 18dh

Chameleon · Mar 20, 2013

Calcium may be a bit high but I would double check with another kit. Do not measure gh in a salt tank. It will always be off the charts

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Shergar11 · Mar 20, 2013

Ah ok that is ok then, I did double check calcium with another kit and got the same reading none of them will turn the test tube liquid the colour it should be after I have added the max amount of drops that is on the instructions !!!! With my ph being only 7.8 would this have anything to do with it ?? First tank so really don't know much relating to test results, thanks

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Chameleon · Mar 21, 2013

I'm inclined to still believe there is a testing error. what kits are you using. pH only 7.8 will not be causing this. test your magnesium if you can. mag out of proper ranges can account for strange reading and levels.