Calcium levels off the charts

Jredd06 · Jan 10, 2015

I just started a nano set up jbj 30 gallon rimless. Been running for 6 weeks with cycled sand and rock. I'm testing all water parameters to add fish and possibly some softies. All test come back good. I use the API reef master and according to the chart my calcium would be a 640? Does this sound right is this bad or will lower over time? I read alo5 on how to raise it but not what to do when it's off the chart.
Temp- 76.5
Amonia- 0
Nitrates- 0
Nitrites- 0
Dkh- 9-10
Ph- 8 -8.1

saltyphish · Jan 10, 2015

No, it does not. What salt brand are you using and what is your sg at? Might have a bad test kit, check the date on it.

nicodim55 · Jan 10, 2015

mine's at 700 higher ca is better than low

Jredd06 · Jan 10, 2015

Test kits don't expire til 2019 and I use Red Sea coral pro salt

Jredd06 · Jan 10, 2015

What's sg? My salinity is 1.026

nicodim55 · Jan 10, 2015

Jredd06 said:
What's sg? My salinity is 1.026

1.025 for me

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2015

Jredd06 said:
What's sg? My salinity is 1.026

sg means specific gravity, which is what you quoted.

Salinity is a number in ppt (parts salt per thousand by weight), and average ocean salinity is 35 ppt, which has a specific gravity of about 1.0264.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2015

nicodim55 said:
mine's at 700 higher ca is better than low

Slightly higher than 420 ppm is better than lower than 420 ppm, but 700 ppm is not, IMO, better than 420 ppm, and will lead to more precipitation of calcium carbonate on pumps, heaters, etc.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2015

Jredd06 said:
Test kits don't expire til 2019 and I use Red Sea coral pro salt

Have you been adding calcium?

If not, the 640 ppm seems likely to be a testing error.

Try testing the new salt mix.

Jredd06 · Jan 10, 2015

Been on the same bucket since the start I have buffers but have not added anything.i know the day the kit got delivered it was 5 degrees outside maybe that affected it? I'm mixing a new batch in a 5 gallon bucket I will test that in a few hours. Maybe try another test kit

ARNALDOLEX · Jan 10, 2015

do some water changes that number sounds crazy mines went into the 600 one time and my fish started dying

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2015

ARNALDOLEX said:
do some water changes that number sounds crazy mines went into the 600 one time and my fish started dying

Maybe it was something else, but I do not believe that 600 ppm calcium kills fish. Some salt mixes start with 550 ppm.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2015

Jredd06 said:
Been on the same bucket since the start I have buffers but have not added anything.i know the day the kit got delivered it was 5 degrees outside maybe that affected it? I'm mixing a new batch in a 5 gallon bucket I will test that in a few hours. Maybe try another test kit

I doubt freezing caused the kit issue, but I can't be certain.

nicodim55 · Jan 10, 2015

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Slightly higher than 420 ppm is better than lower than 420 ppm, but 700 ppm is not, IMO, better than 420 ppm, and will lead to more precipitation of calcium carbonate on pumps, heaters, etc.

Yeah that's the weird part I have no precipitation :neutral:

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2015

Probably your pH or alkalinity are on the low side. A difference of 0.3 ph units is like a doubling of calcium or alkalinity.

Jredd06 · Jan 10, 2015

I listed all tests isn't a ph of 8-8.2 ok? Think my kh I good at 9-10 as well.

Thanks

Jredd06 · Jan 10, 2015

Just got some corals to try them out. The water they came off of a fellow reefer in my area. I tested the water and it's the same as mine so maybe it is the test kit.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2015

Jredd06 said:
I listed all tests isn't a ph of 8-8.2 ok? Think my kh I good at 9-10 as well.

Thanks

Those values are fine.

I was referring to nicodim saying he is at 700 ppm calcium and gets no precipitation.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2015

Jredd06 said:
Just got some corals to try them out. The water they came off of a fellow reefer in my area. I tested the water and it's the same as mine so maybe it is the test kit.

That's certainly possible and not uncommon.

scotty333 · Mar 6, 2024

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Probably your pH or alkalinity are on the low side. A difference of 0.3 ph units is like a doubling of calcium or alkalinity.

What do you mean by this boss? Should I raise my kh to lower calc?