calcium precipitation

veselym · Aug 5, 2014

So I have had my 40G breeder up for a little over a week...upgraded from a biocube, I used new sand and added some more dry rock along with the LR I had in the cube

I let it sit for 2 days before putting my fish in, they have been in there for around 6 days and eating well so I decided to do a WC. I only did around 9 gallons but it got super cloudy afterwards

I tested my levels and somehow the calcium got over 500ppm??? I used regular IO and haven't dosed anything, could the IO be that messed up?

levels after WC were
PH: 8.16
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 78.9
Ammonia: 0
Alkalinity: 7 DKH
Calcium: over 500ppm
Magnesium: 1520

evolved · Aug 5, 2014

How do you measure salinity? (with what type of instrument)

Reefing Madness · Aug 5, 2014

Retest or have the LFS test it for you. IO isnt' that high on the CA scale.

veselym · Aug 5, 2014

I use a refractometer...it's an ATC version

I am using Red Sea Pro test kits, yes I know how to use them

I don't have a LFS

veselym · Aug 5, 2014

I have 2 tanks and my 65G reef is at 420 CA, I did a WC the same day with the same water so I have no idea what is going on...

tank is completely cycled, fish are fine and the one zoa colony I have in the 40G seems fine but the water is hazy

evolved · Aug 5, 2014

My only thought was the salinity was saturated, and therefore the Ca level would be higher than expected. I could see this as a possibility with a hydrometer, but much less likely with a refractometer. Safe to assume it's calibrated? I don't see how else you get there with IO.