Calcium reactor and high calcium

[Mann_Cave_Corals]

Sooooo, I run a Calcium reactor and all has been fine, Well at least I thought!
I’ve been testing my calcium with a Redsea calcium test kit and was always getting readings between 415-430ppm. So when It’s in the lower range I have added calcium manually. I bought a new test kit/refill and the reading is off the charts 500ppm+..Bought a second kit/refill, different batch number and I’m getting the same reading. My question is how do I go about lowering the calcium to my desired level of 420-430?

 

[vetteguy53081]

We all get hit with this
I increased the air from tank and reduced bubble count

 

[Mann_Cave_Corals]

We all get hit with this
I increased the air from tank and reduced bubble count

That’s what I was thinking, just wasn’t a 100% sure. Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There's no tweaking to the reactor that can lower calcium without a massive drop in alkalinity.

You can offset that alk drop by manually dosing alkalinity for some or all of the alk needed for a while, or you could jsut leave it. If teh value is only 510 ppm, it's not a concern.

I'd get an actual reading by using a second syringe of fluid.

 

[Mann_Cave_Corals]

Last night I opened the effluent and let the flow out at a higher rate. Today readings are Cal-490 & Alk 8.6 from 8.8.. so it’s coming down. I plan on letting the Alk drop a little more, Then manually dosing it. Hopefully that does the trick.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Last night I opened the effluent and let the flow out at a higher rate. Today readings are Cal-490 & Alk 8.6 from 8.8.. so it’s coming down. I plan on letting the Alk drop a little more, Then manually dosing it. Hopefully that does the trick.

You cannot go much farther (assuming it moved at all and is not just test error). Each drop of 20 ppm calcium will be accompanied by about a 2.8 dKH drop in alkalinity.