Calcium spike after reef snow???

[nomad6]

Dosed brightwells reef snow recommended dose for 25 gals in my 30 cube and tested a few days later. Spiked ca and lowered alk. Calcium sitting at ~508 ish Hanna tested and alk dropped under 9 dkh. Any explanation and recommendations on lowering calcium (baking soda?) would be greatly appreciated. Only a few frags in there did not mess with major elements or water chemistry. Only chemistry I mess with is nutrients as they continue to bottom out or stay relatively low. Have some small sps frags/ 3 colonies, caulerpa and other macros, few hermits, snails, damsel and 6 line. Have a pocillopora showing stress tissue die off in shaded areas where they was non before. Thanks!

 

[nomad6]

Ph unchanged

 

[nomad6]

Using Red Sea pro salt not dosing anything for ca/ alk

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I suspect you are getting false high readings from suspended reef snow dissolving in the calcium test. I’d wait a while and not use the snow and see if calcium returns to normal.

 

[nomad6]

I suspect you are getting false high readings from suspended reef snow dissolving in the calcium test. I’d wait a while and not use the snow and see if calcium returns to normal.

Thanks for your reply. I have already conducted a 25% WC and it only dropped about 3 ppm from 511 to 508 ppm. My alk also dropped under 9 but ordering new reagent as this one is about 5 mos old and it’s showing alk in the high 7s (or could the suspended reef snow be the culprit?) It had been consistent until recently after the reef snow. Weird part about it is that I had dosed it before and it didn’t spike anything. I appreciate your input thanks again