Dosing two part, calcium too high

[ethankap]

I had a FrogSpawn coral that fell into the sand a few weeks ago. I replaced it in a different area but it never opened fully again, and today when I moved it back, it detached

That prompted me to test calcium as I heard that could cause problems if too high and somehow it spiked to 560 from 430 five days ago? Alkalinity is constant. I've been dosing 2 part ESV in equal parts every day, about 6ml to keep alkalinity up.

Should I continue the calcium dosing or just do the alk?

 

[jimmyzhou]

I will say stop dosing calcium till lvl drop down to 415-430. Test everday at the same time see how many calcium your coral is takeing by 24 hrs alway start form lower ml u can slow adding up

 

[jimmyzhou]

I just start dosing last weeks Soo I’m new at this alway my safe way. I test everday with lower amount of alk and cal this way event lower than what we need. Still better than over dosing

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Unless you gave a really big calcium dose, the spike is testing error. Even if real, however, I do not think calcium at that level causes any coral issues.

 

[WWIII]

What size tank and what's your alkalinity? Did you do any waterchanges in that 5 days?

 

[ethankap]

What size tank and what's your alkalinity? Did you do any waterchanges in that 5 days?

55 gallon tank, 8.0 alkalinity. This is pre-water change, but I did test calcium not long after I dosed, so it likely is an off test. I'm going to test the water I get from the LFS to get target parameters.

 

[ethankap]

I did a water change today, and tested the LFS salt water I buy as well as mine. LFS alkalinity is 7.0 on the nose and I've been targeting 8.2 for alk.

Calcium after a water change tested at 502, alkalinity at 7.5

Should I target what the LFS water is? And if so, continue dosing or let it fall and settle then dose to maintain 7? Magnesium is 1280, PH 8.2.

 

[amazongb]

What calcium test kit are you using? Reason I ask, mine tested like 560 with Hanna kit and 420 with API.. I stopped using the Hanna as I don’t trust it...

 

[ethankap]

What calcium test kit are you using? Reason I ask, mine tested like 560 with Hanna kit and 420 with API.. I stopped using the Hanna as I don’t trust it...

Hanna. I have a Salfert, will try that one.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I did a water change today, and tested the LFS salt water I buy as well as mine. LFS alkalinity is 7.0 on the nose and I've been targeting 8.2 for alk.

Calcium after a water change tested at 502, alkalinity at 7.5

Should I target what the LFS water is? And if so, continue dosing or let it fall and settle then dose to maintain 7? Magnesium is 1280, PH 8.2.

IMO, the difference between keep a tank at 7 or 8 dKH is not especially significant.

 

[amazongb]

Hanna. I have a Salfert, will try that one.

I'll bet it will be lower using the Salfert test. You can Google 'Hanna Calcium Checker reading high' and see all sorts of issues. I think the consensus is that the test sample is too small at .1ml. At .1ml, it's can be two drops or three drops etc.. That said, I love Hanna's PO4 and KA checker..