Excessive calcium 2part dosing

aaron23 · Feb 1, 2016

Good evening Randy and r2r members need some help here.

I've been checking alk daily with 2-3 test kits to verify my readings.

Currently they stand at 7.3dkh. 2part calculator says to add 18ml to bring it back up to 8dkh.

However, I seldom check calcium and when I used the Hanna colorimeter it read a whopping 561!!!!

SPS Corals are all looking perfectly fine with good polyp extension I haven't noticed anything odd.

I'm not sure if this meter or reagent is giving me the wrong value, but what happens to SPS corals when there is excess calcium in the water?

Sabellafella · Feb 1, 2016

aaron23 said:
Good evening Randy and r2r members need some help here.

I've been checking alk daily with 2-3 test kits to verify my readings.

Currently they stand at 7.3dkh. 2part calculator says to add 18ml to bring it back up to 8dkh.

However, I seldom check calcium and when I used the Hanna colorimeter it read a whopping 561!!!!

SPS Corals are all looking perfectly fine with good polyp extension I haven't noticed anything odd.

I'm not sure if this meter or reagent is giving me the wrong value, but what happens to SPS corals when there is excess calcium in the water?

People say the hannah calc checker reads about 100 ppm higher then a typical test kit reading. Do you got another calc test kit?

aaron23 · Feb 1, 2016

After the Hanna alk recall I bought 5 new alk test kits. Sadly I only own 1 calcium kit..

Sabellafella · Feb 1, 2016

aaron23 said:
After the Hanna alk recall I bought 5 new alk test kits. Sadly I only own 1 calcium kit..

Lololol dont worry . according to some calc should be ranging from 380 to a little over 500 without issues as long as its not dropping or raising very quickly. I have the hannah calc and ive used it a few times . ive litterally tryd every routine possible with the tester and it comes to be from 60 to 100 ppm higher then elos nyos and redsea

aaron23 · Feb 1, 2016

Thanks for the rely it would be reassuring if it read the right results. Is anyone else having the same issue with the calcium Hanna colorimeter?

With no change in calcium at 561, what are the effects?

aaron23 · Feb 1, 2016

4th Hanna colorimeter Ca test - 462.

Hanna instruments- I will never buy your product again.

Sabellafella · Feb 1, 2016

aaron23 said:
4th Hanna colorimeter Ca test - 462.

Hanna instruments- I will never buy your product again.

Lol whats your secret . those are the results your supposed to get, it just sucks because the sample your testing is only .1 mls of tank water so theres a crazy margarine of error and thats basically why i dont use it

aaron23 · Feb 1, 2016

Lol I may have shook the vial one more time for good luck?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 2, 2016

There's no substantial problem from calcium at 561 ppm that I know of. Some salt mixes start nearly that high. What salt mix are you using?

About the only drawback of know of it a slightly increased risk of preciptiation of calcium carbonate, about equivalent to a rise in pH of about 0.1 pH unit.

aaron23 · Feb 2, 2016

Hi Randy thank you for getting back to me! I'm using a Hanna kit and I don't think it's very accurate. I'm using IO salt honestly I think bad test kit.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 2, 2016

Have you been adding calcium?

aaron23 · Feb 2, 2016

Yes I've been adding both parts equally at all times calcium carbonate and soda ash from BRS. You answered my question perfectly regarding the effect of calcium on inhabitants! I just bought a salifert kit so I'll be waiting for that. I don't see any ill effects on my corals so it leads me to believe that the tester is wrong

aaron23 · Feb 2, 2016

But let's just say the tester is right, is it possible that alk is 7.3 and ca is 561? Since cs is that high wouldn't it mean alk should be that much lower Bc of precipitation