EXTREMELY high calcium in QT

[SimplyVibing]

I have no idea how this happened, but calcium in my QT is reading around 750. dKH is around 4.8 because of this. I put fish in yesterday and noticed that they are not too hot today.

All that’s in this tank is a cycled sponge filter, PVC pipe hides, and a heater. What on earth could be going on here? Is it time to evacuate the two ocellaris clownfish I have in there?

 

[Copingwithpods]

Have you double checked your results?

Do you dose anything to the tank?

I'd work on raising alk and letting the calcium work itself out either through precipitation or water changes.

How do the fish appear? Breathing normal acting normal?

 

[SimplyVibing]

Have you double checked your results?

Do you dose anything to the tank?

I'd work on raising alk and letting the calcium work itself out either through precipitation or water changes.

How do the fish appear? Breathing normal acting normal?

Yes, I checked a few times. I didn’t dose anything before the problem started, but I dosed Alk about an hour ago and they seem to be doing a little better.

When I check on the clowns this morning they were swimming sideways at the top of the tank and not eating. They straightened out with the introduction of Alk

 

[Copingwithpods]

Good to hear, definitely bring alk up slowly and stabilize with water changes. Still doesn't explain why calcium would shoot up so high without dosing or precipitation

 

[Terrapod]

Water changes brother!

 

[SimplyVibing]

Water changes brother!

I just did a 30% water change, I’m just concerned nothing will happened cause it’s all the same salt and same RODI water

 

[SimplyVibing]

Good to hear, definitely bring alk up slowly and stabilize with water changes. Still doesn't explain why calcium would shoot up so high without dosing or precipitation

I have no idea, I wish I knew.

 

[Copingwithpods]

I just did a 30% water change, I’m just concerned nothing will happened cause it’s all the same salt and same RODI water

What salt are you using and are you testing your newly mixed?

 

[SimplyVibing]

What salt are you using and are you testing your newly mixed?

I’m using instant ocean reef crystals but I just opened up a new bag. I’ve never tested my newly mixed stuff but strangely enough neither of my two other saltwater tanks are showing high calcium.

 

[Copingwithpods]

I’m using instant ocean reef crystals but I just opened up a new bag. I’ve never tested my newly mixed stuff but strangely enough neither of my two other saltwater tanks are showing high calcium.

Thinking out loud here, it could be the new salt wasn't mixed well in the bag and thus gave you odd parameters. It isn't unheard of that salts come less than perfectly mixed in the bucket top to bottom.

 

[SimplyVibing]

Thinking out loud here, it could be the new salt wasn't mixed well in the bag and thus gave you odd parameters. It isn't unheard of that salts come less than perfectly mixed in the bucket top to bottom.

Ugh you’re probably right!!!! I might dump it out and mix it around myself. Thanks, this is the most likely thing I think

 

[legrunt]

I'd suggest testing a newly mixed batch to narrow it down.