high calcium and alk. levels.

darrell7456 · Aug 25, 2015

all my tanks have very high cal .and alk. readings and can't keep them down. I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. Both readings are way off the charts. I do water changes once a week.

Tahoe61 · Aug 25, 2015

What are the values?
What test kit or instruments are you using?
Are you dosing anything?
How large of a tank and how large are the water changes?

Downbeach · Aug 26, 2015

The first thing that comes to mind is your SG, and what you use to measure it with. If its a swing arm type hydrometer, its likely giving you a bad reading and causing you to add too much salt mix, and by extension too much of the other elements(Ca, Mg, Alk) as well. The same can be true with any device that isn't properly calibrated, i.e. a refractometer calibrated with RO/DI water instead of a 35ppt calibration solution. Have you gotten a second opinion of your tests, and as tahoe requested, what are your readings?

darrell7456 · Aug 26, 2015

I have a 40gal 29gal and a 20 gal. I am using the API Reef Master Test KIT. Tha Cal. and Akl. are off the charts. I do 20% water changes every week. I do use the Instant Ocean Swing Arm Hydrometer