High calcium
- Thread starter takoarm8
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Calcium at 560 ppm, even if accurate, which it may not be, is not substantial concern. I'd just ignore it for now.
Arif
Community Member
I'm having calcium issues as well. Calcium is at 675, Mag is at 1330, Alk is at 8.5. I've tried to bring it down but nothing. Redsea pro reef salt, geo 818 calcium reactor with 2nd chamber. I've tried water changes and adjustments on the calcium reactor.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Have you used that same kit on new salt water? What do you get?
Test error seems the most likely explanation, followed by a slat mix that is way off of normal or very high salinity.
Arif
Community Member
I used a neptune trident and a hanna tester
vetteguy53081
Well known Member and monster tank lover
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
RGB
Article Contributor
Tampa Bay Reef Keepers
West Palm Beach Reefer
Hospitality Award
Ocala Reef Club Member
305 Reef Club
Wisco Reefers
Midwest Reefer
Fish Medic
MAC of SW Florida
Rock Pool Reef Keepers
R2R Secret Santa 2023
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
Ive had it this high, not intended. It is not deadly but needs to come down. If you are dosing two part, skip CA and also do not add any for now and allow it to slowly decrease. Many reasons calcium gets elevated is low consumption, high level in salt mix, Low alk and Calcium carbonate formations from too much calcium in your tank.
When calcium gets too high, alk will drop and alter your tank's PH.
Change 20% of your water and then 2 gallons a day for next ten days and you should see a drop by day 4. Check your salt mix label and assure it does Not show high CA number in the analysis
Also, take a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your calcium and alk and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Try them on the new salt water. Hanna calcium is not prime, IMO.
Arif
Community Member
Ok I'll give it a shot
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Keep us updated. 
jmatt
Just gettin' started. Again.
Hey, if I can jump in here...
My calcium always tests high, like 500 - 565. I generate my RODI water from my hard well water and assume it's because of that. If it matters, the well water goes through a softener first. TDS always reads 0 out when generating, fwiw. I have some kind of off-white precipitate in the sump.
The tank is only going into month 5, and all the other parameters are acceptable. I dose Part B for alk but no Part A.
The corals have been 'off' for a while now (some zoas not opening fully, torch and hammer don't really extend more than 1").
Could a sustained high CA level cause something like this?
My calcium always tests high, like 500 - 565. I generate my RODI water from my hard well water and assume it's because of that. If it matters, the well water goes through a softener first. TDS always reads 0 out when generating, fwiw. I have some kind of off-white precipitate in the sump.
The tank is only going into month 5, and all the other parameters are acceptable. I dose Part B for alk but no Part A.
The corals have been 'off' for a while now (some zoas not opening fully, torch and hammer don't really extend more than 1").
Could a sustained high CA level cause something like this?
Dennis Cartier
Valuable Member
Typically calcium will affect growth if it is too low, but does not impact corals if elevated in the range you are reporting.
I suggest double checking your salinity. If your salinity is elevated, it could explain the high calcium and unhappy corals.
If your salinity is fine, then look at other parameters (NO3, PO4, elevated DOC, etc.)
jmatt
Just gettin' started. Again.
Salinity is good, measured constantly by Apex and a once a week with the Tropic Marin hydrometer. The ATK works great. I keep it at 1.026-ish
The other stats are all nominal, I check myself (Red Sea, Hannah) and let the LFS double check my numbers once a week or so.
I dunno. Something just not quite right... and slowly getting worse. The torch used to at least extend about 1.5+ inches, this week it's barely .75. But I have a goni sitting 4" away that's just fine...
Dennis Cartier
Valuable Member
How is your water change schedule?
Perhaps try an ICP test to see if something undesirable is elevated.
Perhaps try an ICP test to see if something undesirable is elevated.
jmatt
Just gettin' started. Again.
I do 15% about three times per month. Never done an ICP test before... I send in a water sample, I suppose?
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
That level of calcium is not a big driver of precipitation. Compared to 420 ppm calcium, its like 0.13 pH unit rise, but it doesn't help.
I also think 0 ppm TDS RO/DI is not causing that elevated calcium.
jmatt
Just gettin' started. Again.
Many thanks for chiming in. I guess I'll have to keep monitoring and see what happens.
