HOLY CALCIUM Batman!

[specialk]

Hey All -

So did a routine water change this past Saturday, (did about 20% change on a 145 gallon system) and 3 days later (today) did a test of my calcium with a new Salifert Calcium Test Kit and it was not even changing over to the blue (so indicating that the calcium levels were over 500!) ... thinking I was doing something wrong, I went over across the street to my LFS and they did a test with an API test kit .. they were getting readings of 660 !?!?!?

Bottom line is somehow I have a wicked high calcium level. I am worried if this is a very bad thing or not and anything I may have to do...

 

[nex64]

First I'd have the test double checked with another test kit other than API.


Additionally, I wouldn't worry about the high levels , they will eventually level out and all will be good. I would just investigate as to what caused this. My guess is your salt mix if you aren't dosing anything...

 

[Sabellafella]

Hey All -

So did a routine water change this past Saturday, (did about 20% change on a 145 gallon system) and 3 days later (today) did a test of my calcium with a new Salifert Calcium Test Kit and it was not even changing over to the blue (so indicating that the calcium levels were over 500!) ... thinking I was doing something wrong, I went over across the street to my LFS and they did a test with an API test kit .. they were getting readings of 660 !?!?!?

Bottom line is somehow I have a wicked high calcium level. I am worried if this is a very bad thing or not and anything I may have to do...

What salt mix?

 

[specialk]

I used Reef Crystals Salt.

Also, my readings were showing high on the Salifert (showed above 500) so that is why I had it tested at the LFS .. even though I knew they would use the API, I at least wanted to see that I for sure had that high of readings (as I was stumped as to why the Salifert was not showing anything -- due to the high over 500, off the charts reading)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

High calcium is not a big deal. Assuming it is accurate, just let it fall on its own over time.

FWIW, when you go over the top end of a kit, just use a second syringe of fluid to get the true reading. Add the two values together.

 

[specialk]

High calcium is not a big deal. Assuming it is accurate, just let it fall on its own over time.

FWIW, when you go over the top end of a kit, just use a second syringe of fluid to get the true reading. Add the two values together.

Thanks Randy ...

Also do you, or anyone else have experience with the Salifert Test Kit -- when I was watching some Youtube videos on how to use it, just because I want to be absolutely sure I am doing it right , some used the syringe with the pointed end on it, and others did it without the pointed end on it. The reason I ask is this ..

When I followed the instructions that came with the kit, it has you add/screw on the pointed tip to the end of the syringe. It also notes *that there will be an air bubble under the black portion of the syringe stopper and the 1ml mark and that this will not effect the results. *** BUT what I noticed is that when I was drawing the liquid out of the bottle, that air bubble was always different in size -- thus effecting the amount of test solution liquid that was in the syringe.

This lead me to search you tube videos and see what others were doing, and it had several people doing the test WITHOUT the pointed tip at the end of the syringe, and simply drawing a full and accurate 1ml of the test liquid into the syringe.

I hope I am being clear here and painting an accurate picture of the issue I am having ... WITH the pointed tip at the end of the syringe, you DO NOT get a full 1 ml of the test liquid into the syringe (even though the instructions say it is ok with a air bubble in there and even though that air bubble is always different and effects the amount of test liquid in the syringe) WITH OUT the pointed tip you DO get a full and accurate 1ml of test liquid into the syringe.

 

[Sabellafella]

Thanks Randy ...

Also do you, or anyone else have experience with the Salifert Test Kit -- when I was watching some Youtube videos on how to use it, just because I want to be absolutely sure I am doing it right , some used the syringe with the pointed end on it, and others did it without the pointed end on it. The reason I ask is this ..

When I followed the instructions that came with the kit, it has you add/screw on the pointed tip to the end of the syringe. It also notes *that there will be an air bubble under the black portion of the syringe stopper and the 1ml mark and that this will not effect the results. *** BUT what I noticed is that when I was drawing the liquid out of the bottle, that air bubble was always different in size -- thus effecting the amount of test solution liquid that was in the syringe.

This lead me to search you tube videos and see what others were doing, and it had several people doing the test WITHOUT the pointed tip at the end of the syringe, and simply drawing a full and accurate 1ml of the test liquid into the syringe.

I hope I am being clear here and painting an accurate picture of the issue I am having ... WITH the pointed tip at the end of the syringe, you DO NOT get a full 1 ml of the test liquid into the syringe (even though the instructions say it is ok with a air bubble in there and even though that air bubble is always different and effects the amount of test liquid in the syringe) WITH OUT the pointed tip you DO get a full and accurate 1ml of test liquid into the syringe.

Lately this whole years batch of reef cystals ive used so far test till the last drop for salifert

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy ...

Also do you, or anyone else have experience with the Salifert Test Kit -- when I was watching some Youtube videos on how to use it, just because I want to be absolutely sure I am doing it right , some used the syringe with the pointed end on it, and others did it without the pointed end on it. The reason I ask is this ..

When I followed the instructions that came with the kit, it has you add/screw on the pointed tip to the end of the syringe. It also notes *that there will be an air bubble under the black portion of the syringe stopper and the 1ml mark and that this will not effect the results. *** BUT what I noticed is that when I was drawing the liquid out of the bottle, that air bubble was always different in size -- thus effecting the amount of test solution liquid that was in the syringe.

This lead me to search you tube videos and see what others were doing, and it had several people doing the test WITHOUT the pointed tip at the end of the syringe, and simply drawing a full and accurate 1ml of the test liquid into the syringe.

I hope I am being clear here and painting an accurate picture of the issue I am having ... WITH the pointed tip at the end of the syringe, you DO NOT get a full 1 ml of the test liquid into the syringe (even though the instructions say it is ok with a air bubble in there and even though that air bubble is always different and effects the amount of test liquid in the syringe) WITH OUT the pointed tip you DO get a full and accurate 1ml of test liquid into the syringe.

The size of the air bubble reflects how tightly you push on the tip, but it has NO impact on the liquid drawn in and dispensed. Only the plunger movement determines volume. You need not ever see any fluid in the barrel if the tip is big enough, and the amount dispensed is accurate.

I show that here:

Reef Chemistry Question of the Day 161 Using a Syringe
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-chemistry-question-of-the-day-161-using-a-syringe.226267/

 

[Stigigemla]

I would doublecheck the salinity.
When You are using the tip it is the air in the tip You draw up in the syringe. So reading 0 on the syringe after filling it means it contains precisly 1 ml air + solution (Ca3). The tip now contains exactly the some water volume as the syringe has air volume. When You empty the syringe totally You will empty the tip at last and fill it again with that air. So if You empty the syringe and the tip that will be precisely 1 ml solution.

 

[specialk]

The size of the air bubble reflects how tightly you push on the tip, but it has NO impact on the liquid drawn in and dispensed. Only the plunger movement determines volume. You need not ever see any fluid in the barrel if the tip is big enough, and the amount dispensed is accurate.

I show that here:

Reef Chemistry Question of the Day 161 Using a Syringe
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-chemistry-question-of-the-day-161-using-a-syringe.226267/

Great article I will check that out in more detail for sure

 

[specialk]

I would doublecheck the salinity.
When You are using the tip it is the air in the tip You draw up in the syringe. So reading 0 on the syringe after filling it means it contains precisly 1 ml air + solution (Ca3). The tip now contains exactly the some water volume as the syringe has air volume. When You empty the syringe totally You will empty the tip at last and fill it again with that air. So if You empty the syringe and the tip that will be precisely 1 ml solution.

Ok, so it does not really matter, when doing the test, if the tip is on or not .. correct? The bottom line is that you want 1ml of solution in there ... correct?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok, so it does not really matter, when doing the test, if the tip is on or not .. correct? The bottom line is that you want 1ml of solution in there ... correct?

As I mentioned in the other thread...

The presence or absence of a tip makes no difference to the amount administered, but it does impact the drop size, which can control how precise the reading can be (not accuracy, but precision; 5.01 mL is more precise than 5.0 mL, even if the real value is 4 mL).

That is why syringes for such tests use pointy tips: smaller drop sizes.

 

[Susan Bates]

Hey All -

So did a routine water change this past Saturday, (did about 20% change on a 145 gallon system) and 3 days later (today) did a test of my calcium with a new Salifert Calcium Test Kit and it was not even changing over to the blue (so indicating that the calcium levels were over 500!) ... thinking I was doing something wrong, I went over across the street to my LFS and they did a test with an API test kit .. they were getting readings of 660 !?!?!?

Bottom line is somehow I have a wicked high calcium level. I am worried if this is a very bad thing or not and anything I may have to do...

I have the same problem,calcium levels always high, do you shake your bucket or bag of salt first

 

[specialk]

I have the same problem,calcium levels always high, do you shake your bucket or bag of salt first

I get the big box of Reef Crystals with 4 individual bags in there. I usually pick the bag up and slightly shake it to get all the salt down to the bottom of the bag so I can cut the top of the bag open.

But I have NEVER had a problem like this before. This is my 1st time experiencing something like this ... in fact I just tested my Calcium with Salifert and got a reading of 755!!!

 

[jason2459]

I would call Instant Ocean about those results. They will most likely request a couple cups of the salt to be sent to them to be tested and if found "off" from a normal range they most likely would send you a new batch.

One could expect around 500 Ca, 13 Alk, 1400-1500 Mg from RC
http://reef2reef.com/threads/saltmix-parameters-bring-on-the-test-results.233233/

 

[Susan Bates]

I get the big box of Reef Crystals with 4 individual bags in there. I usually pick the bag up and slightly shake it to get all the salt down to the bottom of the bag so I can cut the top of the bag open.

But I have NEVER had a problem like this before. This is my 1st time experiencing something like this ... in fact I just tested my Calcium with Salifert and got a reading of 755!!!

that is high,are you dosing anything?make up some water and test that, it may be a bad lot of salt, they added too much calcium??

 

[specialk]

I would call Instant Ocean about those results. They will most likely request a couple cups of the salt to be sent to them to be tested and if found "off" from a normal range they most likely would send you a new batch.

One could expect around 500 Ca, 13 Alk, 1400-1500 Mg from RC
http://reef2reef.com/threads/saltmix-parameters-bring-on-the-test-results.233233/

Oh sweet maybe I will call them. Are they pretty customer friendly with issues like this?

 

[specialk]

that is high,are you dosing anything?make up some water and test that, it may be a bad lot of salt, they added too much calcium??

I was dosing seachem reef advantage dry ...but my calcium was around 420 when I was dosing...

I have never heard of a bad batch of salt before ...Im assuming this has happened though obviously?

 

[jason2459]

Oh sweet maybe I will call them. Are they pretty customer friendly with issues like this?

I've never had to do it but I know several who have. Sometimes it turns out the sample is good but the testing or test kit was bad.

 

[specialk]

I would call Instant Ocean about those results. They will most likely request a couple cups of the salt to be sent to them to be tested and if found "off" from a normal range they most likely would send you a new batch.

One could expect around 500 Ca, 13 Alk, 1400-1500 Mg from RC
http://reef2reef.com/threads/saltmix-parameters-bring-on-the-test-results.233233/

Holy smokes it looks like it is a bad batch of salt .. at least this bag I was using (I bought the 200 gal box with 4 individual bags in there) .. I mixed up a small batch of salt in a big 2 gallon old protein bucket and I tested it twice with the salifert test kit -- I was getting readings of 560 calcium!!

Never knew this could happen ... a bad bag of salt that is