Need help with alk and calcium

[Guttersnipe]

Hi reef2reef.
About 5 weeks ago my dosing pump dumped the entire contents of my calcium reservoir in my tank. Luckily nothing showed signs of stress. I tested the calcium with salifert test kit and it was off the charts. I used up the whole 1 ml syringe and no change in color to see where my calcium was at.
I bought a new dosing pump and have been dosing equal amounts alk and calcium.
My question is should I stop dosing calcium and just dose alk till my calcium drops down to a normal level? Or should I try to keep doing water changes till levels are back to normal range.
Thanks!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hi reef2reef.
About 5 weeks ago my dosing pump dumped the entire contents of my calcium reservoir in my tank. Luckily nothing showed signs of stress. I tested the calcium with salifert test kit and it was off the charts. I used up the whole 1 ml syringe and no change in color to see where my calcium was at.
I bought a new dosing pump and have been dosing equal amounts alk and calcium.
My question is should I stop dosing calcium and just dose alk till my calcium drops down to a normal level? Or should I try to keep doing water changes till levels are back to normal range.
Thanks!

I would stop dosing and let your levels come down naturally through coral absorption. If only calcium is through the roof, dose your alk as needed until your calcium comes down to the level you want it at.

 

[Orcus Varuna]

Hi reef2reef.
About 5 weeks ago my dosing pump dumped the entire contents of my calcium reservoir in my tank. Luckily nothing showed signs of stress. I tested the calcium with salifert test kit and it was off the charts. I used up the whole 1 ml syringe and no change in color to see where my calcium was at.
I bought a new dosing pump and have been dosing equal amounts alk and calcium.
My question is should I stop dosing calcium and just dose alk till my calcium drops down to a normal level? Or should I try to keep doing water changes till levels are back to normal range.
Thanks!

You can get into many problems with high calcium, including it falling out of solution and seizing pumps, bricking your sand causing sulfur and other nasties to build, etc. I would stop dosing and do a series of water changes or if the tank is small enough a 100% water change. This is the easiest way to correct an unbalanced dosing issue as its difficult to self correct with dosing shifts. RHF has a great article on the relationship between calcium and carbonate in Sea water and how to best correct extreme conditions you might want to give a read, I have linked it below. Hope this helps and happy reefing! https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

 

[Guttersnipe]

Thanks for the fast response guys. I will stop dosing and read that article.

 

[Guttersnipe]

I made a new batch of saltwater but ran out of salt. Salinity of new water is only at 1.015
I ordered some more salt and will be doing a few large water changes once I get more salt