Overdose problem.

Paaatz · Oct 2, 2014

Hello there ! New on the forum, well, I've been sneakin arround since a couple of weeks. Here's my probleme, I downgraded from a 55G w/sump to a 20G w/sump. Everything was going good in my 55G sps dominated reef. Polyps extention, colors everything. Then I kinda ran out of times, too much working and stuff.. So I didnt really tested and correctly calculated my CAL MG ALK consomation in my new nano tank. I just took the dose i was giving to my 55G and cutted it in two ~ without testing during a week or so. Guess what hapenned.. Sps turned out brown and almost no polyps out.. Nothing is dead for the moment, had done 2 wc since then

I guess my cal is arround 650++ since i tested it with redsea and i spill the entire substance and the water doesnt even get a little blue.. (For those who know redsea test)

What would you do to reduce CAL asap And get back on track..? My sps were all looking SO healthy..

Param;
1,026
Cal?? Estimated @ 650+++
Alk 9
Magn 1450~
Temp 26
Phos none

Everything I dose is aquaristik product (cal. 2part magn and 2 part Alk)
Note that i stopped dosing since i did my water change to get things back to normal...

jasonp87 · Oct 2, 2014

I would stop dosing CA for right now and just continue doing small water changes until it levels out at a more acceptable level. 2-4 gallons every day or every other day should help you lower the levels safely.

ReeferRookie · Oct 2, 2014

Call the reef medics .... Maybe narcan will bump it back to life

mike007 · Oct 2, 2014

I would doubt your test results are correct. I would get a second testing on that ca.

Reefing Madness · Oct 2, 2014

Moved to current location. Randal Holmes-Farley will get this one for you.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 3, 2014

I agree that testing error is likely, especially if you used the two part in equal doses. Overdosing equal parts of a decent two part cannot boost calcium that much and not have alkalinity read massively high. Even a 50 ppm boost in calcium should boost alk by about 7 dKH. Just dosing the calcium part, or way more of it, however, could boost calcium very high.

Try the kit on some new salt water and see if you get a more reasonable number for calcium.

What salt mix do you use?

Water changes are the only way to lower it in any reasonable time frame.

That all said, without knowing how high it might actually be, it is hard to know for sure, but I've not heard of corals browning from elevated calcium, and there are lots of others reason they do so.

Paaatz · Oct 3, 2014

Thanks everybody. Especially Randy. Randy, Ã®m using coralt pro salt mix, Ã®I'l retest my water tomorrow and get back with the results asap.

By the way.. Weird thing all my zoas are looking great and healthy.. My hammerhead too.. Although I noticed a white spot on one of my montiporas.. Sps still brown.. No colors, but polyps are out.. Weird..