Please Help! I Dosed too much Calcium

DonHeydon

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I must have messed up when putting my numbers into the calculator and I way over dosed my tank with ESV B-Ionic calcium, the water is now totally white. I have a 24 gallon waterbox tank, I was able to do a 5gal water change and I am currently making more water. Is there anything else I can do to correct my stupidity and will this kill my livestock?
 
No where near as bad as over dosing Alk. I'd do a 25% WC and move on.
Will the cloudiness just fall out of suspension and the water will clear up eventually? I can barely see 4 inches into my tank. I've never done something so dumb in all my years of having a saltwater tank.
 
You will need to do a series of 10-20% water changes until you reach 470 or lower.
Will the cloudiness just fall out of suspension and the water will clear up eventually? I can barely see 4 inches into my tank. I've never done something so dumb in all my years of having a saltwater tank.
 
What is the measurement? You didn't dose alk and cal together did you? Need at least 30 mins apart
 
My calcium currently is at 370 and it's still really cloudy.
That's not high. It's actually slightly low. The cloud could be precipitation. Check your alk level and your alk doser for faults.

Also, trochus snails have been know to cloud the water when mating if you have any in the tank.
 
I once way over dosed up to ~750. Did 20% water change and it took about 1-2 weeks to come back down to normal and there was no negative impact to the tank. Way less of an issue than over dosing alk.
 
Cloudiness probably just BONDED calcium carbonate in water column. Use a 200micron filter sock and change every 3rd day until it's clear.

Watch your ALK and track every day until stable
 
Thank you all so much, I really appreciate the help. I'm heading to the LFS in the morning to get a new test kit just in case of the slight chance it is bad. It did sit out in 6F degree weather for a few hours when it got delivered last week. It's saying my calcium is now at 360 after doing another 20% water change with Marin Tropic Pro Reef salt. The Marin Tropic salt is usually around 430 but I can't verify a bad kit till I get a new one. I've always had large tanks and after a house fire I decided to get back into reefing again and three months in everything was going great until today, I never realized how less forgiving it is having a nano sized tank. This has been a learning experience today and I have to do some investigating so I never make this mistake again.

Thank you all again for your help!
 
My calcium currently is at 370 and it's still really cloudy.
You will need to actually raise a little but let tank settle first. I was under impression you overdosed tank.
There is a link between high alk and a reduction in calcium levels, so assure alk is not elevated and note raising calcium can lower alk, so there has to be a balance especially since alk levels change during the day
 
Thank you all so much, I really appreciate the help. I'm heading to the LFS in the morning to get a new test kit just in case of the slight chance it is bad. It did sit out in 6F degree weather for a few hours when it got delivered last week. It's saying my calcium is now at 360 after doing another 20% water change with Marin Tropic Pro Reef salt. The Marin Tropic salt is usually around 430 but I can't verify a bad kit till I get a new one. I've always had large tanks and after a house fire I decided to get back into reefing again and three months in everything was going great until today, I never realized how less forgiving it is having a nano sized tank. This has been a learning experience today and I have to do some investigating so I never make this mistake again.

Thank you all again for your help!
you can test a new batch of saltwater for calcium with the test kit you have to see if the test kit is close. Nano are tough small changes at a time ur dealing with a smaller water volume and stuff changes fast
 
You will need to actually raise a little but let tank settle first. I was under impression you overdosed tank.
There is a link between high alk and a reduction in calcium levels, so assure alk is not elevated and note raising calcium can lower alk, so there has to be a balance especially since alk levels change during the day
It definitely got over dosed but the calcium fell out of suspension in the water so that dropped my calcium levels because everything has a white coat on it like it just snowed in my tank. I'm concerned why my freshly mixed water that is supposed to have a calcium of 430 to 460 is at 360. Either the salt is bad or my test kit is bad. So strange, never ever had a problem like this.
 
It definitely got over dosed but the calcium fell out of suspension in the water so that dropped my calcium levels because everything has a white coat on it like it just snowed in my tank. I'm concerned why my freshly mixed water that is supposed to have a calcium of 430 to 460 is at 360. Either the salt is bad or my test kit is bad. So strange, never ever had a problem like this.
you can test a new batch of saltwater for calcium with the test kit you have to see if the test kit is close. Nano are tough small changes at a time ur dealing with a smaller water volume and stuff changes fast
I just tested a fresh batch of water with the salinity at 1.026 it's saying the cal is 360, something is broken. I have calibration fluid for my refractometer so I know that's accurate so that leaves me with a salt problem or a cal test kit problem.
 
It definitely got over dosed but the calcium fell out of suspension in the water so that dropped my calcium levels because everything has a white coat on it like it just snowed in my tank. I'm concerned why my freshly mixed water that is supposed to have a calcium of 430 to 460 is at 360. Either the salt is bad or my test kit is bad. So strange, never ever had a problem like this.
You have precipt likely and retest tomorrow and see which direction the number are. It is indeed odd that it lowered but with suspension may be a false reading- What test kit were you using ?
 

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