Sudden drop in Calcium

[ebeez]

Hey everyone,
I have a question... my calcium recently drop from 418 (which is average in my tank) to 354 in just over 48 hours; feb 10 @ 08:14 to feb 12 @ 16:14 (see chart attached).

My Alk swings between 8.1 and 8.4, Mag between 1438-1447, PH between 8.1-8.26 within a 24 hour period.

No new livestock or corals have been added.

AWC every day of 2 gal.

Nitrate and Ammonia are 0
Phosphate .01
Nitrate .02
Salinity 34.5

Once the calcium dropped to 354 on feb 12 16:14 the water went cloudy at approx 20:00. Cloudiness cleared by 5:45 Feb 13 (perhaps earlier but this is when I woke up ). I would have thought high calcium would cause precipitate. I am making the assumption that the cloudiness was possibly a bacterial bloom (could smell it) but I am trying to find out if the drop in calcium is due to the oncoming bloom or completely unrelated?

As of now, Feb 13 07:06 the water is clear and calcium is 365.

I am not planning to dose anything so would rather find out why calcium dropped.

As always I appreciate the feedback!
Love this forum!

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Lasse]

Have you confirm the readings with another test? (brand)

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ebeez]

Have you confirm the readings with another test? (brand)

Sincerely Lasse

Hi Lasse,
not at the moment as I don't have any other test kits available to me right now.

 

[Lasse]

I asked because it seems a little odd with such fast depletion of calcium. However - the cloudiness you observe could be caused by precipitation of calcium carbonate. In such case - you should - IMO - also have seen a decline in alkalinity and I can´t see (in your other parameters) any reason why you should get a precipitation.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ebeez]

I asked because it seems a little odd with such fast depletion of calcium. However - the cloudiness you observe could be caused by precipitation of calcium carbonate. In such case - you should - IMO - also have seen a decline in alkalinity and I can´t see (in your other parameters) any reason why you should get a precipitation.

Sincerely Lasse

I am stumped as well. Calc is still reading 368 this evening and Alkalinity is 8.3. Will see what happens tomorrow.
Appreciate the responses!

Thanks,
Eric