This girl needs help with her chemistry!

[ReefQueen]

You have access to a hobbyist in your area that can do a second opinion on you CAL with her/his test or your LFS maybe.

I thought that we just got over the term "cooking" now we already talking "baking"

Any pics of your tank maybe?

I'm sorry I missed all your other replies. And you reminded me that I neeeeed to get a new rodi! I was going to replace all the guts, but I had decided I am just going to upgrade, then I forgot again lol. So I am testing around 20-25 tds so that could be making my test off too! And my SIL is my reef partner, so maybe I will bring the Hanna to work with me tomorrow and have her test it using that and one of the API kits at work to compare. Did I mention we both work at a pet store lol. Sadly we don't sell saltwater anymore because we were the only 2 buying any livestock that came in

 

[Diesel]

I'm sorry I missed all your other replies. And you reminded me that I neeeeed to get a new rodi! I was going to replace all the guts, but I had decided I am just going to upgrade, then I forgot again lol. So I am testing around 20-25 tds so that could be making my test off too! And my SIL is my reef partner, so maybe I will bring the Hanna to work with me tomorrow and have her test it using that and one of the API kits at work to compare. Did I mention we both work at a pet store lol. Sadly we don't sell saltwater anymore because we were the only 2 buying any livestock that came in

That's a great looking tank, that Girl got skills
IMO looking at your tank you don't need any additional dosing for a while, just keep with your WC and you're good.
Testing error is my suspect here, but @redfishbluefish already was us all a step ahead on that.
You don't have really a whole lot of corals that would suffer under the high CAL so rest assure and do some additional testing tomorrow.
Make sure you test also your new mixed salt water tomorrow as where you when come home can do a small WC to bring down a bit your CAL.

 

[scardall]

Hey there,Don't forget Magnesium levels. When low, Ca can read higher. If Mag. is ok then yes do a 15% WC. to start and retest CA 8 hours + (by then water will have mixed well)

 

[mcarroll]

Dosing your tank should be easier than feeding your fish. Unlike feeding your fish, there's a test to tell you exactly how much to dose every day - no guessing required!

Use your test results and the Reef Chemistry Calculator to determine the correct amounts of calcium, alkalinity and magnesium to dose.

As others have mentioned, your calcium test is a good one, but is known for being finicky and requiring a lot of steps...consider using an API or Salifert calcium test kit to verify your Hanna's results until you've been using it a while and getting predictable results. (I.e. test Ca using both kits for a little while)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey there,Don't forget Magnesium levels. When low, Ca can read higher. If Mag. is ok then yes do a 15% WC. to start and retest CA 8 hours + (by then water will have mixed well)

The magnesium will reflect exactly what is in her salt mix, and I don't think she needs a magnesium kit.

I'm also not sure what you mean by low magnesium causing calcium to read high, but generally that isn't true.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok, since I am trying to do this tank right this time around I thought I better start getting used to dosing now before a start adding tons of corals. I have never ever dosed any of my previous tanks (I know, I know, don't yell at me! In my defense I had mostly softies and I suuuuuuuck at this chemistry crap lol) but I figure it's been 5 years, I gotta figure this out sometime right haha. Anyway I tested my Calc and alk last week and they were at 420 ppm and 9 dkh. So I picked up some fusion 2 and ordered fusion 1 because my store was out. I finally get the 1 today and test again before dosing. Now I am at 543 ppm and 8.4 dkh! 543?! From what I understand you must dose these in equal parts. But now my calcium is high so I have no clue how to proceed! How would it even get so high in the first place? And please, dumb it down for me lol. This whole reef chemistry thing always goes right over my head!

Thanks everyone

As folks have mentioned, calcium does not rise on its own, so either or both of the calcium measurements are in error if you added none. Are you using tap water? That could be a source of calcium, although not likely this much in this time period.

If you were at 9 dKH alkalinity before dosing any alk supplement, then you need not dose anything (not alk, calcium, magnesium, etc.) unless you have a reason to want the alkalinity higher than 9 dKH (I recommend 7-11 dKH). In a new tank, alkalinity is a good gauge for the need for any dosing, since it will show depletion first.

So I'd stop any dosing for the moment, take some time to try to get a handle on the calcium checker (which frustrates many people, unlike other Hanna checkers), maybe compare calcium in the tank to some new salt water, and keep monitoring alkalinity.

When you get to the point that you decide you need alkalinity, it will be safe and fine to dose both parts of the reef Fusion equally in response to the amount needed to maintain alkalinity. That should, at least over a period of weeks, keep calcium at a reasonable level.

 

[redfishbluefish]

...........The only other thing that's changed is the auto top off I added, and there's no way that would be the culprit. ...........

I apologize, but I want to cover all bases.....The ATO reservoir does NOT have saltwater in it, but RO/DI freshwater? Is that correct?

The other question, what is the salt concentration of the tank? And what do you use to measure it?

 

[ReefQueen]

As folks have mentioned, calcium does not rise on its own, so either or both of the calcium measurements are in error if you added none. Are you using tap water? That could be a source of calcium, although not likely this much in this time period.

If you were at 9 dKH alkalinity before dosing any alk supplement, then you need not dose anything (not alk, calcium, magnesium, etc.) unless you have a reason to want the alkalinity higher than 9 dKH (I recommend 7-11 dKH). In a new tank, alkalinity is a good gauge for the need for any dosing, since it will show depletion first.

So I'd stop any dosing for the moment, take some time to try to get a handle on the calcium checker (which frustrates many people, unlike other Hanna checkers), maybe compare calcium in the tank to some new salt water, and keep monitoring alkalinity.

When you get to the point that you decide you need alkalinity, it will be safe and fine to dose both parts of the reef Fusion equally in response to the amount needed to maintain alkalinity. That should, at least over a period of weeks, keep calcium at a reasonable level.

Thank you, that helped a lot! I need to stop over thinking this stuff, I know it's not as hard as I make it seem haha. But you guys are all helping me to put it in perspective! Oh and no I only use ro/di.

 

[ReefQueen]

I apologize, but I want to cover all bases.....The ATO reservoir does NOT have saltwater in it, but RO/DI freshwater? Is that correct?

The other question, what is the salt concentration of the tank? And what do you use to measure it?

Yes the ATO is only fresh ro/di. My salinity is 1.025 and that is with a refractometer.

 

[beaslbob]

Late to thread but I suggest you use dr randy's diy two part system. That will cover cal alk mag stuff.

 

[scardall]

When in doubt of your test kit/s take a water sample to a LFS that sells corals. (NOT PETCO) have them check what you want to verify. Now re verify when you get back home for extra peace of mind.

 

[ReefQueen]

Ok sooo after all that, there is no issue lol. My calcium is 429. My SIL tested it with my Hanna and I think also used her salifert test to verify. So I guess my issue must be my ro di needing replaced. I tested it again this morning before work and got 584. At least I learned a lot from all of this and all my replies bumped me up to well known member haha. Thanks for all the help everyone.

 

[Triggreef]

Faulty tests, get me every time...

But I thought she did say she began dosing for those saying it can't go up without adding anything.

I like red sea test kits for alk mg and CA and they haven't steered me wrong in the last few years. Get much cheaper after the initial purchase as well since you only need refills after.

 

[ReefQueen]

Faulty tests, get me every time...

But I thought she did say she began dosing for those saying it can't go up without adding anything.

I like red sea test kits for alk mg and CA and they haven't steered me wrong in the last few years. Get much cheaper after the initial purchase as well since you only need refills after.

No no, I wanted to start dosing since I will be adding alot of corals very soon. I have not dosed anything yet though.

 

[Triggreef]

Yup I miss read that, my bad.

 

[ReefQueen]

Yup I miss read that, my bad.

It's all good

 

[Fin]

Don't feel bad. That checker can be tricky. Also make sure that your reagents have not expired. They all should have expiration dates on them.