Very high Calcium - Where should Alk be?

Bob O · Mar 3, 2016

So due to a bad Salifert Ca test kit - (it had that it expired in 2013 so my fault) my Ca is now at 820. Question is where should I maintain Alkalinity while waiting on the Ca to decline? I purchased the Hanna checkers. I'm currently maintaining alkalinity at 4 meq/l or 10.5 to 11 dKH by dosing 25 ml per day of BRS two part alkalinity only to maintain these levels. I am also doing 5 gallon water changes every 3 or 4 days. I've had no snow storms and hope to continue that if possible. I have a light load relative to corals - some zoa's , Xenia, several small montipora's, 1 leather, 1 Calustrea , and one very small echinopora. Not huge calcium intake. Ideas on both where to maintain alkalinity levels while reducing Calcium to 400-450 and any recommendations on some heavy calcium users such as a clam or more SPS and/or LPS to help bring Ca levels down faster?

aaron23 · Mar 3, 2016

water changes would be the best to bring down the levels. how did you get it to 820? 2 part should be dosed equally. However you can just let the calcium come down on its own

Bob O · Mar 3, 2016

I was dosing Ca as the expired Salifert test kit was giving me readings of 400 to 450 while daily dosing. Water changes are having very little effect at the 5 gal pace on a 65 g aquarium. Guess am going to have to do larger water changes!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 3, 2016

I would maintain alkalinity at your normal level. I do not consider the optimal alk level to be tied to the calcium level.

Based on the alk additions, calcium is being used at about 4 ppm per day.

A 5 gal water change with 420 ppm calcium will drop calcium by about 30 ppm each time (at least at the current calcium level).

I personally would not specifically add organisms to reduce the calcium.

Bob O · Mar 3, 2016

Thanks Aaron and Randy !

Anthony christian · Mar 3, 2016

Not to hi jack your thread mutual I'm haveing same issue but with mag my red sea test keep saying mag is 1600 I have not dosed any mag but am currently dosing 40mg of alk and cal my mag even after water change according to red sea stays at 1600 so Idk what to do about mag but everything looks good and growing in tank.

Bob O · Mar 3, 2016

No problem Anthony. If you are doing water changes and it is having no effect I would suspect the test kit.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 3, 2016

Anthony christian said:
Not to hi jack your thread mutual I'm haveing same issue but with mag my red sea test keep saying mag is 1600 I have not dosed any mag but am currently dosing 40mg of alk and cal my mag even after water change according to red sea stays at 1600 so Idk what to do about mag but everything looks good and growing in tank.

Magnesium depletion is very slow, and for many people never needs supplementation.

Have you measured new salt mix with that kit?

Anthony christian · Mar 3, 2016

I think the red sea mag test kit is so confusing for me it says end color is the the drop after it almost turns clear making the end color a light pink but it is so confusing for me.

Anthony christian · Mar 3, 2016

No but I know where your going with this one randy I'll test some new saltwater with the test kit. That should tell me if it's the test kit.

Anthony christian · Mar 3, 2016

Ok I just tested reef crystals mixed to 1.026 just tested only mag and red sea said it was 1600 box says it should be 1345 I checked it twice just to be sure and I'm fairly sure I have a bad mag test kit from red sea. What's your thoughts Randy

jaws789832 · Mar 3, 2016

I had the same problem with red sea Mag. Switched to salifert and it was dead on testing new Reef crystals saltwater

Anthony christian · Mar 3, 2016

Yes this aggervated me for the simple reason that we depend on test kits to maintain our systems and if there off were being setup for failure I'm sure we don't need any help in that area lol.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 3, 2016

Anthony christian said:
Ok I just tested reef crystals mixed to 1.026 just tested only mag and red sea said it was 1600 box says it should be 1345 I checked it twice just to be sure and I'm fairly sure I have a bad mag test kit from red sea. What's your thoughts Randy

Many people have issues with that kit for reasons I do not understand. Of course, it is possible you got a batch of RC with very high magnesium, but the kit seem more likely the issue to me.

Anthony christian · Mar 3, 2016

I'll have to say test kit I buy my salt by the pallet and I'm down to three boxes left I just don't think the salt is the culprit here. I'm switching salts though going to redsea.

Bob O · Mar 6, 2016

Celebrating a Ca reading of 499 at my house ! lol after 5 more 5 gallon water changes that's where I'm at. Maintaining alkalinity between 10 and 11 dKH. Glory be for Hanna checkers.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 7, 2016

Sounds good.

Happy Reefing.

radiata · Mar 18, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I would maintain alkalinity at your normal level. I do not consider the optimal alk level to be tied to the calcium level.

Based on the alk additions, calcium is being used at about 4 ppm per day.

A 5 gal water change with 420 ppm calcium will drop calcium by about 30 ppm each time (at least at the current calcium level).

I personally would not specifically add organisms to reduce the calcium.

Randy,

I don't understand what "I do not consider the optimal alk level to be tied to the calcium level" means. (Perhaps I've had too many ml of St. Estèphe this evening.) Does this in any way invalidate your red square in your “Chemistry and the Aquarium - Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems” column by Randy Holmes-Farley, in the Advanced Aquarist On-Line Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 11, Nov 2002? (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm)

Thanks,
Bob

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 18, 2016

radiata said:
Randy,

I don't understand what "I do not consider the optimal alk level to be tied to the calcium level" means. (Perhaps I've had too many ml of St. Estèphe this evening.) Does this in any way invalidate your red square in your “Chemistry and the Aquarium - Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems” column by Randy Holmes-Farley, in the Advanced Aquarist On-Line Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 11, Nov 2002? (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm)

Thanks,
Bob

No, just the opposite. Notice that it is a square, meaning that the recommended range for alk (2.5-4 meq/L) does not change as the actual calcium level changes, and the reverse is also true. /)

Surfandturf · Mar 19, 2016

That's interesting because I have read that calcium and KH are inversely related. The higher the calcium, the lower the KH. I have also heard that temperature plays a factor with this as calcium breaks down at lower temps but does not break down as well at higher temps. Does this sound correct or am I not understanding?