what could cause my calcium to be over 800ppm???

[psuedo74]

OK,

I am thoroughly perplexed

My calcium on Salifert has read like this since I started writing it down

on 7/8 700ppm
7/16 900ppm

I did a big water change, 85 galons out of my 120-

then it read on 7/17 590ppm

7/20 600 ppm

7/22 620ppm

today 7/23 880 ppm!

I have an aqua-c 180 which seems to be working fine producing white, slightlyyellow foam, I have about 150lbs of live rock, which is Vanuatu and figi-

I had been using these things when I started the tank called building blocks by hbh, which looked like a small salt lick but were supposed add calcium and trace elements. Since I thought that was the reason for the high Cal I stopped using them after the big water change

I am keeping a galaxea, a frogspawn, a favia, an acropora(green), star poyps, a bubble, anenome, and a hammer. I also have about 10 different fish, an electric scallop, snails, cleaner and blood shrimp and a slf crab, and an urchin. I also have about 120lbs of live sand (aragonite)

I have lots of current as well running a gen-x(bigger model, 5 maybe? I forget) through two 1 inch sea swirls

I have a couple theories

1) the reason was indeed those building blocks and now it is being released back into the tank via build up in the pipes pumps etc...

2) Vanuatu live rock is an extraordinarily highly concentrated with calcium live rock?? This is a total stab I know, but there seems to be little info on it.

3 my skimmer is not doing its job?? Seems like its running fine, I have zero nitrites, ph is 8.3

one final note my alkalinity was 2.74 on 7/8 and on 7/18 it was 4.0 I had dosed it maybe 5 times in that period with the alkalinity part of b-ionic...would dosing Alk raise Cal??

Thanks for any info

getting ready to do another water change in Ct.....

 

[drywallguy29]

Are you dosing at all with anything else? I would stop any additions except top off give it a couple days and see, or if you are really nervous try a water change and then wait a couple days. Are you sure you have the Bionic alk and not the calcium going in. Perhaps a mislabel from ESV or are these the same bottles you have been using for sometime?

 

[psuedo74]

WILL DOSING WITH THE ALK PART OF B-IONIC LOWER THE CALCIUM?

SHOULD I DOSE WITH IT TO TRY AND ACHIEVE MORE BALANCE, OR LAY OFF COMPLETELY? IM DOING WATER CHANGES....

ITS NOT A MISLABEL, WHEN I DOSE WITH THE ALK PART IT SEEMS TO GO UP.

THANKS

MARC-

 

[Len]

I really think your Ca test kit is misreading (could be old, could be other earth element interference, etc.). 800ppm is unreasonably high and you should have a snow storm in the tank at these levels I'd check it again with another test kit (that is of recent production) and see if it's still that high.

Dosing with the alk part will not directly affect Ca directly. It will add carbonates to buffer the tank, but it won't raise your pH or Ca (the buffering will help maintain pH/Ca levels in the long run).

 

[Anonymous]

see related post on:
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p ... ht=#529538

With your alk. and calcium level, it is chemically impossible/inconsistant. I still think your test test is at fault.

So how is the livestocks? If everything is growing well, don't freak out and do all kind of thing to your tank and lose sleep over it.

 

[psuedo74]

The livestock looks very good, especially the hammer and star poylps...I did lose an Acropora though...

I guess your right, Im just gonna chill and do some regular water changes...

Its def not the test though, because I tested a fresh batch of Instant ocean and measured perfectly at 440 or something...

Thanks,

Marc