My calcium level is sitting at 750. I know this is high but everything in my mixed reef 75 gal tank is doing well. Should I slowly decrease this level to get it down? By the way, if anyone has heard of this, I have been using the GARF "bullet proof" addition of chemicals for quite some time with good results. Hard to keep PH up though (now at 8.0). and alk is about 7-8 KH. All other readings are good.
Calcium at 750
- Thread starter recole
- Start date
chipmunkofdoom2
Well-Known Member
Calcium, pH and alkalinity are so closely related that a calcium level that high would indicated a serious problem. Try a different test kit if everything else seems normal.
Boomer
Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard
I agree with the retest but you can get Calcium that high with no snow storm. With an alkalinity of 8 dKH and a pH 8.0 you can achieve, without any snow-storm, Caclium levles of 800 ppm. Now, you jack that pH up or the Alk it is now another issue. The rate of precipitation would be similar to Calcium at 500 ppm, alkalinity at 13 dKH and pH 8.0. So, what ever you do recole, DO NOT raise the pH above 8 or the Alk above 8 dKH.
Thanks Boomer. I did not know that.
See I learn new stuff every day around here (hourly actually).
Great input Boomer
Boomer
Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard
Al
Randy kinda show his here but many miss it. It is called Omega Values
Go here
Calcium and Alkalinity by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
Then scroll down to where you see this
Ω = 1 (risky: dissolution of aragonite begins here)
Do not take these as face values. Chris Jury, who will be working on his Ph.D in the coral calcification chemistry, tells me these are some what in error.
Randy kinda show his here but many miss it. It is called Omega Values
Go here
Calcium and Alkalinity by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
Then scroll down to where you see this
Ω = 1 (risky: dissolution of aragonite begins here)
Do not take these as face values. Chris Jury, who will be working on his Ph.D in the coral calcification chemistry, tells me these are some what in error.
Seachem ReefStatus calcium kit. What do you think? Good or bad kit?
W Churchill
Member
I use salifert, it only reads up to 500
nicoleblkwidow
Member
I would retest with another kit, have another reefer test or take some water to your local LFS for test. What salt are you using? We have been through this too and it's frustrating.
turbiville
Member
I just got my second "750" result, I am using the red sea kit. I really don't like the test, but I have never used another so I don't know if I would like another one any better.
I got 750 two weeks ago, and again today. The tank is less than a month old and I have not used any supplements yet.
I would love to find a test kit with fewer steps, suggestions?
I got 750 two weeks ago, and again today. The tank is less than a month old and I have not used any supplements yet.
I would love to find a test kit with fewer steps, suggestions?
turbiville
Member
My test involves counting how many 1/100 of a ML of regent it takes to turn the solution blue.
chrome91
Member
hmmm, maybe for these test kits 750 is the default if you do something wrong during the testing?