Calcium

[Jason25]

I just had my water tested at the LFS to make sure what I tested was right, still new at this. My results were as follows my calcium is high as you will see. Tank is alittle over 2 months old and has 3 damsels and a clown fish (Girlfriend wanted Nemo) Do I need to worry about calcium being high and if so how do I fix it?

PH 8.0 (water change yesterday forgot to buffer)
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
nitrate 10
calcium over 700

[CATALYST]

Test your alk too. They are linked.

[prow]

wow, if that ture on the Ca then you will need to fix it with water changes. adding Alk could easily start a perciptate "snow storm". no time now, got to go to work. but i will post some links to help you work things out. the is unless someone else dosent post the links i am thinking.

[AQTCJAK]

have you added calcium? If not I would suggest a diferent test to be positive

[bluespotjawfish]

Do you use tap water?

[framerguy]

WOW, I didn't know it could get that high! Get your own test kit, salifert is good, Seachem's is easy also. Once you confirm it's that high, get it down with waterchanges.

[AQTCJAK]

I actually had the shop reef tank @ 650 & I actually caused a white storm Vicki freaked out. I havent added calcium in 6 months

[Jason25]

I did do a water change with tap water, I only used Coral Sea Pro salt when I did the water change and I never added calcium. I tested my own water and then went to the LFS to have them test it as well. They told me I did not need to worry about it being that high, I guess that's not true?

[lcstorc]

Well it is less of a concern if you only have fish.
Some things to keep in mind though are that calc, alk, and mag play together and if you are very high on one your are likely low on another. Before you get any corals you need to straighten things out but do it slowly.
Here is some reading for you on the topic.
Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Grr new computer so I know I am missing some of the really good ones. Try looking through past RS threads. We link to them often.

[Octoman]

Here's a link that was posted for me last week, good explanation of Calcium and Alk...

Calcium and Alkalinity by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

If the reading is really that high, I would guess it has something to do with your tap water. Tap water can have all kinds of nasties in it that you don't want in your tank. It also makes keeping the chemistry right difficult because it already has dissolved salts in it (possibly including calcium). That's why its best to start with R/O water, then you're getting the best mix when you add salt. You shouldn't have to add buffer to your new saltwater, everything should be pretty well balanced when you mix the salt in, however, if the pH is low, then something in your tap water may be bringing it down.

[Octoman]

I type too slow, Lynn beat me to the links!

[lcstorc]

Nope you added one of the links I lost with the computer crash.
Thanks. Now I have it again.

[Jason25]

Thanks to all, I will do some reading tonight as well as go buy 5 gallons of water from the store. The grocery store here has a dispenser for 30 cents a gallon.

[prow]

some good links already posted. here is a link on correcting imbalances Chemistry and the Aquarium

here are a couple more
one for ph solutions Chemistry and the Aquarium

one for help with picking Ca/Alk supplements Chemistry and the Aquarium


we got more when your ready

so did you recheck your test results?

[Jason25]

I did not yet will do in the morning.