Calcium at 500 plus

[gfox]

Last couple of months my calcium has been over 500 plus and my alk at 9.Don't know how it got that high.I do have a kalk reactor that i use for top off water.Any way to lower the calcium?

 

[hybridazn]

Are you sure those test results are correct?

 

[gfox]

Don't know for sure.I am using API.

 

[reefmagic]

Why lower? 500 calcium and alk of 9 is perfectly fine.

 

[hybridazn]

Don't know for sure.I am using API.

I would recommend testing again, I would use a Salifert or red sea calcium test kit to double check the api test results.

 

[gfox]

Why lower? 500 calcium and alk of 9 is perfectly fine.

Its around 560

 

[reefmagic]

Guess it depends on how much over 500 you mean like 520 is fine 800 is bad.

 

[gfox]

I would recommend testing again, I would use a Salifert or red sea calcium test kit to double check the api test results.

Yea i gotta find different test kits

 

[reefmagic]

560 is fine just don't dose anymore wait for it to come down naturally to 400s.

 

[gfox]

560 is fine just don't dose anymore wait for it to come down naturally to 400s.

Yea today i took the kalk reactor off line.For the time being just using it to top off the water.

 

[hybridazn]

560 is fine just don't dose anymore wait for it to come down naturally to 400s.

420-450 is usually where I like mine but if it goes higher I don't fret too much

 

[gfox]

420-450 is usually where I like mine but if it goes higher I don't fret too much

Everything in the tank is doing ok.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

560 ppm calcium is no concern. Some salt mixes start that high.

Very long term use if limewater (kalkwasser) will slowly boost calcium unless you do water changes. I found that using a lower calcium mix was a good idea to keep mine in check.

Here's a section of one of my articles:

Calcium (Ca). In my reef aquarium, I use only Instant Ocean salt and I have not added any additional calcium except as limewater for a number of years (during which time I have continued regular 1% daily water changes). So why is my calcium level (472 mg/L) higher than one would normally expect for Instant Ocean (maybe between 350 and 400 mg/L)? That long term rise in calcium is actually the expected result when using limewater to maintain alkalinity.

Limewater adds calcium and alkalinity in exactly the same proportions as in pure calcium carbonate. So if that is what is used by corals to make skeletons, and what precipitates on pumps and such, then calcium would stay constant.

But both magnesium and strontium get into growing calcium carbonate crystals in place of some of the calcium. A few percent of the calcium is replaced this way. Consequently, since the same amount of alkalinity (the carbonate) is used over time, and somewhat less than the balancing amount of calcium, calcium rises if alkalinity is maintained. I’m happy to see the result match the theory, and the calcium level seems fine to me.

 

[gfox]

Thanks Randy for the article.I am not someone who test their water a constant basis.I had been using Reef Crystals since GOD was a boy and got fed up with how dirty my water change barrel was getting.So i switch to Fritz to see how i like that.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.
good luck!