Holy cow! Calcium at 800

[dmbfreek]

I just checked my calcium level and it is at 800. I've been adding liquid calcium 1 capful per week. How do I get it down?

 

[DonW]

Water change and more water changes.

Don

 

[Krish]

Are you sure it's not the test kit? If so, then you'll need to probably do some water changes to bring it down...Sorry to hear that and I hope you get it sorted out soon

 

[auqua man]

Do a big water change. That will help some. I would also retest to make sure of the test result.

 

[dmbfreek]

Thanks for the help guy's. Is this going to hurt any of my livestock?

 

[Krish]

As far as I know, it won't hurt anything other than calcium buildup all over the place making everything look like chalk. You may have to clean out your pumps though...

 

[dmbfreek]

No chalk looking stuff anywhere. Might need to buy a new test kit. Mine's nutrifin, not sure if it's good or a bad kit. Thanks again for the help.

 

[mmkeeper]

What is your Alk level? Mg?

 

[Krish]

No chalk looking stuff anywhere. Might need to buy a new test kit

Yeah...That's why I asked. With 800ppm of calcium you'd definately have a tank looking like chalk everywhere or like powder. Once calcium levels get too high (above 500ppm or so) it preciptates and becomes calcium carbonate which gives the chalky appearance on everything (even the water will look cloudy sometimes). I'd definately re-test with possibly a Salifert test kit

 

[mmkeeper]

You also could test your test kit by testing your saltwater you are making up for the water change, and compare.

 

[SueT]

wow. never heard of a calcium level that high.. I'd definitely get a Salifert test kit and be sure if it is that high to get to doing some major water changes to lower it. I know before I got into sps I was keeping shrooms and lps and was just adding liquid calcium and not testing and they shut down when it got to 550ppm. Closed up til I got the level down to normal. Thats where testing before adding anything comes into the picture.

 

[Dr. Dee]

If it dosn't go down with water changes then try useing some dkh buffer for a few of day's,It maybe your ALK is to high above 14-21 and your ph should stay around 8.3 or 8.4 I use kent dkh buffer.

 

[balogh03]

I think that your tank should be fine, as long as everything isnt showing any effects. Probably the test kit. I would get a salifert and if you havae been doing it for a while (Ca doses) with everything doing okay, just continue until you get that test kit
good luck

-augustus

 

[jsmkmavity]

definitely stop adding the calcium supplement, and any others also until testing shows you actually need what is in the supplement, then if an accurate test kit shows calcium is still high and if you are using oceanic salt you might switch to instant ocean for a while. also check you alkalinity and magnesium levels as they should balance each other. when one is high another is invariably low (read-out of balance). normal, regular water changes with high quality salt usually supply most of the elements an average tank needs and should correct any imbalance you have unless over feeding, overstocking and lack of waste removal is the cause (like high nitrates and low ph).

 

[tike]

what test kit are you using???

 

[dmbfreek]

Using a Nutrifin test kit. I'll be buying a Salifert tho. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[burning2nd]

well look on the good side, you wont have to add any more. for a while