Salifert Calcium Test

[tdgates10]

I just bought a Salifert Ca kit. Followed the instructions and when the whole 1ml syringe of the Ca-3 was empty, my solution was light purple and not a clear blue. Did it twice, same results. Anyone know what's up with it?

 

[james734]

Either you Ca is very high or you have a bum test kit. Do you have another kit lying around or can you take your water to a LFS for testing just to confirm.

 

[tdgates10]

Well, I just tested again, except I used only 1ml of water instead of 2 and cut everything else in half, and then added the stage 3 part and doubled the results and it says I have 550ppm Ca. What the heck. I have never even added Ca before. How does it get so high?

 

[NC2WA]

Couple thoughts here:

1. Take a sample of your water to a LFS and have them test (preferably with a Salifert test kit, so you can compare). This will eliminate the "bum" test kit theory.
2. Try a different test kit and see if you get different test results
3. What type of salt do you use? I know IO salt requires Ca and Alk buffering.
3a. What you might want to do is mix up a fresh batch of saltwater and take it to the LFS and have them test it. This would give you a baseline for Ca.

 

[tdgates10]

I have been using ocean pure salt, but mixing in IO because that's what I'm switching over to. I was reading on the Ocean Pure salt container and it says added calcium for reef tanks. Could they have messed it up that much (why I'm switching to IO) to where my Ca is at almost 600ppm?

I also will take some to my LFS and have them test it to make sure it's not a bum test, which I don't think it is, but I better check.

I'm also going to check the Ca in a batch of fresh SW when I do a water change tomorrow.

Final question, is it bad to have that high of Ca?

 

[NC2WA]

Either you have a bad test kit OR you have very high Ca in the Ocean Pure salt. This is why I'm suggesting to get a fresh batch of Ocean Pure saltwater tested at the LFS.

Yes, a value of 600ppm is not good for corals. Death can and most likely will occur.

Hopefully, Boomer can give a scientific reason why this is not good.

 

[tdgates10]

Well, dam! This is why Don said not to use Ocean pure salt! Cuz it's inconsistent!

 

[NC2WA]

I use IO salt. A fresh batch of IO for me yields a Ca level around 350, but every batch is different so please do not take this as a baseline; perform your own test and then adjust accordingly

 

[tdgates10]

I'm going to make up my batch tonight and just use IO and test it in the morning to see how that fares.

 

[tdgates10]

I just tested my water that I made yesterday and it's at about 380 ppm. So It looks like I have some adjusting to do.
How do you lowing your calcium? More water changes?

 

[bobt2]

it will lower over time. just leave it alone and don't stress out!