calcium help

[congo32]

hello fellow reefers i just put up a frag tank and its been going good ... the only weird thing is that its been hard to control the calcium its a regular 30 gal tank ... the calcium had been at 500 for 2 months straight without me adding any calcium powder or additive etc ... all i have is zoas and some acans in the tank evolution leds from reefkoi 200 watt 24k ones and two hang on filters all the other water levels are all fine im very puzzled pls help and i have also done weekly water changes for two months and still getting 500 :angel:

 

[divewsharks]

what salt are you using? If the calcium level of the salt is 500 or above (and you are doing weekly water changes) and your corals aren't using up much there is no reason it would go down.

 

[red02]

try another test kit to make sure you are getting a correct reading

 

[congo32]

dive i buy my water from my lfs i will ask them what is their calcium level ...

red i have tried a bunch of different test all with the same reading

 

[jonzee2006]

zoa and acans don't really use any calcium at all. and with the weekly water you are putting calcium back into the tank so thats probably why you are your calcium staying where it is. plus as long as your alk is in order calc shuldn't be a problem. try not doing a water change for a couple of weeks and it should come down or add some sps in that bad boy.

 

[divewsharks]

have you tested the water from the LFS before you added it to your tank?

 

[congo32]

jonzee thanks for the advice ... i sure like to add some sps but im sure the wife wont like that idea at all lol

 

[butts182]

i would think that the lfs is using natural seawater, which is lower than 500 in Ca...I would suspect your test kit. have your lfs test your water

 

[blackraven1425]

You're acting like having a 500 calcium reading is a problem.

What's the alk? If that's too low, then you have a problem. Otherwise, don't sweat it.

 

[Just Clownin Around]

there is a relationship between alk, cal , and mag. finding all the levels will be more indicative of a problem if there really is one. 500 cal i dont see as a problem but i am a stick man

 

[beaslbob]

Betcha alk is low.

If so add some baking soda and watch alk increase and calcium decrease.


my .02

 

[congo32]

Thanks for all the help. The alk is fine a d the lfs says that their water is at 420-450 for the calcium. So I will test some myself. I know having the cal at 500 is not a big deal but the thing is that I haven't put any additive for calcium I. Such a while so it was Ming boggling but now I see y it would stay the same due to the coral load since the ones I have r not that cal hungry.

 

[Captain Nemo]

Have you tested your mag levels??? Also if it were me, this would be anice opportunity to add some sticks to your tank, ( SPS) they will help use the calcium. You could also do LPS.....

 

[congo32]

Cap memo I will get the mag levels tested.

 

[congo32]

The mag is at 1150 with salt at 1.23 now I'm getting alot of gunk looking stuff any other suggestions will be very appreciated.

 

[beaslbob]

look up diy 2 part.

Increase the magnesium with magnesium chloride or even epsom salts.

then get alk up to 10 dkh or so.

then check calcium.

With the diy system from that point on you make 1g solutions 1 for calcium 1 for alk 1 for magnesium.

and when alk drops down you dose equal amounts of the calcium and alk solutions.

after using up the 1 g cal and alk mixtures you dose magnesium.

my .02