Calcium over 550

[Nicozuna]

Hello all,

I’m new to reef tanks, so bear with me, I have a huge calcium issue. My calc is at 550+, my alk is at 9.7, and the rest is all within normal specs. I’ve done water changes, and still can’t figure out why it’s so high. I used 2 separate tests to check the results and they are the same. The tank has been up for just 4months. The fish are good, the corals are good except for the 1 trumpet and 1 hammer coral that I have (they are dying). The rest of the corals are good. Temps stays around 78. And salinity is at 1.025.

Thanks for any help with this.

 

[SaltySqueeble]

Did You test your fresh water? Are you dosing anything?

 

[Nicozuna]

Did You test your fresh water? Are you dosing anything?

I use rodi water. I’m dosing alk because that was at 6.7, and feed the corals 1 a week. Dose Dr tims, magnesium and reef enhance 1 a week all on separate days.

 

[SaltySqueeble]

Sorry, meant your fresh salt water for water changes….do you have auto top off with your RODI?

 

[Nicozuna]

I have a ato equip, but haven’t set it up yet. Usually just add rodi water to the tank as it gets lower. And when I do water changes I check the salinity that’s in the tank and then match the new water to what the tank is.
I have a biocube 32, dunno if that makes a difference or not. About a month ago I had an outbreak of algae, but I got that under control. So I’m stumped. Only thing I can think of is doing a water change every 3dys for a week or two but I don’t know if that would make things worse.

 

[SaltySqueeble]

Test the calcium on that fresh salt. It should read normal and will help to do several, close water changes like you said. But, if it’s high on Ca as well, that’s your problem. It will come down. I had my Ca that high for a minute and no negative effects on corals or fish.

 

[Nicozuna]

Test the calcium on that fresh salt. It should read normal and will help to do several, close water changes like you said. But, if it’s high on Ca as well, that’s your problem. It will come down. I had my Ca that high for a minute and no negative effects on corals or fish.

Ok didn’t think to test the fresh water first.
Hopefully this will take care of it, cos I’m pretty that’s what’s killing my hammer coral.

Thanks for the help.

 

[SaltySqueeble]

You’re welcome, hopefully can figure out something. Do you test nitrates and phos? Those corals should be able to handle some extra calcium.

 

[Nicozuna]

You’re welcome, hopefully can figure out something. Do you test nitrates and phos? Those corals should be able to handle some extra calcium.

Welp I think I figured it out, back when I set up the tank I got salt that added cal and magnesium and such and I never switched it to just sea salt, so with the dosing and water changes I kept adding calcium unknowingly. Gonna change the salt and do a couple water changes and I’m willing to bet that’s what will take care of it.
Thanks again for the advice, cos I never thought to change or check the salt I have been buying.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Welp I think I figured it out, back when I set up the tank I got salt that added cal and magnesium and such and I never switched it to just sea salt, so with the dosing and water changes I kept adding calcium unknowingly. Gonna change the salt and do a couple water changes and I’m willing to bet that’s what will take care of it.
Thanks again for the advice, cos I never thought to change or check the salt I have been buying.

Not sure I understand what you mean.

If you take out 20% water with 500ppm Calcium and replace it with water containing 500ppm calcium you're not changing the amount of Calcium in the water.

In any event test some freshly mixed Salt water at 35ppt and see what the Calcium reading shows.
The reading is probably test error or your salinity may be incorrect.

In any event 550ppm Calcium is not going to cause any problems with your tank

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree. It might just be test error, but elevated calcium is not generally a problem.