Crazy calcium

[christan1959]

The calcium reading in my 3mth old 6footer is crazy. Using Tunze Ca reactor.

At first, 290. Then I added Ca manually. Testing before and after every dose. Then somehow it shot up to 600 when I switched to a new batch of powder regent (previous one ran out).

So I suspected it was the old regent.

I let the Ca self-correct by using Red Sea Pro salt (which is super high in alk).

Last week, things began looking "normal" - alk 10.4 and Ca 429.

Then today, haywire again. Alk 10.0 and Ca 529.

Anyone knows what's happening??

[SubzeroLT]

Which product are you using to test for calcium. Options could be re-measure with alternative product (eg. Nyos or Salifert).  

Ca can increase 100ppm in a week if the Calcium Reactor is not tuned right - (eg. effluent flow rate, CO2 bubble count etc). I assume you got that in control

 

 

 

[christan1959]

I use Hanna test kit.

Ca reactor: I always thought the reactor will raise kH and Ca in proportionate measure.

[SubzeroLT]

Yeah Ca/KH should rise somewhat proportionally

Perhaps test with Nyos or Salifert test kit for '2nd opinion'.  Its possible the hanna checker may have some inconsistencies?

 

 

 

 

 

[christan1959]

Hanna supposed to be the gold standard.

Anyway will monitor tank inhabitants. So far, SPS showing no stress.

I also suspect the salt. Switched to FM for this new tank. Previously using Red Sea Pro, and I didn't encounter such fluctuations at all (with same Hanna kit).

[sherman]

I found Hanna Calcium a bit erratic sometime.

Best you double check with Salifert

 

[christan1959]

I see

But I never had this problem with previous tank (using Hanna too).