High Ca ! How to reduce

[minsmarine]

After plug in sump with coral chip and Ca top up, my tank's Ca level reach to 700 Hooooo, changed water 50% and figure is still there.

How, what am I supposed to do.

Should I lower down or just leave it as that ?

NO2 = almost 0

NO3 = 10ppm

PH = 8.5

Do notice that after reaching to 700 Ca point, there are noticeable pink/red agle grow on the LR. Read here that's good, and wonder good for what.

Advise pls

[Gouldian]

Coral chip might be the problem. Anyway, I would advise you against using corals chips as buffers in your tank. Cuz after sometime Coral Chip will trap deritus and contribute to your NO3 problems. Also the Calcium from the Corals Chip cannot be adsorb by Corals as such no use.

Once you remove the Corals chips, I believe your Calcium will drop to a manageable level with some partial water change.

Coralines algae will prevent nuisance alage from grow on it. Also, Coralines are generally a good indication of your water parameters.

[AlfaRomeo]

700? Never heard of a Calcium level that high beforee. Test for KH and see how low it is?

What testkit are you using anyway?

[minsmarine]

Tks bro. Was thinking of taking out coral chip slowly. Now confirm my stand, I need to tank those out

Oh one more thing if u don't mind,

in my sump and some part of display tank there are some greenrish (algae ? ), what could that be? Danger ?

Those also come out after reaching Ca to 700

[strat]

What test kit are you using?

Better get another test kit to confirm your reading.

[Gouldian]

700? Never heard of a Calcium level that high beforee. Test for KH and see how low it is?

What testkit are you using anyway?

Alfaromeo is right. Never encounter 700 of Calcium. Try using another test kit.

As for the coral chips - it is definite no no.

[auberon]

I had a 700 - 800 for Ca on my previous tank set-up. Couldn't really pin-point what was the cause but I think it was because I had some Lime Rocks (Kenyi) which I had previous used for my cichlids. Was using SERA test kits. Thought there was something wrong with the tester so I went to a LFS to double check. Same reading using Salifert tester.

Was told that a high Ca is not good because will imped ionisation in the water or something like that. Not good for inverts. Can someone comfirm this....

[minsmarine]

Kh 5

Ca 700+

test kits Sera ( geez i forget how to spell it )

Tested with Ca b4 and show 400 ( 1 months back ), after topped up with Ca shown 700 ( 2 weeks later ).

Tested 3 times ( 2 times per section so total 6 times ) within 1 week window, shown same result.

[erictck]

minsmarine,

on my new tank... i have the SAME figure as well...

CA > 500(not enough drip to confirm what's the real value)

KH = 5~6. Cannot go higher... even with the whole Baking Soda mixed!!

any suggestions appreciated.

now, all of my corals/LS are back to the old tank. 2 of my corals died...

[minsmarine]

In my tank so far no die.

Appear to be they are living.

My tank temp is also 27 only.

Salinity = 1.0025 ( 0 correct ? )

[Gouldian]

minsmarine,

on my new tank... i have the SAME figure as well...

CA > 500(not enough drip to confirm what's the real value)

KH = 5~6. Cannot go higher... even with the whole Baking Soda mixed!!

any suggestions appreciated.

now, all of my corals/LS are back to the old tank. 2 of my corals died...

Adding baking soda will not increase KH or Ca. It maintains KH. Suggest that you try Alakline Plus, the product from one of our sponsors.

Happy reefing.....

[AlfaRomeo]

Your salinity should be 1.025

With a Ca value so high, I am sure KH will be low and you cant push it up any higher. Do a water change to bring down the CA to 400+ and KH will be higher ..

Aim for KH of about 8-10 and CA of about 400+ and PH 8.3 and you should be good to go.

Always remember to do additions very slowly over a few days in anything needs to be added.

Wise to test for magnisium levels too... should be about 1200.

[bum]

sera has been notorious for giving alse info

best check your water parameters using another test kit..

your Calcium levels might really be high though...then

i'd say your Magnesium levels would be also high,

else there would be a snow storm in your tank.

check your KH, i'll bet its low

and thats not so good news for your tank mates.

there is probably an ionic imbalance inyour tank.

do many regular small water changes to get your water back to normal

[minsmarine]

Ok bros,

Are these alright.

Do water change 50% over 3 days.

Take out coral chips bit by bit 3rd days totally gone.

Test , Test and Test.

How to lower down PH, since my PH is 8.5 and very steady, since day 1 after cycle it's there and never change. No additivie.

[Gouldian]

I guess your plan is alright. Just ensure that you do not trigger another cycling! It happens to me before when I rearranged my rock works too much.

But luckily, I managed to escape with just diatoms bloom.

[Dispar_Anthias]

Hmm i am also having high cal... got wrong info for tunning my cal reactor haha

KH luckily on high side 12.8....

[minsmarine]

Hmm i am also having high cal... got wrong info for tunning my cal reactor haha

KH luckily on high side 12.8....

So how did u reduce it ?

[minsmarine]

After 25% , 25%, 50% water change over 1 week

My Ca reading is 620

I though, first 25% will reduce to 500++ from 700++;

than second 25% will reduce to 400++ from 500++;

however, yesterday I tested ( after two round of 25% ) and standing at 600++ can't believe.

So as bit of upset and with my wife help, i change 50%. I prepared mix water , than suck out old water and replace new water. Took 15 mins.

Than this morning b4 I come to office I test TWO times, And I can't believe my eyes it's in 600..........

My tank is 3x1.5x15.

PH 8.3 ( very stable since day 1 , never up , down )

Kh 5 (since day 1 , how much KH plus I dosed no help) (AZOO)

NO2 0 (SERA)

NO3 10 (SERA)

Ca 600 (SERA)

6" DSB

35-40Kg LR.

Jebo 180 HOB Skimmer.

UGF with canister filter.

2x1x1.5 sump ###### refugue.

No more bioballs (took out 3 week back)

No coral chips (took out 4 days ago).

Circulation

1 x 1000L PH

1 x 4800L Pump with SCWD

1 x 700L canister

1 x 2800L return pump

IBox

1 x 250w 20K BLV MH

My tank is over stocked with Tangs Tang police is on leave so I can say bit louder otherwise geexxxx

After I took out coral chips 4 days ago, start notice that there are fine bubble from skimmer. My skimmer cup is full with coffee after 4-5 days.

Help,

Is there any way to reduce it, other than water change cause my coral are very stressed, one of my SPS gone RTN right after water changed.

All your advise are highly appreciated.

[strat]

Hi Bro,

Better get a more reliable testkit as sera are known to give high CA readings..

[minsmarine]

Bro strat

Yea thank, it's one of option going to do by today

Cheers

[Gouldian]

In order to test whether your Test kit is giving false info, why not test freshly mixed water before you add into the tank. And if it is high freshly mixed - you have found the 'culprit'.

By the way, do you aerate your tap water overnight before mixing with your salt mix?

[minsmarine]

Mix water not over night,

however top up overnight, Everyday topup 6L

[Gouldian]

Mix water not over night,

however top up overnight, Everyday topup 6L

You mean you top up fresh water right.

I was referring to the mixing of salts with your fresh water. It is adviseable to aerate fresh water over night before mixing with your salts. The resons for this is due to the low oxygen content of most fresh water and the result you get if you aerate overnight is you get not percipitations and also most trace minerals will dissolve better.

[minsmarine]

Tks bro,

I will overnight mix water b4 mixing from next time onward. Just bit lazy man

Cheers

[Gouldian]

Tks bro,

I will overnight mix water b4 mixing from next time onward. Just bit lazy man

Cheers

No worries....