Calcium Problem?

[jessily]

Hello!

My mushrooms and polyps are dying off and I am not sure why?

I have a 30 gallon reef with a protein skimmer, power heads and even an exeranl power filter (not using charcoal) and plenty of live rock. I have 5 small fish none of who eat coral a coral banded shrimp and a few hermits and snails.

I run a compact power light for about 11 hours a day it also has a night light.

My fish have all been doing great for years and all my levels in the water are great (ammon., nitrite, nitrate, PH, density etc.). My calcium levels are off the chart however and I cannot figure out how to get them down. I have tried water changes (I use Kent) to no avail. My substrate is crushed coral/shells that I have had for a while so I am wondering if that may be it?

Any help is appreciated.

[Randall_James]

First
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central Jessily</b></i></big></big>

You need to post the actual water parameters.
CA levels are not going to go "off the charts" unless you are dosing something. If you are not dosing, your test kit is likely borked.

ALK levels are also important here...

What are the actual test values for your water
What kind of test kits do you have
how old are they
how long have you had the cc substrate
what is your water change schedule
how much do you change...

Typically mushrooms and polyps are pretty hardy guys and it takes something pretty drastic to kill them off.

[drummereef]

Yep, need accurate testing params.

[jessily]

I am using an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test kit and getting the following results:

PH: 8.2
Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites are all in the 0 ppm level (this test uses a color coding system and thus the actual levels may be off a little as the next color match on them are 5.0 for Nitrates, .25 for Ammonia and .25 for Nitrites).

I am not dosing anything right now but did at one time use something called "purple up" for the grown of coralines.

The substrate is probably 9-10 years old.

I change 20% of my water monthly and use aged water.

[jumpincactus]

Define off the chart. What is the highest reading available on the test kit?

another suggestion take a sample to your LFS to confirm the calc readings as mentioned the test kit may be off. If you are not dosing it is almost impossible for your calc levels to be that far out of whack.

What is aged water????

[mbbuna]

are you using tap water to make your new salt water?

[jessily]

I am but I treat it for chlorine and also let it sit (aged) for a few days before introducing it into the tank.

As it is only a 30 gallon tank should I try some distilled water or buy it premixed at my local store?

[jessily]

The calcium test I am using has a high reading of 520 ppm

[mbbuna]

test the tap water for calcium

[Randall_James]

after you test your tap water for CA, you might start shopping for an RO/DI unit. If you are using tap water, you may be introducing any number of things that are unhealthy for a reef system. These things can over time start to climb as they become more condensed in the system by evaporation.

[jessily]

Thanks everyone for your help. The Calcium in my tap is around 500 so I am sure it is even higher in the tank.

Any suggestions for a reasonably priced RO/DI? I have bought from Petsolutions.com in the past and they have a number units on their site.

[mbbuna]

get an ro/di that makes 75gpd or less. the membranes on the larger ones aren't as good.

http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/

http://www.purelyh2o.com/

http://www.thefilterguys.biz/

[jessily]

I ended up order one from the company in Florida and will let you know how the tank does after I get it set up.

Quick question, I saw that there were some commercial additives like OSMO Prep Marine etc. additives to put back in the water before I mixed the salt with it? Are these realy needed?

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8887276#post8887276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jessily
I ended up order one from the company in Florida and will let you know how the tank does after I get it set up.

Quick question, I saw that there were some commercial additives like OSMO Prep Marine etc. additives to put back in the water before I mixed the salt with it? Are these realy needed?

there not need for a salt water tank. the salt mix has everything you need