Calcium Issue!!

[InADream]

Tuesday, I tested my calcium and it read 360 ppm... So i adjusted it and added the proper dosage... I tested it again yesterday and it read 460ppm (a little high read vial wrong)... Today I read my calcium and it was at 360 ppm again... Is it possible that my tank used 100 ppm of calcium in a day... I am trying to adjust it so i can begin a 2 part dosing system...

My alk has been consistent and reads 10 kdh... I have a few SPS and a 4 inch clam in there... There is a pink birdnest 3"x3", an ORA Blue Tort 3", a 1 inch green slimmer frag, a purple tipped acro frag at 2", a green stylophora, and a candy cane coral... I also have a ton of zoos and a frogspawn...

Is that enough coral to use up that much calcium, or is my test kit bad... I will have my LFS test it tomorrow but need some opinions...

Dream

[jdieck]

I would suspect a kit or testing error.

[Paulairduck]

which test kit are you using?

[Coderabit2]

How old is your test kit?

[aurora]

Check your magnesium and fix that first if it's low.

[InADream]

The test kit is an API test kit, It is 6 months old... I know it is ok because i always compare the results to my LFS... My magnesium was at 1155 monday and I added a buffer in it to put it back to 1250... I will try and have the test checked again today by the LFS and see if it is bad...

Any other opinions...

Dream

[jdieck]

What are you using to adjust Calcium and how much of it did you added to bring it up from 360 to 460. Hou many gallons of water your system holds? That will help determine how much the PPM should have increased vs the actual tested increase.

[InADream]

I am using randys 2 part system... I have 45 gallons of actual water... According to the reef chemistry calculator I added 500 ml of the course of 2 days... I just tested the water again and my test kit is reading 400ppm calcium...

Dream

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11006669#post11006669 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by InADream
I am using randys 2 part system... I have 45 gallons of actual water... According to the reef chemistry calculator I added 500 ml of the course of 2 days... I just tested the water again and my test kit is reading 400ppm calcium...

Dream
If you are using recipe 1 that is about right although the total water volume seems low being a 46 gal main with a 125 sump. Try verifying the water volume:
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/volcalc.html

In any case if the test is confirmed then just adjust the calcium again using only the calcium part.

[Serioussnaps]

I suggest testing a couple minutes before the lights come on....then testing again right at the end of the photoperiod.

[InADream]

Jdieck, I used an online water volume calculator and with my dimensions and the amount of live rock and sand in the tank It shows that I have 45 gallons of water... I will verify the calcium content and then I should know if i need to up my doses... My sump is only filled half way, maybe i should up that...

Serious, I test the water right before lights on and i will try after the lights go off...

Dream

[tike]

I had that problem for awhile but not as great of a drop. My calcium would drop from 420 to 360ppm overnight. I really had a tough time keeping up with it until I installed a calcium reactor. Even though you don't have a ton of sps you do have some that grow at a pretty good clip.

[InADream]

Ok I just got back from the fish store and my calcium is at 460 and my test kit is screwed up... I just bought a Salifert test kit and tried to compare the results to their kit and I got a different reading... Not to bad his was 460 mine was 445...

Either way I appreciate the help and from this point on will only be purchasing Salifert test kits....

Dream

[trueblackpercula]

Ok the only question i have is do you have a large amount of SPs? If so it could be possible that your tank is using up that much calcium. If thats not the case then look else were.
Michael

[InADream]

I have a few SPS and a 4 inch clam in there... There is a pink birdnest 3"x3", an ORA Blue Tort 3", a 1 inch green slimmer frag, a purple tipped acro frag at 2", a green stylophora, a 3"x4" pink stylophora, and a candy cane coral... I also have a ton of zoos and a frogspawn...

Is that a lot?

Dream

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11009493#post11009493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by InADream
Ok I just got back from the fish store and my calcium is at 460 and my test kit is screwed up... I just bought a Salifert test kit and tried to compare the results to their kit and I got a different reading... Not to bad his was 460 mine was 445...

Either way I appreciate the help and from this point on will only be purchasing Salifert test kits....

Dream

:thumbsup:Good you found out