Calcium levels through the roof!

[Yankees2519]

So, im trying to encourage coralline algae growth. My LFS recommended Purple-up and kent's essential elements. Following the directions i add one capful of purple up a day, and one capful of the essential elements each week (75 gallon tank). I have been doing this for maybe 2 weeks until i finally bought a calcium test kit today. It shows my calcium as being ~620 ppm. the test kit says 400-500 is a good range. I dont think ill be using the purple up for a while, but is this causing serious damage to anything in my tank? its a FOWLR tank

I should also add that Ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH, phosphate, and KH levels are all good

[Percula9]

Purple up is a waste of money. All it does is cloud your tank with aragonite sand that can't dissolve at salt water pH. You don't need essential elements either, regular water changes will provide all the trace you will need. If you look at the ingredients in essential elements, calcium chloride is first on the list. Stop dosing and do some water changes to lower the levels. It will come down on its own. What is the Alkalinity? Never supplement without measuring first. Between the two supplements it drove your calcium up. Less supplementation and more water changes.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What salt mix are you using? Some have excessive calcium to begin with.

Any other additives used at all?

The Purple Up (which I do not recommend either) is unlikely to have boosted the calcium that much. Do you use tap water?

[Yankees2519]

I use instant ocean salt mix, and have recently started using RO/DI water from LFS (only since last water change)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Try measuring the calcium in the IO. If you get a value that high, the kit may be in error.

[Yankees2519]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11936050#post11936050 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Try measuring the calcium in the IO. If you get a value that high, the kit may be in error.

What's the IO?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Instant Ocean. :)

[Yankees2519]

to do that should i mix a fresh batch with ro/di water to the correct salinity and then test it?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

An existing batch is fine, but if you do not have one around, then yes, make a new batch. :)