Water Perams Help!!!

[Jarred1]

So today I got my API Reef Master test kit, i went to test the water in my tank and came up with very weird readings.
Here they are:
dKH: 15
Ca: 600
Po4: 10 ppm
NO3: 40 ppm

Do you think the test is off? Everything in the tank is doing excellent. Is there an expiration date and if so where is it located?

Thanks for your time

[drshdow]

The kit should be stamped with an expiratio date. Usually on the outside of package. Are you sure its a saltwater master kit?Not freshwater? Also, do you use ro/di? Thats a source of high nitrates and phosphate.

[Jarred1]

ok well i tested my newer tank and the test results are better
dKH: 10
Ca:400
PO4: .5-1 ppm
NO3: 20 ppm

its reef master kit, yes i use ro/di water and if i dont have any of that i will use distilled water.

how should i fix the dkh and Ca problem???

[Jarred1]

come on please help!!!!!!

[Sugar Magnolia]

Your best bet will be doing a couple of water changes. What type of salt are you using?

[Jarred1]

NSW do you think a 10g change will be ok? its a 30g tank

[Shane Hoffman]

come on please help!!!!!!

With what????

If you have verified the kit accurate I would retest just to verify. Be sure not to use you finger to cap the test tube. If your P04 is really that high you are drastically overstocked or over feeding. The nitrates are getting close to the point you need to worry but not detrimental to most fish. Some corals will be affected more than others by the high nitrates. If you verify the readings are really bad I would start by doing a 50% water change. Then do a 20% weekly for the next few weeks. For your alk and calcium to really be that high you must be dosing something, if so cut back or stop. your alk should be more near 11dkh and your calcium between 380 and 400ppm.

Whats your salinty and amonia.....also I dont remember the PH reading as I am typing this so if its not posted what is that????

[drshdow]

Ok, well more info is needed. Start with inhabitants, lighting, filtration, etc. Theres no real answer to "how do i fix this" with no ther information than the water parameters. Theres a plethora of things that could be causing high reading other than a defective test kit

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'd suggest 20%, then retest. The calc and dkh are in the high range for sure, so you don't want to drastically decrease the level. Do another change in a day or two and test again.

Edit, I see you are using NSW, so a larger change would be fine, and agree about the NO3 and PO4. What are you dosing?

[Shane Hoffman]

Also so you know, high alk and calcium isnt a real issue to panic over. Your corals will be better off with it high than low.

[Sugar Magnolia]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

[JLAURIA751]

Unless you just poor calcium, and alkalinity buffer into your tank without testing. There is nothing I can think of that would cause your calcium and alkalinity to be that high. I would have your water tested by your LFS.

[Jarred1]

i dont dose anything.
I have 2 clowns a coral beauty, mandarin, and a blue spot jaw fish.
Light is coral life PC 2x65 2 moon lights
Penguin biowheel 100 just for carbon and i have a HOB skimmer forgot what type
i feed daily flakes and pellets occasionally mysis shrimp.

[AdamR]

What brand salt are you using? And yes you can have this high of calcium without dosing. With regular water changes with salt that is extreamly high in calcium, and not many corals to consume the calcium, it can easily be 600.

So what brand or salt?