Over dosage of calcium

Ucantwin · 01/14/2018, 12:33 PM

I don't measure calcium often as I run a calcrx and just test alk. Well a couple days ago I measured calcium and it said it was 370. I dosed alk over the past couple to get it to 420. I tested this morning it it said my calcium barely went up, were it should be closer to 420.

Turns out it was a bad test kit and my calcium is closer to 520. Should I be worrying about this level? I can't just not use the calcrx as my alk is gonna drop.

jamie1981 · 01/14/2018, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ucantwin

I don't measure calcium often as I run a calcrx and just test alk. Well a couple days ago I measured calcium and it said it was 370. I dosed alk over the past couple to get it to 420. I tested this morning it it said my calcium barely went up, were it should be closer to 420.

Turns out it was a bad test kit and my calcium is closer to 520. Should I be worrying about this level? I can't just not use the calcrx as my alk is gonna drop.

If you mean that you are running a calcium reactor you need to get your CA and ALK in balance as the CA reactor will add both in balanced form. 520 is a bit high for CA I would turn off the Co2 to the reactor until the CA lowers and just dose ALK as needed. Then when balanced start using the reactor again. If this is a small tank you could bring them back in balance quicker with a larger water change as well.

Ucantwin · 01/14/2018, 12:48 PM

It's 250 gallons so water changes won't help much unless I do lots of water changes. I understand they add them equally, that's why I don't test calc much. I just happened to test and was shocked to see it was low, or I thought.

Will the calc drop back to a normal range if I don't turn off the calcrx? Or can I just leave it at that level or will I get issues?

bertoni · 01/14/2018, 05:27 PM

520 ppm isn't all that high, and I'd just let the level fall gradually with the regular water change schedule. People have run with even higher levels without issues. Some extra water changes could lower the level, but I don't think it's worth the time or money as long as the animals are doing well.

Ucantwin · 01/14/2018, 05:29 PM

Thanks for the help. I’m doing a 20% water change with IO salt to lower the calc levels slightly and then I will just let it be.

bertoni · 01/14/2018, 05:34 PM

That sounds like a good plan to me.

01/14/2018, 12:33 PM	#1
Ucantwin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: some where Posts: 559	Over dosage of calcium I don't measure calcium often as I run a calcrx and just test alk. Well a couple days ago I measured calcium and it said it was 370. I dosed alk over the past couple to get it to 420. I tested this morning it it said my calcium barely went up, were it should be closer to 420. Turns out it was a bad test kit and my calcium is closer to 520. Should I be worrying about this level? I can't just not use the calcrx as my alk is gonna drop.

01/14/2018, 05:27 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	520 ppm isn't all that high, and I'd just let the level fall gradually with the regular water change schedule. People have run with even higher levels without issues. Some extra water changes could lower the level, but I don't think it's worth the time or money as long as the animals are doing well. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/14/2018, 05:34 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That sounds like a good plan to me. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/14/2018, 12:48 PM	#3
Ucantwin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: some where Posts: 559	It's 250 gallons so water changes won't help much unless I do lots of water changes. I understand they add them equally, that's why I don't test calc much. I just happened to test and was shocked to see it was low, or I thought. Will the calc drop back to a normal range if I don't turn off the calcrx? Or can I just leave it at that level or will I get issues?

01/14/2018, 05:29 PM	#5
Ucantwin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: some where Posts: 559	Thanks for the help. I’m doing a 20% water change with IO salt to lower the calc levels slightly and then I will just let it be.