Calcium Levels

[jjmanes]

Question regarding my Calcium and Alkalinity levels. I am wondering what I can do to lower my Calcium levels without screwing up my Alkalinity. Are my higher calcium levels because I dont have many creatures that require a lot of calcium?

Tank information:

55 gallon
2-3 gallon sump with skimmer
4 maxijet 1200 power heads
90 pounds live rock
100 pounds live sand
48" Aqualight double strip w/Actinic and 10,000K Bulb, 260w - New in March (Planning to replace bulbs soon)
Tetratec PF500
200 watt heater
Tank has been setup since 2/7/04 - a little over 7 months

First of all here are all my levels:

Temp: 80
Ph: 8.1
Salinity: 1.023
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10
Alkalinity: 11
Calcium: 600

Creatures in my tank

3 - emerald crabs
6 - turbo crabs
2 - gray legged hermits
2 - scarlet hermits
5 - cerith snails
1 - neon orange nuckle crab
1 - blue nuckle crab
12 - blue legged hermits

I also have been using Algone since the end of June.

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to be clear about everything.

Thanks in advance for all answers and/or comments.

Jody

 

[mogurnda]

600 is spectacularly (impossibly?) high. I would suspect the test kit. What kind are you using?

A few other things:
What salt mix do you use?
Are you adding anything besides Algone (I have no idea what that stuff does)?

 

[jjmanes]

I will check the calcium level again later this week and post the results.

 

[jjmanes]

High Calcium levels

I am using Red Sea - Calcium test lab. Again I just tested the calcium levels and they are at 600ppm. Please explain to me what could be wrong. Should I buy another test kit?

Thanks for the help!