Water Parameters? High Calcium?

Hartman2287

Hartman2287

AC Members
Feb 7, 2009
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Whidbey Island, WA
Currently a FOWLR, just tested water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, phosphate, KH, and calcium. Everything is in line accept for the calcium. According to my test it is near 600ppm. From my understanding it is supposed to be 350-450ppm. Is this possible with KH at 8dKH? As I have read that they directly affect each other. Just wondering if there are any side effects of having very high calcium and will it correct itself or do I need to suppliment? I plan on corals in the near future, so I want everything to be in balance.

Thanks in advance.
 
Well, the concentration of one will directly compete with that of the other. I sincerely doubt your calcium concentration is that high with a dKH of 8. You may want to consider a different kit. Out of curiosity, do you add any sort of calcium/alkalinity supplement? What salt do you use and do you boost its levels with anything? The main issue with calcium that high seems to be a poor reaction in some corals as well as poor carbonate/bicarbonate solubility (alkalinity). The level should actually be around 380-450 ppm. 350 is too low for a good range.
 
I do not dose with anything, I just want to get my tank balanced out so I can buy corals. I use distilled water with Oceanic Natural sea salt mix. I did notice that all of my hermits have molted in the past two days. Could that be a cause or an effect of the high calcium?
 
The calcium shouldn't induce molting (iodine will). The oceanic salt mix is notorious for high calcium, though not as high as you are reading. It is typically around the 500 ppm mark, though. Switch salts or mix them. A 50/50 mix of oceanic to instant ocean salt would actually work out pretty well in terms of water parameters.
 
Cool, I needed to buy more salt anyway. I was about to buy a big bucket of the Oceanic. I'm glad you told me. Is the Instant Ocean salt what you use? My buddy uses Kent and has no issues. Is there a brand that is preferred?
 
I used to suffer from high calcium where all my other levels were spot on as well. Whilst it didn't seem to harm anything in my tank, I did try and search the net for info on reducing it and came up with absolutely nothing:)

I have since changed to Deltec H2Ocean Natural Reef Salt and all my levels are perfect now:)
 
If it isn't too pricey for you, the above mentioned brand is excellent, as is Tunze's reef salt. If you are like me, however, Instant Ocean or Reef Crystals (the latter usually has calcium @420ppm whereas the former is usually around 380 or so) are your best bets cost-wise (unless you live overseas from the US). The only downside to Instant Ocean is that you'll likely want to boost it ever so slightly with some calcium chloride to get calcium levels more into the center of the range.
 
Instant or Reef Crystals I can say yes to ... I am using Instant currently. Sounds like that Oceanic would be great for those of us with Sps Forests..and I am probably going to have one here in 6 months if these acro's keep growing like they do.

I seriously need to get off my arse and take pics
 
Here you go:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Although if it were me, I wouldn't worry about it. Sounds like you don't have any calcium suckers in your tank right now to lower it, but I have known many reefers that keep their CA in the 500-600 range without any ill effects. My CA level usually runs 480-500. If you dose a little Alk suppliment to raise your Alk to 10-11dkh it will help lower the CA levels slowly.
 
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