help with calcium level

[knutcracker1]

dear all,

i rarely test for calcium level and usually add half a capful of Kent marine liquid calcium every week. Testing for calcium today, i found it to be around 700ppm.

Is this high level harmful? If so, how can I lower it?

I also found carbonate hardness to be a little low at 6.5 degrees.
Is there a correlation with calcium?

thanks for the help.

[scubadude]

dear all,
Is this high level harmful? If so, how can I lower it?

It can affect your corals when your levels are off like this, first off make sure you have an up-to-date reliable test kit, so you can narrow out the possibility of a bad test. Most ppl use salifert to test if you want accurate test.

I also found carbonate hardness to be a little low at 6.5 degrees.

Are you referring to your PH or your Alkalinity? Also if you are referring to your Alkalinity then is this in DKH or Meq/L?

Is there a correlation with calcium?

Absolutely! Generally speaking if you are adding a Ca supplement but not a Alk supplement this will happen, both of these elements work directly together to establish calcification (coral growth) in your tank, they both also are directly relative to the PH of your tank. This is one of the trickiest parts of balancing a reef tank IMO, but once you understand and know how to manipulate these levels safely then your "In like flynn" Heres a couple of links I would recommend reading to understand how they work

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

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

And here is a calculator that will help you adjust your Ca and Alk levels according to most popular additives on the market

http://www.kademani.com/reefchem.htm

Rocky

[zhenya]

dear all,

i rarely test for calcium level and usually add half a capful of Kent marine liquid calcium every week. Testing for calcium today, i found it to be around 700ppm.

Is this high level harmful? If so, how can I lower it?

I also found carbonate hardness to be a little low at 6.5 degrees.
Is there a correlation with calcium?

thanks for the help.

Did you mean to say that your carbonate hardness is at 6.5dkh and calcium at 700 ppm? If so,this shows that your water chemistry is not balanced. FWIW,the NSW alkalinity is at aprox. 2.75meg/l or 8dkh and calcium is at 400-425ppm.
Here's some links to help you understand the relationship between the two and ways to correct imbalances
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2002/chem.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2002/chem.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu.../chemistry.htm

Hope this helps some.FWIW,I would stop all the calcium supplements additions and try to raise alkalinity insted,that might lower your calcium via precipitation.

[zhenya]

Oh well, Rocky beat me to it

[scubadude]

Oh well, Rocky beat me to it

Great minds think alike bro! Or atleast we are fooling ourselves that we have great minds

[zhenya]

Great minds think alike bro! Or atleast we are fooling ourselves that we have great minds

I just wish that I could convince my wife and kids