[vtec si]

About 5 or 6 months ago I notice that my calcium was on the rise. Not a hugh jump but it had went up. I stayed at 430 for the longest time then it jump to 452 in Oct'2001 and 490 in Jan 2002. Now it is 510 as of March 19 2002. What is going on! Here are the results of all test performed on March 19 2002. Stopped adding calcium back in Nov'2001. Last water change was march 16 2002 30%.

Ca 510
KH/ALK 13.1/4.69
PH 8.2
NH3(ammonia) 0.1
NO2(nitrite) 0.0
No3(nitrate) 0.0
Salinity 1.o25
Temp 80.2


All Test are perfromed with Salifert test kits.
Tank 180gal 7 5' VHO w/ice cap ballast, refugium & protien skimmer (no KALK drip or calcium reactor.) 200+lbs of live rock 6" sand bed.

2 fish Lawnmower blenny and Tomato clown(had him 10+years.)
15 snails
1 blue leg hermit crab
2 green mithanx (sp) crabs
leather coral
torch coral
frog spawn coral
toung coral of some kind.
green carpet anenome
butt load of greenish/pink hairy mushrooms
few blue/green mushrooms
But load of buttons
Brain coral
an other coral that i have not found out what it is yet. but it is small.
and some misc' things all to small to mention.

All seems to be doing well! Just concern about the calcium level!


Thanks for any help,

VTEC SI

[Wind]

maybe get some SPS to drain it down hehe.

I dont know but,. good luck..

WRX BABYT

[nudlnek]

I would get a Magnesium test kit.
If your Magnesium is too low it becomes difficult for your corals to utilize the Calcium.

[bongobrian]

I find it kinda hard to believe that your alk levels could be so high if your calcium is up to 510 ppm. Maybe it's possible, but I've never seen levels that high for both at the same time. You can knock your calcium down by raising up the alkalinity, but in your case your alkalinity is already very high. You could add some corals as wind stated, but a cheaper route to go would be to get some halimeda to soak up some calcium. Just throw a clump of halimeda in the refugium and you should see your calcium start to come down. Be careful though, halimeda can actually cause calcium depletion after a while.

How is the growth on your corals and coraline? it sounds to me like your tank is using up calcium very slowly or not at all. Perhaps you should check levels of phosphate (PO4) to see if that is hindering the calcification process.

Your 6" sand bed could be the source of the calcium. Is this a relatively new tank? if you're using strong calcareous oolitic sand, then it could be supplying the tank with calcium. HTH.

[vtec si]

Thanks for all the replies,

Bongobrian,

The tank has been set up for almost two years now and all corals are growing fast and doing well. Coraline algea is thick in all sort of colors from light to dark purple and different shades of green. I would add some more corals which I plan to do but, I am not one to buy a buch of things at once to add to the tank. All the thing (animals) in this reef have been added over that passed 8 to 10 years either from previous tanks that I had or picked up in the passed few years.

nudlnek,

I have never tested for magnesium but I will give it a shot. I don not know why I need to because I have never added magnesium to the tank!?

Thanks,

VTEC SI

[nudlnek]

Sorry the reply took forever. Magnesium is an element lacking in many synthetic salts. It's often overlooked and can be depleted fast especially if you don't do frequent water changes and coral load is high. Bongobrian also made a good point about Phosphates. What he said is true and very important. Get a Phosphate test kit also and don't forget to test your make up water. Never go on a fish stores word on their water quality. Always test every batch you get. You'll find Phosphates are often the most neglected when fish stores are concerned.

[vtec si]

Nudlnek,

I will pick up the test kits today. I hope I can get Salifert test in phosphate and magnesium. But to let you know that I make all my own RO water I have a Kent RO unit. My phosphates my be up a little; I have notice a small red algea bloom on some of the sand.

VTEC SI