Why is my calcium creeping up!! PART 2

vtec si · 03-23-2002, 11:29 AM

MARCH 23 2002

Here are my new result that I took this morning.

Ca (calcium) 520 Salifert test kit
KH/DKH (ALK) 7.0/2.51 Salifert test kit
KH/DKH (ALK) 6.0/2.17 Tropic Marin test kit
Mg (magnesium) 1440 Salifert test kit
Ph 8.1 Salifert test kit
No2 0.0 (nitrites) Salifert test kit
No3 0.0 (nitrates) Salifert test kit
NH3 0.1 (Ammonia) Salifert test kit
Po4 0.3 mg/l(ppm) Tropic Marin test kit

All specs of my 180 is in my part one post!

So what is going on here and why is my calcium so high?

Thanks for all the help,

VTEC SI

mrok12 · 03-23-2002, 07:32 PM

This is a difficult situation to get a handle on for you. Here are some questions I need to ask.

1. Are you adding any calcium supplements?
2. Are you using any procucts to buffer your alkalinity?
3. What is your tank stocked with, ie Corals clams and the proportion of sps to all others.

This is what I can offer you right now. It seems that you have your ca at a saturated point. Do you have a dsb of aragonite? Aragonite will dissove and release trace elements and ca but I think that this is something you know. As far as the calcium goes I will start a new paragraph and explain.

I had a similar thing happen to me when I first set my tank up. I had a ca of 500. It really did not alarm me until I tested my alk and it was 6.5-7.0 I went out after reading aquarium corals by Bornman and purchased some reef builder by sea chem to bring up the alkalinity. I brought the alk up to 11.0DKh and when I tested the parameter the Calcium had bottomed out to 340 with a salifert kit. SO I got some reef advantage calcium and started dosing these and now the two are stable.

Raise the alkalinty and the ca will drop.

MROK12

mrok12 · 03-23-2002, 08:55 PM

just saw the firt post. So if you are not adding anything I wonder if the sand bed is adding some? In an event bring up the alkalinity and the Calcium will drop I assure you of this......
In a 180 you seem to e lightly stocked too.

MROK12

vtec si · 03-24-2002, 12:47 AM

MROK12

Yes my tank is lightly stocked but that is due to the rule of taking it slow! But I do see what you are saying about my alk being a little low and I have been working on that also.

VTEC SI

mrok12 · 03-24-2002, 10:21 AM

I use reef builder and it does the trick. Remember that your alkalinity and Calcium have an inverse relationship. So if you raise the alkalinty that will force the ca to fall. I bet if you took it up to 10 dkh you would level off in the 400's

MROK12

vtec si · 03-24-2002, 12:23 PM

MROK12

Thank for your help. I will be testing Ca and ALK to be sure of what levels they are at befor I add the reef builder.

Thank,

VTEC SI

mrok12 · 03-24-2002, 01:34 PM

Go slow though when youraise th alkainity to avoid precipitation. I would use the formula on the side of he cntainerand raise it about 1MEQ every 2-3 days.

MROK12

vtec si · 03-24-2002, 11:28 PM

MROK12

I guess we are on the same page. I went out and pick up some ALK buffer today and yes i'll be taking it slow.

VTEC SI

bongobrian · 03-25-2002, 09:34 AM

I just wanted to post a follow-up since I gave you some advice the first time you posted on this topic.

I totally agree with mrok12 here. I didn't realize your alkalinity was so low! I thought in the last post you said it was up around 12 or 13 DKH. Anyway, by doing what mrok suggested you will definitely see an improvement. Possibly even a perfect solution.

vtec si · 03-25-2002, 11:14 PM

Yes I thought it was 12 or13 also until I did to more test and one of them was a new kit. So know I am working on my ALK.

Thanks again,
VTEC SI

mrok12 · 03-27-2002, 06:55 PM

Keep Me posted......

MROK12

vtec si · 04-02-2002, 11:28 PM

MROK12,

Sorry its been a few days but my computer tossed its cookies.

But back to the alk & ca. Alk is at 9 and Ca is at 480s a day ago! Still working on it.

Laters,

VTEC SI

03-23-2002, 11:29 AM	#1
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	Why is my calcium creeping up!! PART 2 MARCH 23 2002 Here are my new result that I took this morning. Ca (calcium) 520 Salifert test kit KH/DKH (ALK) 7.0/2.51 Salifert test kit KH/DKH (ALK) 6.0/2.17 Tropic Marin test kit Mg (magnesium) 1440 Salifert test kit Ph 8.1 Salifert test kit No2 0.0 (nitrites) Salifert test kit No3 0.0 (nitrates) Salifert test kit NH3 0.1 (Ammonia) Salifert test kit Po4 0.3 mg/l(ppm) Tropic Marin test kit All specs of my 180 is in my part one post! So what is going on here and why is my calcium so high? Thanks for all the help, VTEC SI

03-25-2002, 09:34 AM	#9
bongobrian Mayor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 657	I just wanted to post a follow-up since I gave you some advice the first time you posted on this topic. I totally agree with mrok12 here. I didn't realize your alkalinity was so low! I thought in the last post you said it was up around 12 or 13 DKH. Anyway, by doing what mrok suggested you will definitely see an improvement. Possibly even a perfect solution. __________________ Brian For those about to rock... I salute you! www.bongobrian.com Talk to me! aol: bongobrian78 msn: bongobrian@hotmail.com yahoo: bongobrian78

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-23-2002, 07:32 PM	#2
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	This is a difficult situation to get a handle on for you. Here are some questions I need to ask. 1. Are you adding any calcium supplements? 2. Are you using any procucts to buffer your alkalinity? 3. What is your tank stocked with, ie Corals clams and the proportion of sps to all others. This is what I can offer you right now. It seems that you have your ca at a saturated point. Do you have a dsb of aragonite? Aragonite will dissove and release trace elements and ca but I think that this is something you know. As far as the calcium goes I will start a new paragraph and explain. I had a similar thing happen to me when I first set my tank up. I had a ca of 500. It really did not alarm me until I tested my alk and it was 6.5-7.0 I went out after reading aquarium corals by Bornman and purchased some reef builder by sea chem to bring up the alkalinity. I brought the alk up to 11.0DKh and when I tested the parameter the Calcium had bottomed out to 340 with a salifert kit. SO I got some reef advantage calcium and started dosing these and now the two are stable. Raise the alkalinty and the ca will drop. MROK12

03-23-2002, 08:55 PM	#3
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	just saw the firt post. So if you are not adding anything I wonder if the sand bed is adding some? In an event bring up the alkalinity and the Calcium will drop I assure you of this...... In a 180 you seem to e lightly stocked too. MROK12

03-24-2002, 12:47 AM	#4
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	MROK12 Yes my tank is lightly stocked but that is due to the rule of taking it slow! But I do see what you are saying about my alk being a little low and I have been working on that also. VTEC SI

03-24-2002, 10:21 AM	#5
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	I use reef builder and it does the trick. Remember that your alkalinity and Calcium have an inverse relationship. So if you raise the alkalinty that will force the ca to fall. I bet if you took it up to 10 dkh you would level off in the 400's MROK12

03-24-2002, 12:23 PM	#6
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	MROK12 Thank for your help. I will be testing Ca and ALK to be sure of what levels they are at befor I add the reef builder. Thank, VTEC SI

03-24-2002, 01:34 PM	#7
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	Go slow though when youraise th alkainity to avoid precipitation. I would use the formula on the side of he cntainerand raise it about 1MEQ every 2-3 days. MROK12

03-24-2002, 11:28 PM	#8
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	MROK12 I guess we are on the same page. I went out and pick up some ALK buffer today and yes i'll be taking it slow. VTEC SI

03-25-2002, 11:14 PM	#10
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	Yes I thought it was 12 or13 also until I did to more test and one of them was a new kit. So know I am working on my ALK. Thanks again, VTEC SI

03-27-2002, 06:55 PM	#11
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	Keep Me posted...... MROK12

04-02-2002, 11:28 PM	#12
vtec si Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denver co, USA Posts: 1,017	MROK12, Sorry its been a few days but my computer tossed its cookies. But back to the alk & ca. Alk is at 9 and Ca is at 480s a day ago! Still working on it. Laters, VTEC SI

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)