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07-20-2008, 07:14 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Fire Worm
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Texas
Posts: 166
Karma: 72
 |  Calcium Through the Roof!
Got a puzzling question for 3reefers:
How do you lower calcium?
I just tested for the second time and the level is sitting at 660ppm. Crazy, I know!
Water parameters:
Carbonate = 10dkh
nitrite = 0ppm
nitrate = 10ppm
ammonia = 0ppm
ph = 8.4
phosphate - 0ppm
temp. = 77 degrees
salinity 1.023
I currently have a yellow head goby, 2 clowns, 1 yellow tang, flame angel, 6-line wrasse, clean up crew, blue carpet anemone, cleaner shrimp
All inhabitants appear fine...
Should I be alarmed with the calcium level...
is there a product that lowers calcium (never heard of one)?
I do use oceanic instant ocean which has a calcium supplement added... other than that... no other supplement is used.
Help!
Ryan
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72 gallon bow front, aqua c urchin protein skimmer, wet/dry filtration, 90lbs lr, 70lb sand, 2 clown fish, yellow-head goby, yellow tang, flame angel, blue hippo, six-line wrasse, carpet anemone, cleaner shrimp, 4 mj1200's with red sea wavemaker, current sundial t5 ho lighting 216w, coralife 1/6 hp chiller | 
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07-20-2008, 07:15 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Zoanthid
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CT
Posts: 1,103
 
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water changes
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>> Insert witty signature quote here << | |
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07-20-2008, 07:19 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Fire Worm
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Texas
Posts: 166
Karma: 72
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But with water changes... you still need to add salt.
Calcium is in the salt...
Isn't that a problem with it already over 600ppm? | |
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07-20-2008, 07:20 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | PICTURE POLICE
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 5,048
   
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogie  water changes | I agree with Bogie, back to back WC or wait until it gets comsumed. When I say Back to Back, I mean a WC once a day. Luna _________ 9YR OLD 90G/55g custom sump/refug Mag18 Aquac 180skimmer 692w MH AC jr,yel&kole tang,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Acropora(2) Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, xenias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew..  | |
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07-20-2008, 07:28 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Louisville, GA Age: 45
Posts: 3,485
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how old is your calcium test kit? | |
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07-20-2008, 07:31 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Fire Worm
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Texas
Posts: 166
Karma: 72
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Calcium test kit is brand spanking new API master reef kit
My first test two weeks ago read 620ppm...
today 640ppm
I added 15 gallons with enough instant ocean to make it 1.025 salinity before adding into tank | |
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07-20-2008, 07:33 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Zoanthid
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CT
Posts: 1,103
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No, if you mix your salt correctly ~1/2 cup per gallon, it will be fine. Also, for your case, if you're using a salt like I.O. Reef Crystals with higher Ca content and really want to lower you Ca, then use regular Instant Ocean with less Ca content. Why do you need to lower your Ca? If the water can't hold it, it's gonna precipitate out anyway onto pumps, rock, whatever surface. Keep the Mag and Alk up to where they should be, and this probably won't happen though. How fast does your coral/tank consume Ca? If your coral naturally use it up in a few weeks, you won't have to waste salt mix doing WCs. | |
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07-20-2008, 07:34 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Peppermint Shrimp
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 418
Karma: 175
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Quote:
But with water changes... you still need to add salt.
Calcium is in the salt...
Isn't that a problem with it already over 600ppm?
| No. The concentration of calcium in your salt is probably around 450. That is lower than 600. Whatever you are dosing, stop using it. Water changes are the quickest and safest way to lower calcium. Although to get the calcium down that much you will need to do a very big water change, probably at least 40%.
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55gal,216 watt Tek T5, 45#LR, 45#LS, 3 maxi-jet 900's on a natural wavemaker timer,phosban reactor, 5 gal fuge (built out of standard 10 gallon tank) with chaeto and feather caulerpa, sealife systems protein skimmer, wet/dry, 3 blue/green chromi, 1 skunk cleaner shrimp, 1 coral beauty,1 scopas tang, 2 false percs, 5 mexican turbo snails, assorted dwarf blue leg hermits, astrea snails, and nerite snails | |
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07-20-2008, 07:36 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Fire Worm
Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Texas
Posts: 166
Karma: 72
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I don't have any corals... just a carpet anemone and fish and inverts ...
I was just beginning my venture into the reef world!
Ryan
So I should buy salt with no calcium? That sucks... more money ...
BTW, I had to add more than 1/2 cup per gallon because the salinity didn't measure 1.025 ... I needed about a 1/2 cup more. | |
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07-20-2008, 07:37 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | PICTURE POLICE
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 5,048
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ryanwolf Calcium test kit is brand spanking new API master reef kit
My first test two weeks ago read 620ppm...
today 640ppm
I added 15 gallons with enough instant ocean to make it 1.025 salinity before adding into tank | It might be new b/c you bought it recently, but that doesnt mean its not expired. It may have been sitting on the shelf for yrs. Check the "lot" numbers on the two bottles. Luna | |
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