calcium reading

I have never read anywhere about a relationship between Ca and salinity!
The relationship is between Alk, Ca, and PH

J

 

When I first started saltwater,for a few months my salinity was at 1.023(refractometer),alk at 6/7,mag at 1250 but calcium was through the roof(upper 500s,low 600s per the api test kit) and had no ill effects on the water clarity. I never dosed calcium or anything with calcium in it except water changes with instant ocean salt. Everthing (corals,fish) were doing fine so I didn't bother changing anything for a while then I have since raised my mag,alk,the only difference I have noticed is the pink corraline algae started to take off.My calcium stays high to this day and I dose to keep mag,alk up but never calcium, I've always wondered why though. By the way, I have went through a bunch of different test kits that was not out of date and have also heard that api test kits read calcium higher than others but not totally sure on that but thats the only conclusion I have come up with.

 

Ok you're right. I guess what I should have elaborated more, sorry. If his cal is 525 and salinity is 1.023, something else is out of wack. You need to have your alkalinity tested. Chances are it is low. Get your magnesium and PH tested too..

I guess what I was trying to say is it's not common to have that much calcium with a salinity at 1.023 if your alk, mag and PH are at acceptable levels.

Yea, and you wouldn't see major precipitation event like snow, but there is a chance he might get some in his plumbing and in powerheads and such..

 

Sorry chuckdee your salinity has nothing to do with Ca, Alk or PH there is zero relationship. high Ca will not effect SG neither will hight Alk or PH

 

ok so if i understand correctly. you add the salt mix to the water...add more salt the salinity will rise. calicum alk and mag will not change
from start to finish? ie. you will get 450ppm ca in a bucket of water that has 1/20 of the "salt mix" it should. or is it once the salinity reaches 1.025 and the ca mg alk stop there? i dunno maybe im crazy doesnt make sense to me...

 

The Bucket of salt has buffering compounds in it to achieve predetermined levels of Alk CA and PH at particular salinity. This is due to buffers such as calcium Chloride and sodium bicarbonate. The relationship is established by the makers of the salt not a scientific chemical reaction.

J

 

predetermined levels of Alk CA and PH at particular salinity

ok thats fine so lets say for arguement sake @1.023 you should expect

450 ca
10dkh
1450mg

and with these parameters being maintained alk, ca mg at a salinity of 1.023

if the particular salinity level is raised so will the others, to my logic. i dunno man i need more convincing

 

This is not true... Meq/l and ppm completely different in measurements

http://www.saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/AlkConv.php

see that.

 

If for examples sake nothing is consuming Alk or CA.

using your salinity of 1.023 over the course of a week evaporation causes the sg to clime to 1.030 there will be no change in Alk or CA.

J

 

ya i dont mean by evap. i am curious to new saltwater that has been made. one 5gal. bucket is mixed to 1.030 and another 5 gal. bucket is made to 1.023. your telling me the diff between the 2 will be only be the salinity? the alk and mg and ca levels would be the same?