Is calcium a killer

[scotty333]

Guys
As some of you know, I’ve overdosed calcium to the tune of 800ppm
I’ve checked this against lfs test kit and the results are 100 apart

My question is , after a 33% wc tomorrow it’ll be around 670ppm

Would you add corals with this value? I’m looking at achieving a monti heavy aquarium and wonder if they would adapt to the high calcium and use it up or they’d die instantaneously ?

I don’t really want to do another 4 big water changes to get it to nsw values

I’m thinking I’ll try a frag for a couple of weeks and see how it gets on before I shell out for a box full

What’s your thoughts please

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

I would try to get it below 600, but I can't really tell you how the corals would do, but what I would predict is that they would be fine.

Let the calcium fall back to normal levels, and try not to overdose it again, and I hope you learned what went wrong.

 

[Pod_01]

Hmmmm…. So what do you think is easier on corals. Is it easier for them to try to adjusting to high calcium levels and likely perish or being put into aquarium water that is same as ocean level?

Maybe this helps:

These are animals after all so why would you not provide the best conditions/care for them?

Half measures and cutting corners is not going to get you monti heavy aquarium!!!

Also new tank should start with soft corals zoas, leathers, GSP.
SPS corals can be introduced once you know how to keep the reef tank parameters stable, one year in general.
Otherwise you are just killing animals (not cool) and throwing money down the drain (maybe you can start a bonfire with the money instead).

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

The calcium is not an issue at this level - but it will affect alkalinity, by making it drop, and once that happens the calcium will precipitate.

Lower it like I said in my first post, to below 600, preferably more.

You made a mistake, and you need to fix it before adding anything. The corals will get stressed out with the unstable alkalinity levels.

This hobby takes patience.

And, why are you only doing a 30% water change? Why not a 50% or more? You said you didn't want to do 4 more water changes, but who said you had to do that? Do one big water change.

 

[scotty333]

I would try to get it below 600, but I can't really tell you how the corals would do, but what I would predict is that they would be fine.

Let the calcium fall back to normal levels, and try not to overdose it again, and I hope you learned what went wrong.

I agree , no more dosing
Should have learned my lesson when I overdosed mag
But it’s Fd up , you follow the guidance and it doesn’t work, you add more then it’s like all the accumulated comes out

 

[crazyfishmom]

If your tank is less than 6 months old and you’re doing water changes at least semi regularly you should not need to dose anything besides maybe a little alkalinity. I know we all want perfect parameters but sometimes doing too much is a big problem. I agree with the posters above and think that getting your levels down will be important toward achieving stability. Montis are actually fairly sensitive to most swings. I look at my monti caps as a way of knowing if something is not going well in my tank. They never fail to sound the alarm.

 

[scotty333]

Tank is 8 years old now, used to be a full blown reef , just getting back in to it now as it’s been fish only for last 2-3 years

 

[Outlaw Corals]

You should do a 50% water change you could be burning the crap out of your corals at that level, you also said you overdose to magnesium in the past how high was your magnesium when you did that, a lot of us keep our magnesium at 1500 that’s why I’m asking

 

[scotty333]

I’m doing a 33% cos it’s all the containers I have
My softies are all buzzing with these conditions
Mag was 1800 ! Now 1470

 

[scotty333]

40% change done , stats to follow

 

[scotty333]

Here goes

Mag 1380
Po4 0.15
No3 25
Kh 9.3
Calcium 650
Salinity 1.026

 

[scotty333]

Gonna add a monti frag see if it survives while I’m away a week

 

[scotty333]

So , you might like to see some pics

 

[vetteguy53081]

High calcium while not recommended is not deadly and often absorbed. At time I hit 500+ without adverse effects. CA balances with alk and contributes to coral growth and skeletal health. High alk will however reduce calcium levels

 

[scotty333]

I think my alk at 9.3 is ok no?

 

[Kzang]

Here goes

Mag 1380
Po4 0.15
No3 25
Kh 9.3
Calcium 650
Salinity 1.026

When I had my calcium over 550 when mixing new salt for a new tank, it precipitated and made the tank white cloudy. Your tank is clear, I would think and assume if your calcium was that high, it have precipitated out.

 

[Kzang]

High calcium while not recommended is not deadly and often absorbed. At time I hit 500+ without adverse effects. CA balances with alk and contributes to coral growth and skeletal health. High alk will however reduce calcium levels

Don’t you think it’s weird his tank is crystal clear and has no calcium precipitation? You’d think he would at that high, especially at the level it was at

 

[vetteguy53081]

Don’t you think it’s weird his tank is crystal clear and has no calcium precipitation? You’d think he would at that high, especially at the level it was at

I generally dont get precip but it can happen

 

[vetteguy53081]

I think my alk at 9.3 is ok no?

alk acceptable at this level

 

[scotty333]

I’m 99% certain it was at 800 because to reduce it to 650 would be a 40% wc which I did today and that’s exactly what I got (salt mixed at 400)