Calcium at 600 ppm in tank and in fresh Tropic Marin with API test

[Big Mistake]

Since I have lots of Coralline Algae and the snails are growing their shells ...

I thought I would test Calcium (instead of just Alkalinity which supposedly sort of tracks.)

A $14.00 API test kit picked up locally claims (by interpolation) that the tank is at ~600 ppm.

But! Some freshly made (about a week old) Tropic Marin Bio-Actif salt at 35 ppm salinity also tests at ~600 ppm.

The Bio-Actif salt claims to have "biologically active" stuff in it which might mess with the Calcium readings.

Just another ...

-Big Mistake

 

[rtparty]

Bad test kit, human error when testing, or your refractometer is busted.

 

[Duffer]

Bad test kit, human error when testing, or your refractometer is busted.

+1..

basically i would take that API test with a grain of salt..do yourself a favor and get a better test kit

 

[Big Mistake]

As we all know ...

Picked up a Red Sea Calcium Pro Reef Test Kit. (Could have had a Hanna instead?)

(When I did buy one Hanna, wondered why they could not have one for many tests ... )

Appears Red Sea is coming up with 480 ppm.

API is still claiming 620 ppm.

I have to wonder if it is something about the Tropic Marin Bio Actif salt and the API test kit chemistry.

Still wondering how my the green BTA is still unhappy. High calcium could have made sense. It did move on its own to spot where it gets lots of flow from a power head. Sticking out horizontally from the rock, but not really opening, so I'm on a death watch. ;Inpain Hoping it just hibernating or on a diet. Literally it is just hanging on ...

... this is a ...

-Big Mistake

 

[DHill6]

I had the same 600 CA reading using a Hanna meter with their water from a 200g bucket of TMPro salt a couple years ago. Not one bucket but 2. I spoke to Lou Elkus who suggested it was somehow in my 5 g bucket I used to mix the salt. So I purchased a new food grade 5g bucket, new small pump, did not make a difference. From that point on I only purchased small buckets.

 

[Maxcmo]

As we all know ...

Picked up a Red Sea Calcium Pro Reef Test Kit. (Could have had a Hanna instead?)

(When I did buy one Hanna, wondered why they could not have one for many tests ... )

Appears Red Sea is coming up with 480 ppm.

API is still claiming 620 ppm.

I have to wonder if it is something about the Tropic Marin Bio Actif salt and the API test kit chemistry.

Still wondering how my the green BTA is still unhappy. High calcium could have made sense. It did move on its own to spot where it gets lots of flow from a power head. Sticking out horizontally from the rock, but not really opening, so I'm on a death watch. ;Inpain Hoping it just hibernating or on a diet. Literally it is just hanging on ...

... this is a ...

-Big Mistake

My Red Sea kits is always a good 10 - 15% higher than Hanna

 

[ZoWhat]

API actually stands for Always Pretty Inaccurate