Calcium reading at about 700

[THEACOX88]

Sorry juris I haven't used that one

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm worried about the salt honestly I'm gonna check it and I might have to get rid of the big bucket of salt

Sounds good. Let us know what you find.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

While we're on the subject, can anyone CLEARLY explain how to use the Seachem ReefStatus Calcium test kit? It is REALLY confusing to me!

I've not used it for more than 15 years, so it likely has changed. Is there an especially confusing part?

 

[JurisHP]

YES! The especially confusing part is everything after it "turns true blue":


In reading graduations from ml, note that the scale runs in reverse from dispensing, so that 0.9 = 50 mg/L; 0.8 = 100, 0.7 = 150, etc. etc....I do not understand this AT ALL!

Can anyone explain this? Am I just an idiot (be nice)?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

On the dispensing part, the more fluid you add, the higher the calcium reading will be. I'm not sure how the syringe is labeled, but many read from zero near the tip to a high value near near the plunger.

Consequently, if you start with it full and don't dispense much, the plunger will be at a high value, but not much liquid was actually released from the syringe. That is all they mean. Is that clear?

As to the color, run through the whole range of colors once (by adding titrant past where it turns purple and blue) just to get an idea of the range of color that is observed, then pick a point where the color seems to be blue as opposed to purple or other colors as the point where you stop the addition and look to the syringe for the level to get the calcium number.

 

[naecO rM]

Hi, I have the same problem Ca is 700.
Only changes wad I added drilled for fixation point new Ocean rocks, which was in RO water an about 6 month and RO water was weekly change.
KH is 7.8. Mg is 1600.
I don't know what I have to do. I use the balling Fauna Marine, but about 5 weeks I add only KH solution.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Are you doing regular water changes? What mix?

Have you ever used that kit on your new salt water?

Are you sure the kit is reading in ppm calcium ion and not ppm calcium carbonate equivalents? For the latter, 1000 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents = 400 ppm calcium ion.

 

[THEACOX88]

Ok Randy it's official just got water tested at LFS and it's so high they stopped putting in the test drops, just bought a big bucket of fluval salt because I use rodi water so at this point I must have bad salt.

 

[THEACOX88]

What should I do with all my bad salt? Is there any way not to waste it

 

[THEACOX88]

Has anyone used fluval salt before because it has weird directions on it and most salts say how many cups per gallon

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What should I do with all my bad salt? Is there any way not to waste it

Driveway deicer?

That's what I did with Coralife salt they gave me free when one of their bulbs exploded over my tank years ago.

That, and use in an ice cream freezer.

Mixing it into Instant Ocean little by little is OK if calcium is the only issue, but to drop the aqaurium water level, I'd use straight IO for ordinary water changes until it comes down to 550 ppm or less.

 

[THEACOX88]

Thanks Randy

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

 

[naecO rM]

I have the Salifert test for Calcium, that is a standard solution.
I don't do the water changes.
I'm using only FM CARBONATE Mix KH solution.
But Calcium level still too high.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I have the Salifert test for Calcium, that is a standard solution.
I don't do the water changes.
I'm using only FM CARBONATE Mix KH solution.
But Calcium level still too high.

What salt mix did you start with?

Are you sure you are reading the test correctly? So more liquid added from the syringe means a higher calcum?

A few people have read the syringe backward.

What do you use to replace evaporated water? Tap water can contain calcium.

 

[naecO rM]

What salt mix did you start with?

Are you sure you are reading the test correctly? So more liquid added from the syringe means a higher calcum?

A few people have read the syringe backward.

What do you use to replace evaporated water? Tap water can contain calcium.

Started on Red Sea Coral Pro 2014/04

Yes I'm sure I checked twice and with half dose too. Results were 700/680. More liquid added Ca level is Higher.

I have RO filter and TDS is 001-002.

No tap water at all.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Have you ever used that kit to measure some new salt water?

How are you measuring salinity?

 

[naecO rM]

Randy, thank you for your passion.
I checked my water for Calcium with three different tests.
Hanna, Red Sea, Salifert. 684/700/700.
Also I ve been check my friends tank, it's shows not remember exactly but was about 440.

For salinity level checking I use the D-D Refractometer.
34-35 PSU.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So I can't see any reason for it to be high, but the options include water changes to lower it, or to do nothing except supplement alkalinity and let calcium decline on its own.

 

[naecO rM]

What Alkalinity/KH level you can recommend me in this situation?