How high is too high for calcium??

[Reefer Kev]

done correctly seems to be a hurdle too high for some users.

In my opinion, it is a suboptimal design since it is exquisitely sensitive to tiny amounts of calcium in the “Distilled” water.

That makes sense. Of course Hanna doesnt tell us that!

 

[Tony Tanks]

Just checked my tank . Calcium 486 and Alkalinity 9 . Should i try to raise my Alkalinity to lower my Calcium

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just checked my tank . Calcium 486 and Alkalinity 9 . Should i try to raise my Alkalinity to lower my Calcium

No, that calcium is fine. Unless calcium is above about 550 ppm, there's no concern, IMO. :)

 

[Tony Tanks]

Thank you for the info.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing. :)

 

[ClownSchool]

Some salt mixes have calcium in the 500s and that's not a problem. I think it best to keep calcium below 600 ppm, but the only risk I know of is accelerated precipitation of calcium carbonate, and a rise of 0.3 pH units has about the same effect as a calcium rise from 420 to 840 ppm, so the risk from slightly elevated calcium is not generally a big deal.

Thank you for this, Randy!
My Trident’s dosing head slowly jammed open over the course of days while on vacation. When I saw the drop in cal, I notified my tank-sitter to manually dose Calc (assuming the solution dropped below the hose in the bottom of the jug).
Got home. Assessed the problem was mechanical. Tested, and boom! 603!
Doser is now off until the number drops.

 

[I never finish anythi]

Alk of 10 isn't bad.


Allen

No but going from 8 to 10 will tick things off .

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for this, Randy!
My Trident’s dosing head slowly jammed open over the course of days while on vacation. When I saw the drop in cal, I notified my tank-sitter to manually dose Calc (assuming the solution dropped below the hose in the bottom of the jug).
Got home. Assessed the problem was mechanical. Tested, and boom! 603!
Doser is now off until the number drops.

603 ppm is not likely to cause any observable problems, but letting it decline sounds like a good plan!

 

[mchans]

Some salt mixes have calcium in the 500s and that's not a problem. I think it best to keep calcium below 600 ppm, but the only risk I know of is accelerated precipitation of calcium carbonate, and a rise of 0.3 pH units has about the same effect as a calcium rise from 420 to 840 ppm, so the risk from slightly elevated calcium is not generally a big deal.

 

[mchans]

Good to know. Mines been reading a 600 for months and large water changes aren’t bring it down

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Good to know. Mines been reading a 600 for months and large water changes aren’t bring it down

What salt mix and salinity?

Sounds like perhaps a salinity or calcium testing issue, if you are not dosing it.

 

[ogbounceman]

following

 

[mchans]

What salt mix and salinity?

Sounds like perhaps a salinity or calcium testing issue, if you are not dosing it.

Reef crystals and a Hanna checker. All other parameters are in normal range

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Reef crystals and a Hanna checker. All other parameters are in normal range

I suspect a salinity or calcium test error. The Hanna calcium is not the best, IMO, but it may also be a salinity problem. How are you measuring salinity and what do you think it is?

Try the calcium kit on some new salt water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

following

Don't post to follow something. That just clutters up threads. Just click the box that says watch above the first post. :)