calcium too high

[robbywood20]

ok so I got tired of trying to match colors on a color chart so i invested in some Hannah checkers (calcium,Alkalinity and phosphate)my tank is doing better than it ever has and all parameters looked good but I do not dose anything other than Mg because my levels got down to under 1000 and I had an algae outbreak like you wouldnt believe,well my have not just been the low Mg because I also bought a TDS meter and found out that my RO/Di was putting out 0.09 ppm water and my phosphates were 0.30 in my tank.anyway I got the hair algae problem under control by changing my ro/di filters and adding new gfo to my reactor, and doing a pretty big water change then several small ones over the past month.but my question is why is my calcium lever over 600 ppm? the hannah checker maxes out at 600 ppm and just flashes.I dont add any calcium.so parameters are as follows.

phosphates - 0.07
alk - 177 ppm = 9.9 DKH
calcium >600 ppm
nitrite -0 ppm
ammonia - 0 ppm
nitrate - 5ppm
salinity - 1.026
temp - 77.1
PH -8.35
mag - 1350

 

[jayu]

It's because hanna calcium checkers suck. If you don't perform the test exactly right, and I mean EXACTLY right, the test will be inaccurate. I stopped using mine months ago because of how inaccurate the test were. Cross check with another test and I guarantee your levels won't be that high. The alkalinity and phosphate checkers are fine, calcium...not so much.

 

[robbywood20]

Well that's part of the reason I bought it because the calcium test I was using read high so I tried a friends and it read high so I bought the Hannah to get an exact reading . Checked it 4 times with the Hannah and 3 out of the 4 it read > 600 one time it read 557, go figure. But my question is why would it be that high? Or do you still think its a false reading? 3 different test kits tried

 

[seth the wine guy]

Your Ca isn't that high. If thing are doing well its not worth worrying about anyway. Your corals happiness is the TRUE test anyway. Right?

 

[robbywood20]

Very true Seth but my New Years resolution is that I was going to test more because I want to start adding more sps so I want to get a baseline to determine if I do need to dose 2 part. I only have a few sps now just the easy stuff, birds nest and such, a few lps but mostly softies.

 

[spiderman097]

How much are you dosing?

 

[jayu]

spiderman097;844081 wrote: How much are you dosing?

I don't think he is dosing anything. I'm sure someone would correct me if I'm wrong but, if your calcium was that high, there would be other tell tale signs such as buildup on pumps etc. not saying your calcium isnt high just not that high. With that said, I use Red Sea calcium test which to me seem to always read a bit low. However, my goal is to maintain a comfortable number within range. I try to shoot for 420-440, although I've had my water tested elsewhere and my calcium measured closer to 475ish. The point is as Seth mentioned if everything looks "happy" and your numbers are stable and within range, your on the right track.

Ditch the calcium checker. Doesn't really save that much time either compared to some other test. It's a pretty involved process for inaccurate results.

 

[robbywood20]

Read post 1 not dosing anything now but was dosing Mg but haven't dosed any calcium and never have I used kalk in my top off for a while but haven't since I got a new auto top off that connects directly to my ro Di a couple months ago

Edit: Yea I didn't think it saved any time but was looking for an exact number.havent tried the Red Sea test.

 

[heathlindner25]

robbywood20;844105 wrote: Read post 1 not dosing anything now but was dosing Mg but haven't dosed any calcium and never have I used kalk in my top off for a while but haven't since I got a new auto top off that connects directly to my ro Di a couple months ago

Edit: Yea I didn't think it saved any time but was looking for an exact number.havent tried the Red Sea test.

Get red sea pro,all Hannah checker blow in my opinion.

 

[robbywood20]

Thanks guys after I just spent $150 lol

 

[heathlindner25]

robbywood20;844110 wrote: Thanks guys after I just spent $150 lol

how accurate did you think a 50 dollar egg was going to be? .. Lol I found the low range phosphate egg completely unreliable..

 

[jayu]

My thoughts on test kits is that they're all hobby grade. I expect and accept that there will be some inaccuracies. What matters most to me is consistency and ease. If every time I test for calcium the numbers are way different I won't be a fan of that test kit. Also, if its a cumbersome testing process, as the hanna calcium checker is, I'm not a big fan of it.

 

[robbywood20]

That's so very true jayU all the test I used was consistently high but the Hannah is defiantly the Most confusing to use. Guess I will try the Red Sea or salifert test since those are probable the only 2 I haven't tried. I use a seachem mg test and you have to be a dang chemist to use that thing. But I think it gives a very consistent reading.

 

[jmike50]

Robby. I use all af seachems test kits and always get consistent readings. I use to use API when I first started and found out that they are junk. i think when I use up my seachem, I might give Red Sea a shot.

 

[heathlindner25]

I'm a big fan of Red Sea Pro easiest and most accurate of all the test kits I've tried.

 

[jcook54]

I used Elos test kits and am happy with them. Things are pretty stable so I only end up testing once a week to make sure things are still within range. I've tried Seachem & Red Sea and was happy with them but the closest store to me stocks Elos stuff so I've been with them for 3+ years now.