How much ca is too much ca?

S

Shino

[I recently purchased a Ca test kit and the reading I got from my tank was about 500ppm. Is too much Ca an indication of another problem? Is too much Ca going to cause a problem? I have added nothing to the tank except for water, live rock, cheato, and about 5lbs of argonite sand. I haven't finished setting up yet. I added all of this on Sat (2/12/2005). Ca tested last night.]
 
[What is your alkalinity level? If that is too low and you raise it, it might help get the calcium down. I bet you are using Oceanic salt.]
 
[Alk is alittle low. Will raise it tonight. I purchase my salt water from Keller farms. I think they use Kent.]
 
[If this is a new setup as what I think you are saying then you should not even be testing for calcium yet.
Wait for 6 weeks and then after everything is balanced test it then.

Your new sand will give you some false readings.
If a new setup test Nitrates, Nitrites, Ammonia and when zero then start other testing or you will just be wasting money.

Once balanced your cal should not go over 450.
500 will drop back down if you leave it alone or add alk buffer but since it is a new tank just WAIT.]
 
[The Validity of the Cal test may well be inaccurate depending on what test kit you are using.If Its a Red Sea test kit I would not trust it. if Its Salifert then its dead on.Seachem is really close ive found.As Rick mentioned all is well as long as your Alk is good. The 2 kind of go hand in hand.Heres a recent and up to date article on the subject.

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Hope this helps]
 
[you don't need a calcium reading when you first setup the tank as you stated it is a new setup. Let it balance then test calcium and alk.]
 
[If hes already purchased the test kits it certainly wont hurt to use them.Practice becoming familiar with the use of them.I know when I started testing water it was a bit confusing.An understanding of how ALK/Cal/PH work will also benefit him in his future reefing.It will allow him see how his tank is changing chemicly and will benefit from knowing how his tank reacts to any supplemental additions that he may make.Although it may be a bit pre mature to test for Cal/Alk , knowledge is power. And if your Cal is at 500ppm its not that much over the desired 425-450 as long as your alk is in line as previously posted.I also use Kent salt and My Cal runs around 450 but I drip calcium Chloride 24/7. my Alk stays around the 3.6 meq/L area and I occasionaly have to buffer Alk with baking Soda monthly to keep it inline. Keep up the good work and enjoy watching your reef change before your eyes!]
 
[@Maldivan wrote:
If hes already purchased the test kits it certainly wont hurt to use them.Practice becoming familiar with the use of them.I know when I started testing water it was a bit confusing.An understanding of how ALK/Cal/PH work will also benefit him in his future reefing.It will allow him see how his tank is changing chemicly and will benefit from knowing how his tank reacts to any supplemental additions that he may make.Although it may be a bit pre mature to test for Cal/Alk said:
The point is that if you test now with no corals and no fish "WHEN THE TANK IS JUST SETUP" you are wasting your money. There will be plenty of time to learn the other testing later after you get the tank balanced. Nothing in the reef aquarium is done fast. If one does go fast they will learn down the road it was a mistake.
The reefer should be directed towards a healthy balanced tank and in the first setup period the only concerns should be Ammonia, Nitrates, and Nitrites. Most people in the reefing hobby came from fresh water tanks setups so knowing how to test should not be an issue ]



Edited By Rick on 1109050619
Click to expand...
 
[All good stuff, but the answer to your question is generaly that there is no true "too high." But that's only half an answer. Most of us shoot for 400-450. This is the level that most take as gospel for tank needs. When you go higher you are not harming anything but eventually the calicum will precipitate out of solution and either dust your tank or clog you equipment. Your water may also take on a cloudy or hazy appearance 24/7. At 500, you're at the high end but once you start stocking your tank, this number will drop.]
 
[Andy and David both have valid points IMO, quit bickering :p

500 is a tad too high. If you just added all that rock/sand etc and its a new tank...don't worry about your levels, don't add any livestock, just let the tank cycle.

Once your ammonia, nitrite are at 0, and nitrates hit about 10 then start being concerned about your levels then, and slowly start adding some hardy corals. If nitrates and phosphates are high when the time comes to do the first water change and the tank has finished cycling, you may want to do a large water change before adding anything to the tank, to help clear up the reminents of the cycle.]
 
[check this calculator out.
http://www.reefnerds.com/ChemPlot/ChemPlot.html

As far as high cal 500 is not all that high but high enough to let it come down on it's own or add more alk.

This topic will be augured till the cows come home but there have been resent studies on the long term effects on the corals with high calcium and it seems that the corals do survive but don't grow as well when calcium is over 450.

What was the alk reading again? use the calculator and see if you fall outside the box.]
 
[so basically nothing to worry aboutas long as i keep an eye on things. :lol: Thank all. Sorry to have started a war. Have been atching all other nutrients levels in the new set-up. Never used a cal kit before, and wasn't sure what to expect. Tank is cycling nicely. I did add some buffering salts though, with a partial water change. Still waiting for it to cycle. Patience is the key. :taz:]
 
[Im not bickering at all. I was in no way condensending OR rude.Merely Stating my opinion :). If that constitutes bickering than I guess im guilty.
Sorry Shino that This has taken away from your thread and trying to learn about the hobby. Stick with it dispite all the " drama " that some people on this board strive to achieve.]



Edited By Rick on 1109050701
 
[How about keeping the personal remarks out of the thread on both both sides. As you will both see I deleted them both. Lets just agree to disagree and leave the melodrama off the board. PLEASE.]
 
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