Pudelt32 Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 So I tested my water this morning and am a bit confused. Nothing in my tank looks bad or has died but I am totally confused about my water parameters. Here are the ones that I found strange so please give me your thoughts. I use an API test kit. Calcium: 620 Ph: 8.1 dKH: 11 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffdragon Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 What salt do you use? Do you dose anything? How are you measuring pH, test kit or probe? Also do you know what your Mg is at? Also what is your specific gravity? Ca and alk are on the high side, if the test results are accurate, but not really terrible. You might test again and if possible test using another kit/brand. I have had my Ca that high and not hurt anything. I have a lot of trouble getting my alk that high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southstar066 Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 It could be your test kit on the calcium side. I was using salifert test kits and my calicum was reading 420-450. Over the weekend I bought an elos calcium kit it my calcium read 600..so it might be your kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmits41 Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Are you using an Elos kit? Maybe they are all high, mine's reading 520, even for my new WC water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudelt32 Posted August 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 What salt do you use? Do you dose anything? How are you measuring pH, test kit or probe? Also do you know what your Mg is at? Also what is your specific gravity? Ca and alk are on the high side, if the test results are accurate, but not really terrible. You might test again and if possible test using another kit/brand. I have had my Ca that high and not hurt anything. I have a lot of trouble getting my alk that high. I was just getting water from Uncle Bill's but recently switched to making my own so I now use SeaChem Reef Salt. I dose 2 part B-Ionic at 2 parts Calcium to 1 part Alk. This seemed to work when I was using UB's salt water but i'm wondering since SeaChem reef salt has such good levels of everything if i'm dosing too much B-Ionic. I test my ph using a test kit. Same API kit that I use to test everything else. I've thought about getting a better quality test kit but I've had no problems with my levels until now so that's the only reason I haven't changed. I don't test Mg b/c I don't have a test kit and they are kind of expensive so that's my bad but I will be getting one this friday at premium just to make sure that is in line as well. My specific gravity is 1.024 which is where it has stayed for over a year now. It doesn't really change much even with the change in salt water. Like I said nothing looks bad or has died I was just a little concerned at the hightened level of calcium and what not. I'm not sure what to do except change test kits to see if anything comes out different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southstar066 Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 I am using the elos, I havn't tested my fresh salt mix, But I guess I should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidjam Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 By the testing done here Seachem reef salt has high calcium readings at 540. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p...hreadid=1287118 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffdragon Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 I would make up some fresh salt water, let it mix for 24+ hours, then test. You may not need to dose Ca & alk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sghera Posted August 20, 2009 Report Share Posted August 20, 2009 I use an API test kit. Calcium: 620 Ph: 8.1 dKH: 11 I'm affraid this combination of alkalinity, pH and calcium is not soluble in sea water with a sg of 1.022 or higher. If your parameters were correct, then you would see the proverbial "snow storm", which is actually calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate precipitating out of solution. That is, the water would be cloudy and your calcium levels would soon drop. You might want to take a water sample to a LFS or a fellow reef buddy to have the all and calcium levels independently verified. I too use the Salifert Ca and dO test kits and feel quite confident about thier accuracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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