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First of all, I have to laugh at myself. I have a degree in chemistry and I can't figure out what the heck is going on with these values I just go with my test kit. Maybe getting that doctorate in chemistry isn't such a good idea

In my defense though, I think I'm just being to analytical for my own good, have a bad test kit, or just can't count.

Anyways, I know I should have did this a long time ago (beings my tank has been setup for about two months) but I went out and bought two more test kits. :88) Of course they are, as the title suggests, Calcium and KH/gh.

Here are the results I received:

KH: 18 degrees
Calcium: 31 degrees

According to my test kit(s) that translate into the following values:

KH: 360 pmm (mg/L)
Calcium: 620 ppm (mg/L)

Needless to say, those values given their ranges are out of this world! What do you suggest doing?

The tank is 29 gallons has agramax substrate with 21 pounds of live rock. Other than that, there is only a snail in there. I haven't added calcium suplements so I'm quite unsure why the calcium is sooo high!?! I am using Oceanic salt. I'm clueless right now. Any ideas

-Josh

-Josh

are you using strips??

ph

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pnh

Good Call! I forgot to tell you what test kit I am using. I knew there was something else. I bought the nutrifin (hagan) liquid test kits. It was the only liquid brand that particular store carries.

-Josh

It might be the test kit but im not shure. To make shure go to your lfs and but a cheap kh/gh and calcium test kit (strips should be fine they are cheaper) and test twice if the same results apply i really dont have any suggestions. besides buy calcium decreaser (sorry this isnt my area of expertise) sorry i couldnt be much of a help. Lets hope it was the test kit!!


ph



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pnh

Why do you think that's so out of whack? What's your ph? My wellwater has a kh of 18 and it gives a ph of slightly over 8.0 which I believe is exactly what you want for a marine tank. The higher the kh the higher the ph. Also calcium is very desireable because it is used by corals and other creatures. Most reefs need added dosing of calcium for that reason. If your using a common salt mix and ro/distilled water those readings should be correct but I've never actually tested calcium so I don't know what a good range is.

According the the ranges that are listed in the booklets and the ranges I've seen on other website, both of my values are pretty high. I really haven't read anywhere that says that it's bad but I will be introducing some creatures soon and I don't want to killed off right away :#( Just a little concerned. Right now my pH is 8.3. I've been using a pH meter here at work so I know that value is dead on. Maybe I need to break out chemistry 101 techniques and titrate by hand. JUST KIDDING!

-Josh

-Josh

Since noone more knowledgeable has answered I'm going to have to ask what booklets and what sites? I haven't really found any sites listing preferred calcium or kh values. I've only heard passing mention of ph values around 8.0-8.5 which a kh of 18 should give you. Meaning that value would be dead on. Also despite reading a few reef sites and mention of adding calcium I haven't heard any calcium values to shoot for. Both probably depend somewhat on what your setup is. Such as in a fish only setup the calcium probably doesn't matter much if at all but for a reef tank it's used up rather quickly.

Hagen test kits are generally some of the most reliable liquid tests but I've only heard reviews for freshwater not saltwater.

Last edited by sham at 18-Jan-2006 02:40

I guess I should have posted this site I found. Sorry guys. I am going by the booklets with the test. And I found an article by a guy on another reef forum. Let me find the article!

CHEMISTRY AND THE AQUARIUM: Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems by RANDY HOLMES-FARLEY

Beings my tank has an excess of calcium and alkalinity my tank was actually precipitating out a powder, which I didn't realize was associated with this event. So, I vaccumed off some of the powder from the live rock and added 5-7 gallons of fresh water. That dramatically helped. It is still a little on the high side but it's close enough that I am not, noticibly, precipitating anything.

Hope this article helps some people if they have the same problem!

-Josh

Last edited by jmara at 18-Jan-2006 12:55

-Josh

Oh! You had a blizzard! Or a snow storm rather!

This happens when you over dose kalkwasser or something.

I'm always scared it'll snow in my tank. Therefore I drip my kalk very very very slowly.

Anthony talks all about that in his book of coral prop. Maybe I'll type it out later.


-Ferret[img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish