Calcium too high

[djacob]

My cousin has a 100 gallon reef with soft and hard corals, PC lights 2X65 20 gallon sump, nice 20 gallon fuge, super skimmer 120

levels are

SG - 1.024
Calc - 940
nitrite and nitrate - 0
alk - 11
PH - 8.3
temp - 78

Everything is doing great. tank is very healthy and has been stable for over a year. problem is that the calcium is 940 and dont know how to get the calc down. all the corals are healthy and look great when they are openned.

jsut wondering how can he get the calc down.

please let me know.

thanks
Dave

[joeycadre]

is calcium being dosed?

[djacob]

no it is not

dave

[Kaos]

What test kits are you using? I don't think cal. can be that high w/ your alk being 11.

[mg426]

Originally posted by Kaos
What test kits are you using? I don't think cal. can be that high w/ your alk being 11.

My thoughts also. I suspect a testing error of some sort. If Ca is not being dosed how did it ever get that high ???

[snorvich]

And test magnesium as an indicator of calcium. They tend to relate in the ratio of 3:1 mangesium:calcium.

[djacob]

i will pass this along to him and have him test this and get back to you guys

thanks
Dave

[reefworm]

agreed that the calcium test level is way off - with numbers that high the calcium would precipitate out and it would look like snow in the tank. FWIW, your cousin should really consider a lighting upgrade - that's not much light for a 100 - that's what I ran on my 29 before I upgraded myself.

I would highly recommend LaMotte's test kit or Salifert. the former is more expensive initially, but more durable and, IMO, easier to read.

[djacob]

has to be the test kit then, i will have him get a new one tomorrow. at least he said he would.

i can appreciate the comment about the lighting, but its a 4 foot light, with a 4 foot tank and the corals look AMAZING. i cant see him spending the money to fix something that is not broke.

thanks
Dave

[Toddrtrex]

Not doubting you that his corals look great, but I used to have 6*65 over a 75, and when just two of the bulbs were on it was fairly dark, don't see how hard coral could grow under that. Perhaps those are the supplemental lights to metal halides?