Ca trouble shooting ?

[jimmyj7090]

Hi Randy,

Today I visited a local reefer having some trouble. looks like a brown jelly infection on a reccent LPS additon. Removed the affected frags.

My question,

his tank doesn't have an auto top off system and when we checked the salinity with my refractometer it was near 1.038. Then we checked Ca and Alk, 10.4 dKH, Ca over 500 by brand new salifert tests (tested twice) PH 8.35 (with a Pinpoint monitor, 6-9 month old probe). He said he does no regular Ca/ALk supplement. He also is using tap water (worcester MA) for top off. No SPS and only a couple of small LPS frags, minimal coralline growth.

Could the elevated salinity explain the high Ca test?
Could he be getting lots of Ca by using unfiltered hard water?
Is this a false reading on the Ca test (to me it seems like there should be a snowstorm happening)?

(he has been using red sea salt, could this be an issue, I haven't gotten to look into this salt but I seem to remember seeing some threads talking about red sea salt disasters but I never paid attention since I don't use it)

Thanks for any input

John K

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Wow, a sg of 1.038 is incredibly high.

Yes, that salinity could explain the calcium, NSW raised to that salinity would have a calcium level of about 600 ppm.

The tap water can also be adding to it.

Needless to say, I'd bring the salinity down. Then I'd worry about calcium and alklalinity.

[jimmyj7090]

Thanks Randy

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.