Can there be to much calcium in a tank????

[SteveNMegz]

Hey guys, we've been monitoring our calcium the last few weeks and always reads 560. We know you should have aorund 420-450, but can it hurt to have to much?

If so what can we do to lower it???

[sjfishguy]

What test kit are you using? What is your Mg level? Ca readings that high almost always mean a bad test kit. When the Ca gets that high it normally will just precipitate out of solution dropping it back down near 500 or lower.

[SteveNMegz]

Its the Hagen Master test kit. we're also getting high KH(alkalinity) results of 140mg/l

[sjfishguy]

I would check it with another test kit, maybe at your LFS. I have no experience with Hagen test kits.

[Sk8r]

What's your magnesium reading? Cal usually stabilizes at 1/3 the mg reading. You haven't been dosing "Purple Up," have you?

[SteveNMegz]

we don't have a mag test kit, we'll have to go pick one up tomorrow

so could this be due to the fact that the tank was started 4 weeks ago and is not stabalized?

[Sk8r]

It's somewhat possible. But more likely you've got a wonky test kit...or are reading something upside down. THAT can happen, too, on syringes with gradated markings. The fact you've got two test kits doing strange things makes me wonder about test technique, though stranger things abound in this hobby. Double-check your instructions. Once we've eliminated human error, we have to go check the reading against another kind of test kit, as in, maybe, your lfs.

[ahullsb]

And for future reference, yes, in a way your calcium can be too high. The main problem is that it wears out your powerheads and pumps much more quickly.

[ljosh]

Take that Hagen master test kit pack it up and throw the entire thing away. Cross check that calcium with a Salifert kit and you will see that it is off by about 200ppm. Dont buy another test kit from the place that sold you that...