High calcium and PH

[MAreefer1]

I have a 55 gallon, I dont use any addetives, 1-2 times a day. Mysis and marine pellets. 7 chromis, a henioucus and pink goby. fuge w/ carbon.

salinity is 1.024
temp 78.5ish.


ugh, I tested twice just to make shure.

My calcium is 600 ppm, is this way too high?

if it is how should I bring it down.


ALSO.
my PH is 8.8, idk how the heck. But, how do I go about lowering that.

[drummereef]

What testkit are you testing with? Sounds like between the calcium and pH tests you might be using a bad testkit. 600 is high, let it come down on its own. I would find it very hard to believe your calcium is actually 600 without dosing anything.

[bertoni]

Those levels are high, and it's worth getting a second opinion.

What is being dosed into the tank? Are you using Oceanic salt, by any chance? Do you have an alkalinity test result?

This article covers high pH problems:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.php

This article discusses calcium and alkalinity problems:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

[MAreefer1]

thanks, ya... the ph test kit is two years old

but I tested my Ca again with salifert this time. about 500ppm

butttt, I just tested my alk, and its 13.1dkh

[bertoni]

That's a bit high, but not too bad. Just stop any alkalinity and calcium supplements.

[MAreefer1]

I dont use any addetives at all.

[bertoni]

A pH buffer, maybe?

[MAreefer1]

I must be doing these tests wrong because I dont dose anything. thats the only explination. The corals must be acting funny, becuase they are not fully aclimated to my lighting upgrade:single 175 watt MH to dual 250s. dont worry, I am acclimating it correctly, starting it off at 15'' above the tank, with 3 layers of eggcrate to difuse light.

thanks for your help everyone

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What salt mix are you using?

Are you using tap water?

[MAreefer1]

tap water and IO...

[Michael Mota]

I would get a second opinion on those test results, maybe at your LFS?

[MAreefer1]

mike, im going to mauros house in about an hour and a half for him to check my PH... thanks though

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Tap water can contain significant alkalinity and sometimes also calcium. Try measuring your tap water or freshly made IO and see what you get, especially for alkalinity.

[MAreefer1]

tested it with a freinds kit. Ca is around 400, the PH is 8.4, Mg is 1200. alk is 12dkh.

PH was tested with a probe.

I was testing my alk and Ca wrong. Its all sorted out now.

thanks randy, and everyone else.

[Michael Mota]

Thats exactly why I always say get a second opinion before making changes to the tanks chemistry. I unfortunately learned that the hard way

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Happy reefing.