500 is too high. You run the risk of precipitating.

Natural sea water has levels 380 Ca and 8 dkh, or around there, but a Calcium of around 400 and Alkalinity of 12 is optimal and produces the best growth, IMO.

500 is too high. You run the risk of precipitating.

Natural sea water has levels 380 Ca and 8 dkh, or around there, but a Calcium of around 400 and Alkalinity of 12 is optimal and produces the best growth, IMO.

High alkalinity is important in a reef tank.

If your Ca is too high, it has the possibility of suddenly precipitating out of solution. It's called a snowstorm, 'cause that's what your tank will look like.
Low alk is also a problem, in as much as alk is required to buffer pH shifts due to acids in solution.

it would take a lot higher than 500 to perticipate unless your Mg is low. my tank was running at 485 for a while after I got my Mg levels corected.

Steve

You know what I mean Steve. :rolleyes:

I was going to buy the test kits when I got to J&L but I couldn't part with my money.. lol.. I will bring myself up to it next time. I am doing a water change tonight to get things in a better balance. Everything seems to be doing well tho..