Sorry. Forgot to reply to the calcium value (and nope . . . didn't dissolve any large corals!).

I think it is supposed to be 460-480. I check the bucket last night, but I don't remember what the exact value was.

If the salt comes in at over 500 out of the bucket, I'd use a different salt :) Ideally you want Ca around 400ppm. Anywhere from 380 to 440 is fine, but anything over 440 is pointless, and may be prone to precipitation. Really, IMO, anything over 420 isn't needed if you're running any type of dosing or reactor, or doing frequent water changes.

Have you rolled the bucket a bit? If it's standing up the particles can get sifted slightly which will cause the concentration of elements to be a bit off when you're using the salt mix.

I stirred the bucket, but didn't roll it. Rolling the bucket is a much better idea, I think. I wasn't able to stir very far down into the salt.

I may switch salt.

Is precipitation the only concern? I was concerned that the elevated levels may cause harm.

Definitly roll your bucket! Stirring won't do a whole lot because you generally don't go any further than half way down.

Half way down is giving me too much credit . . . I maybe got 1/3 of the way down. :lol:

I'm about 1/2 way through the bucket. I'll roll it when I get home, though I may be through the bulk of the excess calcium layer by now.

If levels get too high, and the stars align properly, you can get sudden mass precipitation (looks like a snow storm) and your Ca will drop to stupid low levels. Not a serious problem in itself, but if you're doing a big water change to correct it, and using the same salt, you might go in circles.

has anyone ever tested salt mix with a bucket that has been rolled vs. one that has not been rolled?
I have never rolled my buckets. and never have issues.
I use IO, but have tried others. not sure but I think IO recommends that you DON'T roll the bucket?? (also i use API test kits because i believe it is just as good as any of the hobby kits out there).
R.

I'm in the middle of prepping for a tank switch. The new water is a combination of IO and IO Reef Crystals: in an attempt to get the calcium down. I haven't tested the calcium in it yet, as I just started mixing it last night. I didn't want to mix salt . . . but I felt like I didn't have much of a choice.

I've had to really cut down on waterchanges: that's how I got my calcium down to normal levels. But this weird spike leaves me confused. I hope it is the test kit.

Thanks for starting this thread Shelley. I test dkh and Ca with Api as well and Elos for mag. All 3 are low in both my tanks, I think it may be the salt, but I've been using Seachem Salinity for almost a year and never had an issue before. I do roll my bucket, even flip it everytime I mix up new water. My question is, what happens if you don't use all the water mixed up? I keep a heater and powerhead in mine all the time, I use a Brute can to mix, but don't seem to use all the water at once. Would this have an effect on these elements?