Instant ocean, new bucket over 600ppm?
 

just opened a new bucket of instant ocean and the ca levels are over 600ppm? hanna ca meter only goes up to 600 so its more than that. should I be concerned? or just finish the bucket and have higher ca level in the tank till its gone?

I would question that reading. A lot! I'm not even sure Ca can hit 600 without precipitating :) Water is mixed to 1.026? I'd double check with a different test.

Did you roll the bucket to mix it before using it?

Yeah that's weird IME IO has low calcium atleast that's what I find usually about 320-360

Roll that bucket around and re test I use io salt and have to dose my change water with ca and mg. I would also test your tank water to make sure the checker is calibrated, I would assume your tank will be under 600.

hanna checker
 

it's an error-re read the directions.remember to fill up the syringe to the 1.0 mark with test water then only dispence1/10 of it

Did you retest by chance?

My Hanna Calcium checker is fussy. I'm having a hard time with it. It routinely tests high. Not as high as what the values you're getting, but high. My ELOS and Seachem calcium tests agree with each other, while my checker is often 50ppm higher for some reason.

I would test again with the checker, and if the values are still high, have your LFS or another reefer check the values for you (or, purchase a reliable titration test).

I tested the new salt water mix again, 600ppm. then I checked with a bottle of seachem refrence fliud(470ppm) and the hanna shows 585ppm. hmmmmm not what I expected with a new hanna ca meter. I will try to see one of the LFS will test for me after work today and report back when I find out.

I just made 3 five g pails full with a new tub. I will check later today

Personally I specifically didn't buy the Hanna Ca checker because of the large number of reviews that mimic your experience with it. There are certain tests that each brand seems to be better at due to the different tests being performed. In this case I'd be hard pressed to trust the result.

First bucket....420ppm...1.023

Second....360ppm...1.025

Third...490ppm....1.040 or so. Three cups of salt versus two.

All Salifert. They have no calcium added. Usually I add a teaspoon. They do have 3 tablespoons of magnesium.

No rolling of bucket. so perhaps different later. This was from the top.

My last 3 batches ( to finish the bucket off ), and it was rolled before opened

All tested @ 79f and 1.025 after approx 18hrs of mixing

11 dKH and 410 Ca
10.5 and 420
10 and 450

I'm curious to find out what the next bucket will give me

Really Greg, those are great numbers. I will test mine tonight.

Great numbers, but too high for what we would expect from IO...

That's what I thought too:question: Great if it is but doubtful, I will have to test my water to confirm..

Mixed with RO, you should see about 360 to 380, allowing for testing error..

Rich, next time you're out and about, bring your 3 kits to my place as I still have a few gallons of the last batch left

Plus something else that explains why my algae battle has been going so well -
At the end of this bucket, it would appear I'm getting 1550 Mg :surprise:

Like I said, I'll report when I mix a batch from the new bucket

1550mg....and thats why I roll my bucket:mrgreen:

I rolled that bucket around the recroom so much it looked like someone had a monster truck event :surprise:

Yay IO is better than reef crystals!

You can bring your kits over too Chris
This stuff is crazy :smile: