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