Relationship Cal & Alk

[Chad]

Ok, I dose with liquid calcium every morning and it maintaines my tank at about 350ppm in general. I tested my Alk and noticed it was low, so I put some stuff in to raise it. I tested my Cal later that day and it was over 500 ppm. I believe I understand that Alk keeps calcium desolved but did raising my Alk disolve leftover Cal in my tank?

Thanks

[Jack]

If anything, raising your Alk would drop your Ca levels, unless compensated for. What product did you use?

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Jack

If anything, raising your Alk would drop your Ca levels, unless compensated for. What product did you use?

I am using Seachem Reef Builder

[Delphinus]

Jack is correct, raising the Alk should have lowered the Ca.

A reading of 500 seems quite unusually high. What test kit are you using to measure Ca?

[sleeman]

Chad,
If you go to Ocean Aquatics website there is a link to an article on CA and Alk. it doesn't go into your problem, however it brings the CA/Alk equation together.

Cheers,

Al

[Chad]

I am using

RED SEA SALTWATER CALCIUM PRO MINI LAB

[Jack]

Hrm. Never heard of that test kit. I reccomend Salifert for Ca and Alk kits. They've got a great rep and are consitantly accurate.

Bring by some water next weekend if you're really worried.

I don't know what advice to give you. If you're test kits are wrong it's hard to fix the problem.

[Chad]

I am stopping by J&L tonight.. I will try and pick up some new test kits.. I'll let you know the results with the new ones...

The biggest reason why I am concerned is because I bought a red blasto that has no expanded even once since the 2nd day I had it. My Alk was low so I did the buffer.. but then the cal shot up. Last thing I need is for my tank to go boom

[Jack]

Feel free to stop by my place if you want. I'm close to J&L.

[Namscam]

what is so bad about having your Ca high aside from having low alk