Calcium Too High

[Enigma]

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.

[Coralgurl]

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?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

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?

I tend to always have 5g left or so, I just leave it in the bucket until next batch. I haven't had any issues.

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

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?

That is a really good question.

I get a lot of calcium precipitation in my water storage container. I'm not sure about the other two.

[Coralgurl]

I tested my mixed water last night and my parameters were bang on, water was mixed 2 weeks ago. So for me, the salt is not an issue. I used the rest of what I had for a small change in my 55, mixing more water for a change on the 180 tonight.

[daplatapus]

I hope this isn't viewed as highjacking this thread, but I have a question about the readings of the OP. If the Mg is low (which I think I remember the OP saying it was 1100) my limited understanding is that Ca and dkh may read high. Can low Mg readings cause the Ca and dkh readings to be higher than normal?

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

I hope this isn't viewed as highjacking this thread, but I have a question about the readings of the OP. If the Mg is low (which I think I remember the OP saying it was 1100) my limited understanding is that Ca and dkh may read high. Can low Mg readings cause the Ca and dkh readings to be higher than normal?

Not hijacking at all . . . very interesting! This could explain my crazy numbers.

I'll try a WC when I get home to see what happens.

Edit: Wait a minute. My KH is low. That wouldn't explain the KH reading, though it would explain the calcium.