high Calcium

[buckwild]

My calcium stays at 460ppm without any supplements,while my ALK is around 10DKH.occasionally when my ALK drops below 10 DKH I dose with ALK supp(sodium bicarb).My MAG a little high at 1360ppm.I have around 9 med sized LPS and 3 mid sized SPS corals,along with several fish scallops Snails and crabs.The problem is that my calcium has been staying at 460 PPM with out me adding any calcium supp. Why isn't there any calcium depletion in my sys.

 

[mnat]

What test kit are you using and how old is it? If something like that stays constant even with alk and mag moving, it sounds a bit strange. Also, here is a good link to read:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[buckwild]

Thanks, that was a good read but still doesn't explain why my calcium level hasn't changed,I guess i'll do a large water change and hopefully that will balance everything out

 

[mnat]

I think the water change will help, but again take a look at your test kit or have a nearby LFS check your water for you.

 

[NikkiT]

The only times I have gotten successive, identical readings from a calcium test kit, without adding calcium to my system via water change or by supplimenting, either (1) I was doing something wrong with the test kit or (2) there was something wrong with the reagents in the test kit. (ie, my test kit contains NaOH, which is reactive with air (absorbing water) and over time will give me incorrect results). Now, I am not a chemist, but I would start there.
Who made the test kit you are using? What is the expiration date on the reagents?

The other possibility is that you are just really really good at maintaining your calcium levels with regular water changes and/or other supplimentation. Keep in mind there are other things some of us dose our tanks with that have calcium in them (for example Purple Up).