Emergency... mistake while dosing!!!

[danny zubot]

I also read somewhere that your aragonite sand will harden if your calcium is very high... well is this the case?

There is a term used specifally in the reefing community for this, but scientifically it is fundamentally a precipitate. Where the excess elements bond with the aragonite to form lime stone. (correct) Essentially it is your tanks way of adjusting the levels quicker than if the corals were to utilize the excess elements.

[Beverly]

Fresh,

I would do at least a 30% water change. Won't bring alk down a heck of a lot, but it will get it closer to what you really need. BTW, what is your pH?

Also, there is an article in the Reef Chemistry sticky thread that might have an answer for you ....

Solving Calcium and Alkalinity Problems:

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

[danny zubot]

Bev, do you know where the link is for that calculator for these levels?

Incidently....

What processes inhibit continued precipitation of CaCO3 onto a growing crystal? The main thing happening in normal seawater is likely the impact of magnesium. It does two critical things (discussed in detail in this linked article):

1. Magnesium holds onto carbonate ions and reduces their free concentration, thereby reducing the likelihood of precipitation onto calcium carbonate surfaces.
2. Magnesium gets onto the growing surface of the crystal, essentially poisoning it for further precipitation of calcium carbonate.

[fresh]

Danny, the link doesn't work, and I really do want to read it

So from what you said, I understand that if I have enough Magnesium in my system (elevated levels in this case of all ca/alk/mg), then I don't need to worry about the sand calcifying! Is that true?

thanks

[danny zubot]

That is correct, Mg is what makes Ca bio available and in the correct balance it is actually possible to superload your tank with all levels without experiencing precipitation. NOT recommended though, trust me. Even if you do get precipitate it shouldn't completely solidify your entire sandbed, only patches here and there.

You'll have to access that link through Bev's link.

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by danny zubot

Bev, do you know where the link is for that calculator for these levels?

Danny,

The calculator and other articles are in the second thread of this (Reef) forum. Can't miss it. Says "Bev's Chemistry Links"

[reeferaddict]

Before you panic - don't do anything in a hurry!

If the animals are fine, then yes... do a water change and slowly lower your Alk... How quickly the levels come down on their own depends on what kind of animals you have that consume Ca+/Alk. Without supplementation, my tank will drop 50ppm Ca+ and 2 dKH Alk in 24 hours... if it were me, I would do a 10% water change daily, (to stress things as little as possible), until it comes down to a more reasonable level, 10 - 12 dKH is a good target, with anywhere between 400 and 450 ppm being good Calcium numbers. As you'll be doing water changes, Magnesium levels will be maintained that way unless you have some serious calcification going on. Then go buy a test kit to test and maintain Magnesium. Chronically LOW Calcium levels indicate a deficiency in Magnesium - (<850ppm)

The key to health is moreso an avoidance of sudden shifts in water quality rather than maintaining strict parameters.

Just my 2 bits... hope this helps!