Alk levels/ WC Guide

[jimmy frag]

its always a good idea to keep a second alk kit regardless. yes making and storing a batch is safe. you can buff the alk with arm n hammer. the alk wount change as there is nothing in the bucket to consume it, salinity yes. plus 1 on a new refractormeter. as far as 25% weekly water changes go...is this your means of export. i would break that up to 2 water changes weekly @ 12% for stability, once you sort out your alk of course

 

[Moser]

I would certainly start fresh. New bucket, new Salifert test.

The Salifert kH test reads same as my alk checker and is cheap and easy.
I have heard if some alk checkers not reading very stable on re- checking the same sample.
Mine is spot on.

Salifert can be easily and cheaply changed.....

Mo

 

[outssider]

I have tested sw then put it in container with lid (not completely air tight) ... alkalinity always drops slightly over time. have tried this several times.

Call the manufacturer of the salt ! I'll bet they will bend over backwards to help you out. I called once about a bad batch of RC. They sent me out more than double what was bad. Shipped it to my house for free. I did have to send them a sample of the salt however.

 

[SneekaPeek]

Thanks all for the help. I will let you know how things go.
Id like to say that pellets and bm skimmer are pulling everything out, but its nice to know that a wc replenishes and exports compounds that aren't detectable. I am going to lfs in the morning to see how things go, I was swamped today and couldn't find time for the run.

 

[jasimek]

I switched from tropic Marin because the dkh was also at 5. I now use aquavitro salinity. Tropic Marin did send me a bottle of bio calcium to buffer the alk but I didnt use it

 

[stevedola]

I use the TM pro and it consistently mixes to 6.0-6.5 @1.025. I keep my alk at 7.5 so I add a little 2part alkalinity to raise the alk slightly. Other than that the salt is great. Its one of the few salts that mix with a lower alk which is something Im looking for. High mag and good calcium levels. I can always rely on TM pro levels to be where theyre supposed to be. If I had to guess Id bet that your kit is off...Ive had that issue with Salifert in the past.

All tests are taken with Elos kits at my house.

 

[SneekaPeek]

Thanks everyone for your input! Still waiting for the weekend to roll around so that I have time to manage my tasks.

 

[Reef_Noob]

Experiencing the same problem with tropic Marin salt.
Awaiting your results SneekaPeek.

 

[SneekaPeek]

I made a fresh batch of saltwater and tested my values with my own tools: Salinity 1.025 alk 3.2 dkh after letting it circulate for an hour.
I brought the batch of made up water to lfs and they came to the conclusion of 3.2 dkh and 1.024

Looks like im setting up a mixing station!

 

[SneekaPeek]

by the way, the salt is not as powdery as it was in the beginning of the bucket, meaning its more clumpy now.
These were my levels in the start of the bucket- 440ppm 4dkh 1260ppm.
This has been an on going issue and I finally decided to take action and get others opinions. and this isn't the first bucket that I have been having trouble with.
Conclusion- it is my salt that has been giving me horrible alk numbers/swings. All other parameters are fine with me. I will be setting up a 30g mixing station that I just bought today

 

[jimmy frag]

so just switch salt brands. ta da !

 

[SneekaPeek]

so just switch salt brands. ta da !

I thought about that, but every other salt has the same problems. ive tried many different salts and to my liking I have found that tropic marin produces the most consistant levels that are detectable. Also including that the potassium, iodine and many other trace elements that are not detectable without lab grade equipment seem to be spot on. I think it has something to do with moisture bringing down the alk level or I just got a raw bucket. No big, therefore I just tweak the parameters too my liking because I can always add, not take away!

 

[tmantaylor18]

buffer it, not a big deal. I use Aqua Vitro Salinity and the alkalinity is always low. I just throw in some alkalinity and calcium right before the water change.