alk question

[lbraggs]

I have a 220 tank that I set up about 6 months ago, and cant get alk or ph to come up any ideas

alk 7.5 red sea test
cal 425 red sea
mag 1260 red sea
ph 7.7 salifert
salinity 1.026
temp 79.3 to 80.5
I use seachem 2 part and instant ocean salt
ive been dosing 180 alk a day and 120 cal
is that to much for tank with 3 small corals

 

[ColoReefer970]

I'm no chemist, but i think that's pretty close to maxed cal/alk for that mg level...

 

[Sk8r]

I'm suspecting the tests. Ordinarily if mg is 1200 (though it's better kept at 1350), alk has no problem rising.
I have absolutely NO experience with 2-part: I use 3, independently, but in 3-part dosing, if you dose alk and cal within 8 hours of each other, they cancel each other out. I believe that's what 2-part is designed to prevent, but something's weird here. I once had a bad test kit and 'chased' an alk reading: big mistake: had deposits of calcium carbonate in hoses and pumps and a messed-up tank chemistry.
Step one: look at the test kits and see if there's an expiration date.
Step two: take a sample to your lfs and ask them to test alk, cal, mg. See if they get the same result. Ideally---test it with another brand of test kit.

 

[lbraggs]

so just raise mag and alk will come up with it

 

[lbraggs]

exp dates are 2018 and I had lfs check and its a little higher but they use same test kits

 

[lbraggs]

I also have what looks like salt floating in water column like it didn't dissolve I mix it the same way I always do