Alk reading

[marineer]

Hi, I have a problem w/ alk test. I am using red sea mini- lab, as i now know alk reading is color chart, not ppm. My reading is in the medium range, PH is 8.3 to 8.5, can't seem to have any success with SPS. All other readings are No2=0, No3=0, salinity 1.025, Ph has been stable at 8.3 always. Temp is 78 to 82 degrees, I have bubble, green brain, cyrania, xenia, green leather, and a few others, that have been in my system for over 6months without any problems. What could be my problem, in my tank. Please, advise thanks.( Dont have phospate test) picking up tommorrow, but system doesnt have algea blooms. Only some type of sea grass looking algea growing from large live rock, Glass, and substrate, are pretty clean)

 

[dustin Combs]

Do you have a Ca reactor?
Are you adding CO2 throught the reactor?
If not what are you dosing for Ca or alk- lime juice, kalk, etc.

I guess first of all we need to know the ppm in alk. You may want to p/u a Ca test also if you don't have one yet. I suggest salifert if it is available.

 

[marineer]

No i'm not using reactor, but dose with kalk, Ca is 450ppm, as far as the alk in ppm thats what this thread is about. Somebody help me, please.

 

[dustin Combs]

If your test is reading in the med range I am not sure that alk is the problem.
I am going to shoot you some ?'s
what type of salt are you using?
What type of powerheads are you using? Is there enough flow in your tank?
What type of lighting do you use? VHO's t5's or MH?
Have you ever use copper in your tank?
Have you run a poly pad through your tank? ( to capture any trace toxins/minerals in your tank?

It is a bunch of garbage but some helpful ?'s to help us try to help you.

Sorry for being so inquisitive

 

[marineer]

Ok here are the answers. Type salt brand: Instant Ocean, maxijets(3), I know i need better flow working on that, lighting is Mh two 400w, 10k bulbs, one 20k 175w, never used copper.

 

[gnrlee]

I would go with the salifert brand test kit. That red sea stuff is for the birds. I used those red sea test kits for a while, but when you have sps, you gotta know exactly where you alk is.

 

[dustin Combs]

So, since we got all the small stuff out of the way. What type of acro's or sps were you trying to keep? What did the do as far as tissue when they died. Bleach, RTN, Brownout?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I agree that getting an alkalinity kit with an actual values is a first step.

Are you using tap water?

This article may be useful:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

 

[marineer]

Great article, yes i have used trapn water in the past. I test for chlorine, and found that it had plenty, thannks for all teh help, going to buy, RODI sytem today, thanks for all the help.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That's a good plan. One concern with tap water is copper, and another is chloramine (which normal dechlorinators cannot effectively deal with). This article has more info:

Tap Water in Reef Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2004/chem.htm

and:

Chloramine
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/rhf/feature/index.htm