Alkalinity is 13.4

[newsalt]

I just tested my reef water and found the Alk to be 13.4 dKH with a Salifert Kit. My Ca is at 460 and my Mg is 1395, both also tested with Salifert kits. Is that Alk too high? Fish and corals look good. I'm using a Ca Reactor to maintain levels. Should I do something about the high Alk? If so, what?

 

[bertoni]

The usual recommended upper limit for alkalinity is 11 dKH. 13.4 isn't high enough to cause problems, in most cases, but I'd let it drop. Since there've been a lot of reports of problems with Salifert alkalinity test results, I'd suggest getting a second opinion before doing anything, though.

 

[Aquarist007]

You might get a nice growth of corraline algae as a result of the high alk
I am one of the reporters of problems with Salifert Alk test--

check this thread out:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1205141

 

[BangkokMatt]

I am just reading through high old alk threads as mine is 14 dKH. I was testing with Salifert to a reading of 10.6. Got a new Salifert test kit today and the new reading is 14. What is going on? How can Salifert be so out. I hope my old test kit is the reliable one. I will NEVER recommend them again!!!!

 

[Aquarist007]

the kits do have a time limit --sometimes before you use up the materials.
Take another reading with the new kit

what are your other tank parameters, pH, calcium , magnesium?

Are you using buffers to bring up pH levels and what kind /source of water are you using?

 

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10915140#post10915140 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
the kits do have a time limit --sometimes before you use up the materials.
Take another reading with the new kit

what are your other tank parameters, pH, calcium , magnesium?

Are you using buffers to bring up pH levels and what kind /source of water are you using?

What do you think the time limit is on the kits

My other parameters are
Calcium 420
magnesium 1300
Don't have a pH test kit at the moment

Source water is RO

I dose 2 part and top up with Kalk

 

[Billybeau1]

Thats quite a difference.

Could you tell me what the expiration date is on both kits ?

Its on a little yellow label on the top of the box.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10919844#post10919844 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
What do you think the time limit is on the kits

My other parameters are
Calcium 420
magnesium 1300
Don't have a pH test kit at the moment

Source water is RO

I dose 2 part and top up with Kalk

you can't put a definitive answer to time limits on the kits---there are two many variables---the point is that the kits can start to make errors and or need to be replaced before the materials run out completely.
If you start to get inconsistent test results---unexplained highs and low for your tank then it is time to get another kit.

 

[Aquarist007]

you should really measure your pH --it is affected by what you add for alkalinity
I'm sure billybeau will correct me if I am wrong here--but I would stop dosing with the kalk until you get a handle on the pH and true alkalinity levels,

 

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10919877#post10919877 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Thats quite a difference.

Could you tell me what the expiration date is on both kits ?

Its on a little yellow label on the top of the box.

Oldest kit 10-2009
New kit 05-2012

 

[Billybeau1]

Could you also list the batch numbers on each of the big bottles ?

 

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10919944#post10919944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Could you also list the batch numbers on each of the big bottles ?

old kit CB-03948E
new kit 0207-D

 

[Billybeau1]

Well neither one of them were on the bad kit list. The older one may have just went bad on you. Sometimes we as users actually contaminate them accidentally and we don't even know it.

He's what you could try. If you can get an API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) kit, you test with that and see which kit is closer.
The API's are inexpensive and surprisingly accurate. Also easy to use. Each drop is 1 dkh.

 

[BangkokMatt]

Thanks all