Alkalinity - Salifert Test - Please help with advice

[George_]

Dear Reefers,

I have had my nano reef for about 8 months. In general I would say everything is doing ok except a Hair algae outbreak which has been constrained by keeping my weekly water changes (20%) and limiting excessive feeding.

It was about a month ago I ran a KH Salifert test and got 11,8 dKH. Today a month later I ran once more the test and got 12,5 dKH.

My LPS is doing well but I have never had good luck with SPS. My digitata and a monti just dried out and died. Bubble coral, Hammer corals and zoas are doing just fine.

I use RED SEA Salt and my tank is 25 gallons. On the Red sea Salt package it says 12.2 dKH, however I do hear that optimal is 8-11. Am I missing something here?

Thank you in advance! :worried::worried:

George

 

[outssider]

If your not adding any buffers/alkalinity your dkh should be dropping. The water change must be keeping the alkalinity high. test your newly mixed water for alkalinity ….it may be higher than it's supposed to be.

 

[homer1475]

The idea behind the higher ALK in newly mixed salt, is your replacing usage with your WC.



Myself personally don't like this idea because you never know what effect it will have. You can do the math, but I suck at math. lol



What I do is use regular old IO and match my displays parameter. You can use muriatic acid to bring the ALK down, but it needs to be mixed for 24H prior to using. I would not, and I repeat DO NOT put muriatic acid in your tank to bring it's levels down.

 

[George_]

If your not adding any buffers/alkalinity your dkh should be dropping. The water change must be keeping the alkalinity high. test your newly mixed water for alkalinity "¦.it may be higher than it's supposed to be.

Thanks outssider, I am not adding any buffers at all.
I think I will just switch my salt to something with a smaller KH target:reading:

 

[George_]

The idea behind the higher ALK in newly mixed salt, is your replacing usage with your WC.



Myself personally don't like this idea because you never know what effect it will have. You can do the math, but I suck at math. lol



What I do is use regular old IO and match my displays parameter. You can use muriatic acid to bring the ALK down, but it needs to be mixed for 24H prior to using. I would not, and I repeat DO NOT put muriatic acid in your tank to bring it's levels down.

Hi homer,
A clarification what do you mean by displays parameters? Electronic measurement of basic parameters and then you add any CA or MG as needed? :reading:

 

[Dan_P]

With weekly 20% water changes with a higher alkalinity salt mix, not surprising your alkalinity went up and matches the salt mix.

I think your question is "œwhy am I using salt mix with such a high alkalinity when prevailing wisdom is to be at a lower KH"? "œShould I just switch salt mixes?"

Yes?

 

[George_]

With weekly 20% water changes with a higher alkalinity salt mix, not surprising your alkalinity went up and matches the salt mix.

I think your question is "œwhy am I using salt mix with such a high alkalinity when prevailing wisdom is to be at a lower KH"? "œShould I just switch salt mixes?"

Yes?

YEs Dan I am already looking at different salts :beer:

Learning every day in the reef!

 

[Dan_P]

YEs Dan I am already looking at different salts :beer:

Learning every day in the reef!

I think we all are. Good luck!

 

[homer1475]

Hi homer,
A clarification what do you mean by displays parameters? Electronic measurement of basic parameters and then you add any CA or MG as needed? :reading:

Exactly what I mean.


I use regular old instant ocean. It mixes up @ 1.026, ALK 10, CAL 380, and MAG 1100(Rough numbers).



My tanks parameters are ALK 8.5, CAL 420, and MAG 1350.



Since I dose 2 part, I find it easier to match my display when doing a WC, then I don't have to mess with the dosing schedule. Besides IO is cheap, You only need a tiny amount of muriatic acid to bring the ALK down, and I already have the 2 part on hand. Makes sense to me. :beer: