BTA hiding from light; dKh increase why?

[sde1500]

The first possibility I thought of was I lowered (or raised?) dKh from 20 to 9 in one day

Thanks.

What?? First, how did it ever get that high, and second, how did you lower it that much in one day. Parameter swings need to be done slowly, thats an insane swing for one day.

 

[Weboh]

@Weboh - Salinity is a must which is why many here will recommend a ATO solution before anything else. I'm guilty of not having one on my 40 breeder but I've marked my tank and use a brute container with water matching the tanks. Then it is just a matter of filling up a 2 gallon jug and slowly dripping it in over night. For me it works but isn't something I'd recommend to others.

With my 240 I'll have a automatic / pump / reservoir to make it easier to manage. Oh - prior to having a digital hydrometer I always kept 2 just in case. I recall years ago running into a similar issue that you just mentioned. Good luck!

Yeah, I thought about getting an ATO but since I don't have any holes drilled in my tank, I don't really see how I'm going to do it.

I tried cleaning my hydrometer with vinegar but it's still giving inaccurate readings. So I'm just going to get a refractometer. Is this one any good? It does have 4 stars and says it's for marine aquariums but I'm not sure about ti since my LFS sells $50 ones and it seems odd that something less than half the price would be just as good.

What?? First, how did it ever get that high, and second, how did you lower it that much in one day. Parameter swings need to be done slowly, thats an insane swing for one day.

It got that high because I never dosed or checked for alkalinity. I assumed my weekly water changes with reef water would take care of the calcium for my birdsnest since it's an "easy" coral. Needless to say, I'm testing and dosing now... :worried: And yep, I'm being more careful from now on with parameter changes.

 

[sde1500]

Yeah, I thought about getting an ATO but since I don't have any holes drilled in my tank, I don't really see how I'm going to do it.



I tried cleaning my hydrometer with vinegar but it's still giving inaccurate readings. So I'm just going to get a refractometer. Is this one any good? It does have 4 stars and says it's for marine aquariums but I'm not sure about ti since my LFS sells $50 ones and it seems odd that something less than half the price would be just as good.



It got that high because I never dosed or checked for alkalinity. I assumed my weekly water changes with reef water would take care of the calcium for my birdsnest since it's an "easy" coral. Needless to say, I'm testing and dosing now... :worried: And yep, I'm being more careful from now on with parameter changes.

I think you have it backwards. I don't see how you think dosing would solve your sky high alkalinity problem. It would do the opposite. Honestly gonna say I think you had a testing error.

 

[Uncle99]

I have that refractometer and it works fine.
I got some 35 ppt and I calibrate only once per month. I use a hydrometer as a extra guide.