High alk,Ca levels

[ptr13]

Finally the Geo reactor is working,just cant keep my alk lower than 13,tested this am with salifert at 13.7 and Ca is over 500 so how do you lower it? Lower salinity to lower alk and Ca,lowered this am from 1025 to 1024. I wonder what is the source with such a rise?

 

[HighlandReefer]

Which salt mix are you using?

 

[ptr13]

oceanic,never had that problem before,ever since I placed the geo reactor into the system,it started running high.

 

[overklok]

Turn down the dosing rate into the aquarium, or raise you pH in the reactor, so you are not putting as much Ca and Alk into the effluent.

 

[ptr13]

I have it at 6.5 in the reactor with the controller,not dosing at all if thats what you meant. I change my water 10 gal every week though.

 

[HighlandReefer]

According to Billy's tests (mixed at 1.0264):

Oceanic
calcium: 580
alk: 8.5 dKH
mag: 1650

Your calcium reactor once adjusted properly for your system will maintain the alk and calcium level where you start it up. If your alk level begins to climb, you need to stop the reactor and let your alk drop by consumption. This should not take more than a few days. Then you start your reactor back-up and adjust it to maintain the alk level. In order to drop your calcium level you would need to do the same thing as above for alk, but your alk will drop quicker and will need to be supplemented with baking soda until your calcium is where you want it.

The problem with Ocean salt mix is that the calcium level in it is very high and due to this, your calcium level will slowly increase again when using your reactor properly. When using reactors it is best to use salt mixes that have calcium levels near where you want it.

 

[ptr13]

Thanks highlandreefer,will readjust accordingly and might have to switch saltmixes then,any suggestions highlandreefer?

 

[HighlandReefer]

Your welcome.

I agree with Randy's response to which salt mix one should use:


"I do not think there is a "best" salt mix. Nearly all of them will work fine as long as you know their pros and cons.

I personally prefer Instant Ocean, and this is why:

I don't want excessive borate, which leaves out Seachem.

I don't want vitamins or anything else organic in my mix, so that tosses out some like Reef Crystals, hW Marinemix Plus BioElements, Kent, Coralife, and Nutri-SeaWater.

I don't want excessive calcium (long term use of limewater as I use drives up calcium, so I do not want it starting high), so that tosses out a bunch, such as Kent, Seachem, Coralife and Oceanic.

There are certain companies that I will not support due to their misleading claims and/or product lines. That tosses out a few which I won't detail here since it is my personal thought as opposed to a specific issue with their salt mix.

I won't use certain lines of natural seawater due to excessive metals in it.

That only leaves a few to choose from, such as Instant Ocean and Tropic Marin Pro. The remaining ones might all be fine for me, but IO is lower in cost, especially if you get it when it goes on sale (which it frequently does)."

 

[ptr13]

I might make a switch,instant ocean,this salt has been around for years. You are right though,anything to cut down cost with this hobby because it is an expensive one.