How to dose calcium and alkalinity
- Thread starter ibrat82
- Start date
gone fishin
New member
I would suspect your salinity is lower than you think. Get yourself some 35ppt calibration fluid and calibrate your refractometer with that. When doing a one point calibration we want to use a calibration fluid closest to the one point we are checking for. In this case our salinity.
This.
The Sybon is a great refractometer, but as gone fishin noted... calibrating at 1.000 doesn't help you measure 1.02x water.
I really really think you're lower than you think. (And your LFS is lower then THEY think!)
Wow can this get anymore difficult or what. So now the calibration method that sybon recommends by using their ultra pure solution isn't the correct way as what some of you are saying. I mean if that's not the right way then why not include a 35ppt solution instead of ultra pure water?
If what some of you are saying that my salinity isn't probably way lower than 1.024 then what am.I supposed to off of? What instrument is more accurate? How can I verify the true salinity of my water?
If what some of you are saying that my salinity isn't probably way lower than 1.024 then what am.I supposed to off of? What instrument is more accurate? How can I verify the true salinity of my water?
vhuang168
New member
Get some 35ppt calibration fluid and calibrate your refractometer to it. I use a Milwaukee Salinity meter and I calibrate with RO/DI as listed in the instructions but I also test it with a 35ppt solution to check that it is calibrated correctly.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/pinpoint-salinity-calibration-fluid.html
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/pinpoint-salinity-calibration-fluid.html
So I calibrate my sybon refractometer with 35 ppt solution and my refractometer was off by .004. So instead me thinking it was 1.024 all along it was 1.020. So now I need to increase my salinity in my DT. What's the best method? 10 percent water changes with 1.026 water? Or can I do 20% weekly? I have nothing but 2 clowns, some ceriths, hermits, and nassarius snails.
gone fishin
New member
The 2 easiest options is to either do it over time by WC's or to top off with saltwater until you reach your target salinity then go back to freshwater.
Once you get your salinity stable then check your alk, calc and mag. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Good luck just my 2 cents.
Once you get your salinity stable then check your alk, calc and mag. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Good luck just my 2 cents.
vhuang168
New member
Top off with sw instead of ro/di
Use this calculator
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/SaltwaterTopOff.php
If you want to use water change method
Use this calculator
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/TargetSalinity.php
So my top off reservoir will hold water for 4-5 days. Is this sufficient time to bring it from 1.020 - 1.026? it wont shock the fish and inverts will it if it done over 4-5 days?
gone fishin
New member
I do not think it will do any harm over a 4-5 day period.
So those that have been following I need your help again
So I got my salinity up to 35ppt however my alkalinity is still low. Here we what my readings are now. What can I do to bring up my alkalinity? I'm going to be putting in a mushroom and birdsnest in my tank soon and want to make sure I get everything upto par. Please advise
Alk 6.4
Magnesium 1335
Calcium 420
PH 7.78
Ammonia, Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Temple 77.7
So I got my salinity up to 35ppt however my alkalinity is still low. Here we what my readings are now. What can I do to bring up my alkalinity? I'm going to be putting in a mushroom and birdsnest in my tank soon and want to make sure I get everything upto par. Please advise
Alk 6.4
Magnesium 1335
Calcium 420
PH 7.78
Ammonia, Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Temple 77.7
gone fishin
New member
Are you using the salifert test for alk? If so then make sure your using the right bottle. I have inadvertently grabbed the standard bottle that comes with the test kit and got a surprise result.
If that is not the case then if I recall you purchased a two part dosing kit. You can use a calculator like the one on the BRS site and raise the alk slowly to see if that takes care of the issue. Good luck
If that is not the case then if I recall you purchased a two part dosing kit. You can use a calculator like the one on the BRS site and raise the alk slowly to see if that takes care of the issue. Good luck
I read that the aquavitro salinity salt uses borate to buffer alkalinity or ph and due to this the salifert alkalinity kits don't read boron. So my alkalinity might be as advertised on the bucket but how do I know for sure???
gone fishin
New member
I know it is a long shot but you don't happen to have another brand alk test. Maybe a LFS or a local reefer can do a double check for you to verify the salifert. I am not familiar with the aquavitro salt, so I can't help much there.
If you are unsure or question the salifert test then I would double check before attempting to raise it.
If you are unsure or question the salifert test then I would double check before attempting to raise it.
