new io alkalinity

[fishorfishin]

Picked up 4 buckets of IO last night from pets mart which were half off.

Made up two gallons to 1.025, water was probably 60 degrees or so from ro. Used maxi jet 1200 to mix up, and tested about a half hour later.

@1.025, the alkalinity was 10. Does that sound about right now a days for IO?

Prior to opening the bucket, I rolled the bucket 30 feet or so to mix it up.

Thanks

 

[coralsnaked]

that's about right

 

[bertoni]

I agree. The newer IO formula should run about that level.

 

[fishorfishin]

OK so essentially the same as red sea coral pro . darn was hoping it would be lower.

Any salt off hand that mixes up at 8 or so

 

[swk]

IO does if you add muratic acid. That's what I do anyways. Read up on it and be sure to use adequate protective equipment.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that muriatic acid will lower the alkalinity. It is a toxic chemical, though, and requires careful handling.

 

[fishorfishin]

Will look into that. Is that just as good as buying a salt ready to roll already? A salt with 8 alk and 430 calcium or is there no such thing?

 

[james30ct]

Pretty sure tropic marin salt mixes around 7.8 for alk

 

[lespaul339]

I mixed up a fresh batch of IO tonight at 1.026 and the ALK tested at 14! I tested it about 3 hours after I mixed it up.

 

[a.browning]

There's unfortunately not really a salt that mixes to normal alk levels, except regular red sea salt is around 8-9 and Kent is usually around 9, but I'm not a fan of either. I also add Muriatic, .123 ml/ per gallon/ per dkh of alk you want to decrease by. Aerate until pH is back up, and you're good to go.

 

[bertoni]

People get bad batches of lots of brands of salt products. The dry salt might have settled badly during shipment, which can be another issue. You could try mixing up the dry salt before making your next batch.

 

[tmz]

Coralife comes in at 9.0 at 1.025sg.

 

[Scorpius]

ESV comes in at 9 dkh for me.

 

[bertoni]

Will look into that. Is that just as good as buying a salt ready to roll already?

I forgot to answer that question. Yes, muriatic acid is fine to use, and the end product is as good as a salt at the chosen alkalinity level. Having to handle muriatic acid is the only downside.

 

[RomeReef]

quick question, I also hit up the Petsmart online deal for 3 buckets.

around 400ppm Calcium and 10 alkalinity here too.

If I add some Calcium Chloride to bump the Calcium to 450 in the premixed water will it bring down the Alk?

I'd like to be around 450 ca and 8 alk since I run biopellets.

 

[swk]

quick question, I also hit up the Petsmart online deal for 3 buckets.

around 400ppm Calcium and 10 alkalinity here too.

If I add some Calcium Chloride to bump the Calcium to 450 in the premixed water will it bring down the Alk?

I'd like to be around 450 ca and 8 alk since I run biopellets.

No it will not. I use muratic to drop the alk and add 2 part calcium solution to raise the ca. Depending on the batch, I will occasionally raise the mag as well. Although, the last bucket I just finished ran around 1400 so there was obviously no need.

I love using this method because I can match my water exactly and do large water changes without screwing up my big 3 numbers.

 

[lespaul339]

I am going to be switching salts because of Instant Oceans' instability when it comes to ALK. Just creates more unneccesary work for me in the long run when I have to constantly be correcting levels because of their high ALK.

I'm thinking about trying Kent out.

 

[smatter]

No it will not. I use muratic to drop the alk and add 2 part calcium solution to raise the ca. Depending on the batch, I will occasionally raise the mag as well. Although, the last bucket I just finished ran around 1400 so there was obviously no need.

I love using this method because I can match my water exactly and do large water changes without screwing up my big 3 numbers.

It doesn't?

 

[swk]

It doesn't?

What doesn't?

 

[GSMclowns]

Most of the time people only change a small percentage of the total amount of water of their tank. If people only change about 5-10% of the total column, then even if the ALK is at 10-13, it doesn't make that much of a different at all. I am curious as why it is so important to add acid into it to lower the ALK to 8 or 9?

Of course, if you are going to change like 50% or so, then it will be a big deal.