New Water. Numbers need Rescue.

[JMorris271]

I have just tested my tank after adding some store bought water. Now my readings are all over the place.
Would someone please help point me in the right direction on what I need to do here.
With Hanna except Mag.

Cal.......49.5
Mag......14.65 Salerfert
Phos...... .04
Alk........238ppm
Sal.......102.8

Thanks for your hand up.

 

[mcgyvr]

huh? you been drinking?
Wanna try posting those numbers again...

Or do we assume
cal = 495
mag = 1465
phos = .04
alk = 2.38mq/l ?
salinit 1.028

oh and can I put my hand down now too?

 

[JMorris271]

OK. I misread it. Thanks for letting me know.
That aside,using the numbers you correctly deciphered , can you give me your advice on what I need to do and where to move these numbers to where they should be.?

 

[TangingOut]

Remove some saltwater and replace with RODI.

 

[JMorris271]

Good advice. That Helped

 

[JMorris271]

I know that using vinegar or mureatic acid to lower but I don't know how fast to safely do it.
Anyone?

 

[Betaktical]

Remove some saltwater and replace with RODI.

+1 it sounds like it's just a little saturated. I would just change 1/2 a gallon a day till you get your SG to 1.025. If you have fish and corals already then I would do 1/2 a gallon every two days just to take it slow. Don't take mcgyver so hard he can be a little upfront with his replies.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

So you just bought water?
but are still using your "normal" salt mix right?

Well.. alk is low, cal/mag/salinity are a bit "high"
Do you normally "dose" cal/mag/alk?
What are your "stable" numbers you are trying to maintain in the tank?

As stated simply pulling out some saltwater and replacing with freshwater will bring the salinity down..

You might want to add some sodium bicarbonate to bring alk up.. mag/cal will/should drop on their own with consumption.
But thats all I would do..


You might want to recheck those tests just to be sure.. Its always good to wait a few hours after doing a water change before taking measurements..

 

[mcgyvr]

And just a "tip" for next time..
At the very least ensure your freshly mixed saltwater is fully mixed and at the proper salinity level BEFORE adding to the tank.. :thumbsup:

What percent of water did you change anyways? and did you even check salinity?
I suspect your alk test may be incorrect anyways.. When salinity is too high then cal/mag/alk should be too.. Or your salt mix is really low in alk naturally..

 

[JMorris271]

And just a "tip" for next time..
At the very least ensure your freshly mixed saltwater is fully mixed and at the proper salinity level BEFORE adding to the tank.. :thumbsup:

What percent of water did you change anyways? and did you even check salinity?
I suspect your alk test may be incorrect anyways.. When salinity is too high then cal/mag/alk should be too.. Or your salt mix is really low in alk naturally..

I have mixed my RODI for about 4 hrs before using in a brute can with a power head and a heater to match the tanks temp.



I use a Milwaulke digital checker and match tank as close as I can.
My water changes consisted of me cleaning out my 40 gal sump once a week which has about 30 gals inside.

 

[mcgyvr]

I have mixed my RODI for about 4 hrs before using in a brute can with a power head and a heater to match the tanks temp.

View attachment 362519

I use a Milwaulke digital checker and match tank as close as I can.
My water changes consisted of me cleaning out my 40 gal sump once a week which has about 30 gals inside.

So how do you explain the increase in salinity?
It won't just "increase" for no reason..

Either your new mix was too high (or not mixed all the way) or the water in the system was already too high..

and whats the total system water volume?

Did you check the newly mixed water before putting it in the tank for anything else but salinity?

 

[JMorris271]

1.025- 1.026 is what I shoot for. 1.028 doesn't seem that far out of kilter for a tank with 1 coral. Perhaps the meter was not washed as well a sit should have been between readings or there was residue on the pipet. I really can't say.
I'll retest again tomorrow and be much more careful.
Now about the amount of acid to put in the tank to lower the Cal. How does someone know how much to put in and those little testing packets aren't cheap.
tank is 120 and sump is 40 gal with about 30 inside minus maybe 20 gals for displacemen by LR. so maybe 130 gals total.....

 

[nereefpat]

I'm still confused about what your alk is? What number (decimals are important) and what unit (ppm, meq/L, dKH)?

If it's 2.38 meq/L than alk is fine if not slightly low.

 

[ru4serious]

You are topping off with freshwater when replacing water from evaporation and not saltwater correct?

 

[JMorris271]

You are topping off with freshwater when replacing water from evaporation and not saltwater correct?

correct

 

[JMorris271]

I'm still confused about what your alk is? What number (decimals are important) and what unit (ppm, meq/L, dKH)?

If it's 2.38 meq/L than alk is fine if not slightly low.

My Hanna tester for alk gives results in ppm so I have to convert it.

My Alk is 238 ppm
238 ppm x .056=13.328 dkh which isn't too far over the 8 to 12 dkh range. I need to lower that with acid or is that the method for lowering Calcium?
The Cal. is 495 and needs to come down to about 430.

 

[mcgyvr]

Personally I would not worry about it at all.. if you want you can try to correct the alk some..
I would simply make up some "Alk Juice" with some RO water and Sodium Bicarbonate (which is just baking soda.. NOT baking powder).. Add a little at a time to bring it up..

Instructions from Randy Holmes improved 2 part recipe 2 are here "The alkalinity part"
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/

But just so its clear..... those numbers are really NOTHING to freak out about at all.. You can just kick back and enjoy a beer and not worry about it at all..
The mag/cal will drop over time..

Seriously.. just relax.. and enjoy the tank.. :thumbsup:

 

[nereefpat]

That is too high, but probably not dangerous. If you replace the saltwater with RO, taking the s.g. from 1.028 to 1.025, the new alk would be about 11.8 if my calculations are correct.

I'm not sure your livestock would like the instant pH drop from adding an acid. The amount of acid needed to lower alk significantly would drop pH quite a bit. I would just let it be.

 

[JMorris271]

Just had this dropped off by the UPS girl
Oh and the ever present P nut.

 

[BrettDS]

New Water. Numbers need Rescue.

Like some of the others have alluded to, the key to reefing is to do things slowly. It certainly appears that none of your numbers are in a really bad or unsafe range and trying to quickly change things and make the numbers "perfect" is probably going to cause much more harm than just leaving them where they are or working to slowly (over a period of days, at least, or even weeks) trying to move them to where you want them. There is absolutely no reason to put acid in your tank to try to get a specific number on a test kit.

I would suggest starting by slowly trying to get the salinity back where you want it. Replace a little salt water with fresh water each day with the goal being that a week from now (and no sooner) you will be reading 1.025. At that point run your other tests and see where you stand. If things are still not quite where you want them then plan to work on those parameters over the next week or two.

Just remember that quick changes are the enemy and will kill more corals than having a stable system with numbers slightly outside the normal range.