Oceanic salt - Cannot get alk up - what salt do you use?

[whalloper]

Hello all -

I have been using Oceanic salt for about a year. My calcium is always around 450ppm without dosing, but I have a very difficult time getting my alkalinity to even 9dkh. I have never tested it above 10. To get it to 9, I have to dose carbonate at many times the recommended amount.

I have heard this salt is typically very high in calcium, so is that why I cant easily raise the alkalinity?

Finally, what salt gives more balanced parameters?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What is your target alkalinity?

How much of what alkalinity supplements are you adding?

 

[whalloper]

I would like to have my alk around 10 - I can get it there...but not easily. I am dosing with Seachem Reef Carbonate... at around 20ml per day in my 72gal. Would Kalk be better? Or should I just change salt, or both??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That does not seem like a lot to me. It is a reasonable amount to balance calcification by organisms and abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate. Some aquaria your size would need far more than that to balance the demand.

 

[whalloper]

ok, great. So is it ok that I am not dosing calcium? I have heard before thats not ok, but my system doesnt seem to be using it an any significant rate. Also, how long do I have to wait after dosing carbonate to dose iodine. Thanks for all your help!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So is it ok that I am not dosing calcium?

It is OK until the calcium dips below about 400 ppm, then I'd maintain it at 380-450 ppm using a balanced calcium and alkalinity addition method. If you are doing water changes with a salt like Oceanic, it may take a long time to use up the calcium coming in that way.


Also, how long do I have to wait after dosing carbonate to dose iodine.

I do not generally recommend dosing iodine at all, since I do not think it necessary for the organisms that we keep, but if you do dose it, there is no need to wait any special period after dosing the carbonate.

These articles may be useful:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Iodine in Marine Aquaria: Part I
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/chem.htm

Iodine in Reef Tanks 2: Effects on Macroalgae Growth
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2003/chem.htm