Puzzling... high ALK & Ca, low PH

[Simon68]

defintely scrape and even that was hard

 

[Billybeau1]

Wow, I don not believe that is calcium.

I'd almost suggest something like spirorbids except mine grew on the rocks and glass. They were extremely hard to scrape off when I had them.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that the snow might be a calcifying organisms. It might be abiotic precipitation, although a picture might help.

 

[tmz]

canister with ceramic beads,

You seem to be feeding heavily and the beads in the canister filter could be producing nitrate fueling more bacteria given the sugar than you may wan't even if your 0 tests are right.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Top off water does have pretty high Alkanlinity (not has high has the tank) but little Calcium.

I presume you are using tap water?

I'd look to replace the top off and salt water change source water so that it is pure fresh water with no alkalinity in it. Not only is the alkalinity a concern and may be part of this problem, but perhaps more concerning is the potential for other things in it, like copper, lead, phosphate, silicate, etc.

I discuss tap water here:

Tap Water in Reef Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2004/chem.htm

 

[truebeliever71]

I presume you are using tap water?

I'd look to replace the top off and salt water change source water so that it is pure fresh water with no alkalinity in it. Not only is the alkalinity a concern and may be part of this problem, but perhaps more concerning is the potential for other thing sin it, like copper, lead, phosphate, silicate, etc.

I discuss tap water here:

Tap Water in Reef Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2004/chem.htm [/B]

Randy... for the past couple of months I've been using the RO water that you can get from the water machines in Walmart. The machines are by Culligan (at least they are in my area), and claim to use RO/RI along with another filter medium and lastly UV.

Any suggestions on how to lower the Alkalinity with dropping my already low Ph? I know that carbonated water will reduce the alkalinity so I think I try mixing that with the water before I add the salts to it... and then I can buffer the Ph before adding it to the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Did you measure alkalinity in that water?

 

[truebeliever71]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13499230#post13499230 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Did you measure alkalinity in that water?

Yes... it is high... not as high as what's in the tank... but high.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Then it has not been purified well by Walmart. I might try a different store for water, or an LFS or something if you do not want to get an RO/DI.

 

[truebeliever71]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13499288#post13499288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Then it has not been purified well by Walmart. I might try a different store for water, or an LFS or something if you do not want to get an RO/DI.

Thanks Randy... I'll go around this evening and test the water from the other stores... the best thing with Walmart is that the water costs 33 cents per gallon which is good for me right now since we cannot afford to get a RO/DI filter.

I've posted some before and after pics of my tank/coral here .

 

[truebeliever71]

I'm due for a water top off and still have some water left from the machine at walmart. The Alk is at 40KH. I must have written it down wrong when I tested it last.

I think the low PH is stressing my fish... they are starting to act kind of agressive and behaving as they normally do... is there way to raise the PH without raising the alkalinity any further? I have Purple Up. Would that work? Or should I use something else?

Thanks again!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

No, purple up is not suitable for this purpose.

I would not use the Walmart water for any purpose. I cannot imagine what it is that would have 40 dKH for alkalinity. Are you sure you are using the test correctly?

Distilled water would be better. Even tap water is probably better if you let the tap run for a while before using it.

There is no additive to boost pH that does not supply at least some alkalinity. Limewater is the best bet there, but aeration with fresh air will drive up the pH if the CO2 level in it is normal and the alkalinity is high.

This has more:

Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

 

[truebeliever71]

I didn't think the purple up would work. The Walmart water is 40KH... (no d in front if it) I'm going to head out and get a new test kit today for Alk and pH. I re-read your articles on pH this morning and thought I would ask anyhow because I didn't know my situation was too unique or not. I don't have any kalkwasser so I'm going to pick up some of it too.

Thanks once again.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What kit was the 40 from? There are at three different units of measure, and while all would be high, 40 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents is not nearly as high as 40 dKH or 40 meq/L.

 

[truebeliever71]

This is from a jungle test strip... I'm picking up a Salifert Alkalinity test kit today. The test strip reads 300KH on my tank water.... and approx. 180 on tap water after it has been running for 5 minutes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK, I'd await a real test kit. I'm not convinced that test strips can accurately measure alkalinity in seawater. I don't even understand how that could theoretically work, and I've asked around.

 

[truebeliever71]

Do you think it would be safe to start dosing the kalk to start bringing up the pH? The LFS was out of the Salifert tests... so I just ordered a Seachem one online.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

How are you measuring pH now?

 

[truebeliever71]

With the test strips and Red Seas liquid test kit.

 

[Billybeau1]

tb, I have very little faith in any titration type pH test kit. The closest to good that I have tested is API's.

If you want to run a successful reef tank, you really should invest in an electronic pH monitor. They are not that expensive and will give you a good pH reading and peace of mind.