tank help

lbraggs

New member
have a 220 tank that's been set up for 6 months having problems with alk I started out using brs 2 part but with the mixing and it takes about 3 times the amount so I switched to seacheam. my alk is about 7.5 and cant get it above that .ph 7.7 cal 425 mag 1260.temp 79.3 to 80 salinity 1.026 all is very stable doesing 180 alk 120 cal few small corals lot of new coralline growing. 35 gal water change every week, is it normal to have to add that much alk ?also have what looks like salt floating in water. new box of io mix the same way I always do, bad box maybe? have 3 clowns yellow tang brain coral and a plating coral. any help would be great .
 
I would test the alk solution in a some fresh rodi water to see if it is raising the alk at a proper level.

Also use a cheap API test to verify the numbers - if you haven't already....

posted using 1s and 0s
 
in the water column looks like salt didn't mix
I mix salt in 40 gal container with power head for at least a day
I was using brs 2 part when that started about 2 weeks ago
 
in the water column looks like salt didn't mix
I mix salt in 40 gal container with power head for at least a day
I was using brs 2 part when that started about 2 weeks ago

I do know that when you first mix up a batch of salt, you are not supposed to vigorously mix it for more than 4 hours, or there will be fall out (not crystals, but just "milk")..then you do not have to circulate it at all. If you do circulate it after the initial mix, you will be stirring up all the natural fallout at the bottom of your mixing bin and suspending this fallout in the water column.Stop circulating the mixing bin.Mix your salt for an hour or so and then walk away!
 
Surprised the skimmer isn't pulling it at this point though - use a filter sox to help catch the suspended particles.

But mix it for an hour and be done with it.

posted using 1s and 0s
 
just had water tested at lfs with another red sea test alk 11.2 cal 350 mag 1200
my test alk 8.4 cal 410 mag 1240
think I'm going to add some secheam mag try to up that and see how things go from there.
 
The mag is fine try to get the alk down to about 9 by dosing a little more calc as well

posted using 1s and 0s
 
Back
Top