Water Levels/ Help needed!

[plyle02]

Help,
I currently run a 55 gallon main tank with a 20 gallon sump w/ euro reef skimmer, a 20 gallon refugium(reverse light cycle), with a 324 watt t5 6x54, and a 150 watt halide 14k on refugium. I have a high flow return using mag 7 to deliver into main tank, and 2 maxi jet 1200's for extra flow. I have identified a very high alkalinity level, over 16 KH, yet am running a very low ph, around 7.8-8.0. I am not currently dosing anything, trying to lower my alk, but have not found any successful means of doing so. I have now bought two salifert alk tests that give identical readings, so it's not my test. My Calcium is 430, nitrates 5ppm , and 0 on both ammonia and nitrite. Can anyone give me advice on fixing these problems to help me avoid a crash.... Thanks, sorry for the long thread, but wanted to give as much info as I could to resolve this ongoing issue.....
Thanks again

 

[Tampa Aquarium Service]

Your just having an imbalance problem. Easiest thing to do is a good size water change. Test the new water first to be sure it's at normal levels then do the water change.

 

[markandkristen]

Re: Water Levels/ Help needed!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8298751#post8298751 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plyle02
Help,
I currently run a 55 gallon main tank with a 20 gallon sump w/ euro reef skimmer, a 20 gallon refugium(reverse light cycle), with a 324 watt t5 6x54, and a 150 watt halide 14k on refugium. I have a high flow return using mag 7 to deliver into main tank, and 2 maxi jet 1200's for extra flow. I have identified a very high alkalinity level, over 16 KH, yet am running a very low ph, around 7.8-8.0. I am not currently dosing anything, trying to lower my alk, but have not found any successful means of doing so. I have now bought two salifert alk tests that give identical readings, so it's not my test. My Calcium is 430, nitrates 5ppm , and 0 on both ammonia and nitrite. Can anyone give me advice on fixing these problems to help me avoid a crash.... Thanks, sorry for the long thread, but wanted to give as much info as I could to resolve this ongoing issue.....
Thanks again

pyle i had almost the same reading.
especially when i tried to raise my ph. using a buffer from the local fish store. i did what you did and its been about a month.i havent added anything.

one guy actually piped in outside air to his sump and used that to feed his skimmer with a little avail.

i guess you read that ph has to do with co2 in your home. i cant leave my windows open in the summer because i would cook the home. so i have given up on ph until winter times

 

[plyle02]

Thanks guys,
I have done some big water changes lately, and still not adding anything but r/o top off. I have a question though... I tested my r/o with Instant Ocean salt that I use and had a high alk reading before water change, so I guess that the high alk must be associated to the salt I am using. The alk reading of replacement water during the change was over 14 kh, so any reccomendations on another salt? I don't see any problems with my livestock, and all corals seem happy, just searching for the perfect water chemistry... Thanks again for all the responses.

 

[mflamb]

IO and Reef Crystals usually have good readings. It could be something in the batch you have. If you got it from a LFS, see if they will mix some with their water and test it. Maybe they will give you some new salt.

 

[plyle02]

Thanks mflamb,
Do you think that I have an issue with my r/o filter? The unit is 8 months old. Could it be time to change my filters? The unit is a countertop 3 stage unit, not the best, but certainly better than using tap water.... just wondering....

 

[mflamb]

With the amount of water that it takes to run a 95 gallon system, I wouldn't think that 8 months would do it, but mixing with some other ro or ro/di source would be my next step.

 

[plyle02]

mflamb,
I just tried testing my water again, use the salifert, and after mixing the r/o and Instant Ocean, I am getting high alk readings. I use esv 2 part, used part one/ alk then tested, results worse, mixed up another batch, used part two/ calc then tested no help, then added mag, then tested, no change.... Is there something that I am missing...