Will Vinegar lower Alk?

[pk1]

I recently spilled a little ESV Alk supp into a tank...bumped the PH up pretty high..so I added vinegar to get it back to normal. Tested the ALK the next night and it was only 2.0 Meq/l...no other reason for it to be that low...as I test frequently. Does vinegar lower Alk? Thanks Randy....

Patrick

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It has the odd effect that one may observe the alkalinity to be lowered some when vinegar added, but the alkalinity comes back as the acetate is metabolized (usually less than a day). There will be no permanent decline.

This article discusses that:

What is Alkalinity
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2002/chemistry.htm

in the section titled "Unusual Contributors"

 

[pk1]

Alright, well I wish I would have waited before I bumped the ALK back up! I'll test again tonight and tomorrow and see if anything changes. Thanks.

On a side note, I mixed up some tropic marine pro salt a few nights ago, and all the levels were all over the place. Mixed to 1.025, 78 degrees and PH of 8.1. Ca was 410 (ok), MG 1100 (??) and Alk of 2.4 meq/l. Tested 2 times with Salifert. I just don't understand why these salt companies can not come up with a salt mix that matches NSW. I am no chemist (I have a hard time getting Kool Aid to mix right!), but considering the selling points of a salt mix that matches NSW, I'm surprised one is not out there. Leads me to believe there is a lot more behind the chemistry than one would think....any links to where I can read more about this?

Patrick

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm sure the alkalinity will work out fine.

Salt mix compositions are described in:

http://web.archive.org/web/20001215...om/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp

but it does not describe the problems in manufacturing a salt mix.

 

[pk1]

Thanks for the link...it does not specify which tropic marine salt they used--it does not say "Pro" so I would guess not. If the "pro" I am using has anywhere near those concentrations of PO4 and NO3, then IMO it's not suitable for a reef tank housing stony corals...PO4 at 1.20 micro moles per kilogram (compared to .20 in NSW) would be high enough to impede a corals calcium uptake..am I right that...or completely off my rocker?? Wouldn't be the first time

Patrick

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I think there may have only been one then, since it was a few years ago. Many of the salts may have changes since then.

1.2 uM = 1.2 x 95 = 114 micrograms per kg = 0.1 ppm

That is probably not a problem for a salt mix since more comes with foods each day.