Alk. Question.

[occ_motorcycles]

Testing my water today and I am using an API kh test. After testing several times and getting the same result. My kh is less than 17.9 ppm. I have a buffer to raise it up but what should it be at if my calcium is at 450.

 

[mike007]

2.5 - 3.5 meq/l is pefered for reef tanks.

 

[kuyatwo]

Are sure you you are measuring right if less than 17.9 ppm means less than 1 dkh.

I would take a sample of your water to a lfs. Usually API one drop is one dkh make sure you have saltwater test


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[occ_motorcycles]

Ok my chart only gives degree of dKH and ppm. dKH is less than one

 

[occ_motorcycles]

Are sure you you are measuring right if less than 17.9 ppm means less than 1 dkh.

I would take a sample of your water to a lfs. Usually API one drop is one dkh make sure you have saltwater test

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It's the salt version. Off to the reef store I go now.

 

[mike007]

7-10 dkh for reef tanks

 

[Davinci]

yeah i would keep it around 11 that would be ideal so that if your dkh fluctuates a little, it will still be in the acceptable range of 8-10

 

[occ_motorcycles]

Ok. After a good trip to the lfs I am not as bad as i thought. I am not less than one I am actually at 133 ppm. That mean I am at 7.45ish degrees of dKH

 

[mcarroll]

That's not so bad! I would echo Davinci (post #7, not the historic figure! ;)) in recommending you to bring your alk up to 11 dKH (200 ppm) to give yourself more "room for error" so to speak. It's considered safe to raise your alkalinity by about 50 ppm per day.

-Matt

 

[occ_motorcycles]

That's not so bad! I would echo Davinci (post #7, not the historic figure! ;)) in recommending you to bring your alk up to 11 dKH (200 ppm) to give yourself more "room for error" so to speak. It's considered safe to raise your alkalinity by about 50 ppm per day.

-Matt

Yeah to help and cause it was time. I did a 20g water change (the system is about 100g total) today and will check it again tomorrow and see where I am at. If I need to use a buffer I will mix it up tomorrow

 

[Davinci]

I would also reccomend to use red sea coral pro salt which when mixed. it gives you like 11.2 dkh. I belive neo marine only gives around 7.5

 

[jedidad]

While you are at it toss those crappy API test kits out and get some Salifert one's. API kits are notorious for giving inaccurate results.

 

[occ_motorcycles]

While you are at it toss those crappy API test kits out and get some Salifert one's. API kits are notorious for giving inaccurate results.

I know. I personally don't use tests at home. It's easier and cheaper to just take a water sample to my lfs. These tests were a friends that he let me use over the recent holidays.

 

[johntran216]

11dkh is kind of high isn't it? If by some chance it went to 13dkh, that could probably hurt. I believe 9-10dkh is more ideal. Going down to 7 won't hurt, nor up to 12 will do too much harm. Though, if u can keep it consistent at 11dkh, then I suppose that is a good number.

 

[beaslbob]

FWIW and IMHO

It is extremely easy to adjust Alk with common baking soda. See the diy two part stickies here.

 

[mike007]

Thats what most companies are selling you for tenfold what baking soda sells for. Go figure!!!

 

[rufus2008]

Exactly, use baking soda not buffer. Buffers only raise alk temporarily then it goes down again. You can order cheap two part additives from bulk reef supply and they work as well as their more expensive counterparts.

 

[always reefin]

Alk is nothing to play with. Baking soda, BE CAREFUL ~ will and can fry! Most important is to try and keep steady. 9-10 in my opinion, but can be based on livestock. Sps likes lower 7.5-8. Different opinions on numbers I welcome and why

 

[Wesley42079]

Do yourself a favor and throw out the cheap API test kits.

Only use Salifert, Elos or Red Sea.

 

[specvjeff]

I highly recommend using the Salifert test kit or the Hannah Checker for Alk. I've used both and like them both.

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