Alk swung

[Chucky]

It's not great, I hope they'll survive

The only guys I’ve seen that may have suffered is my sps monticaps

 

[DanyL]

It makes sense, SPS are more sensitive to alk swings.
However LPS don't like swings neither, and it may take longer to react.
You really need to find some time for a water change to start decreasing these levels.

 

[Chucky]

It makes sense, SPS are more sensitive to alk swings.
However LPS don't like swings neither, and it may take longer to react.
You really need to find some time for a water change to start decreasing these levels.

The 6 lps pieces I have was all opened and fluffy surprisingly, will play with salt mixing this afternoon when I’m off work and re check alk

 

[Chucky]

The 6 lps pieces I have was all opened and fluffy surprisingly, will play with salt mixing this afternoon when I’m off work and re check alk

Okay little update: tested fresh salt mix mixed at 1.025 unshaken/ unmixed bucket tested off the scale of what Hanna could even read!!!
shook the bucket up really well and mixed it throughly mixed it at 1.025 and it hit 11dkh spot on via Hanna and Api alk testers pics to show results before and after throughly mixing the dry salt mix

 

[DanyL]

Huh. This is a really significant difference

I wonder why it happens so often with IO salt, they don't sell it here so I've never used it myself but it seems like others have experienced the same using it as well.

I mostly use fresh sea water but from time to time I do mix my own with Red Sea salt which is very popular brand over here, never had an issue myself or have ever heard of anyone around here to have it as well.

Anyway, because the shaken salt still does have elevated elements the most you'll be able to decrease is to around 11dKH and it'll take some time to do so. In general, there is nothing wrong with keeping a tank with elevated elements, there are pros and cons to this like anything else but coral can and will adapt.

 

[Chucky]

Huh. This is a really significant difference

I wonder why it happens so often with IO salt, they don't sell it here so I've never used it myself but it seems like others have experienced the same using it as well.

I mostly use fresh sea water but from time to time I do mix my own with Red Sea salt which is very popular brand over here, never had an issue myself or have ever heard of anyone around here to have it as well.

Anyway, because the shaken salt still does have elevated elements the most you'll be able to decrease is to around 11dKH and it'll take some time to do so. In general, there is nothing wrong with keeping a tank with elevated elements, there are pros and cons to this like anything else but coral can and will adapt.

Agreed, makes me wonder tho I was formerly using reef crystals and I always had to dose alk to keep it up so now I’m curious if shaking it caused it to mix spot on from the elevated levels with that being said I never shook rc and it mixed low I’m assuming (never tested salt mix for alk)

 

[DanyL]

Agreed, makes me wonder tho I was formerly using reef crystals and I always had to dose alk to keep it up so now I’m curious if shaking it caused it to mix spot on from the elevated levels with that being said I never shook rc and it mixed low I’m assuming (never tested salt mix for alk)

Most companies have at least 2 kinds of salts, one with normal, closer to sea levels and the other with elevated.
So perhaps the reef crystals is their normal levels salt.

I know that many use salt with elevated levels as a way to supplement depleted elements through a water change, so it does have some reasoning behind it, but once you have enough daily consumption it'll not be sufficient to keep up.

 

[Chucky]

Most companies have at least 2 kinds of salts, one with normal, closer to sea levels and the other with elevated.
So perhaps the reef crystals is their normal levels salt.

I know that many use salt with elevated levels as a way to supplement depleted elements through a water change, so it does have some reasoning behind it, but once you have enough daily consumption it'll not be sufficient to keep up.

Time and testing will be the only way to keep up with consumption

 

[DanyL]

Time and testing will be the only way to keep up with consumption

Well, that and the actual act of dosing it back into the system

Although it is completely acceptable to use water change supplement strategies when the environment allows it.

 

[Chucky]

Well, that and the actual act of dosing it back into the system

Although it is completely acceptable to use water change supplement strategies when the environment allows it.

Especially since I have a nano tank

 

[homer1475]

You can also lower the alk with an acid, not carbon source(vodka, vinegar, sugar, etc).

This should not be done in the tank with inhabitants, but can most certainly be done to mixing water.

 

[Chucky]

You can also lower the alk with an acid, not carbon source(vodka, vinegar, sugar, etc).

This should not be done in the tank with inhabitants, but can most certainly be done to mixing water.

Using what?

 

[DanyL]

You can also lower the alk with an acid, not carbon source(vodka, vinegar, sugar, etc).

This should not be done in the tank with inhabitants, but can most certainly be done to mixing water.

Good point, carbon sources are essentially weak acids.
However, in the current situation it would still leave all other elements elevated.

 

[DanyL]

Using what?

Hydrochloric Acid will probably work fine if you give enough time for the chlorine to evaporate before doing the change.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Using what?

Sodium bisulfate (DIY or Seachem acid buffer) or hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid).

I generally do not recommend it int eh display tank due to the very large ph drop, but in new salt water you can lower it as low as you want, then aerate it to blow off the excess CO2.

Sodium Bisulfate to Reduce Alkalinity in New Salt Water or in Display Tanks

I just want to record these calculations in their own thread to refer back to in other threads. When alkalinity is too high in new salt water or in a display tank, acid can be used to lower the alkalinity. You can easily use muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), or sodium bifulfate (e.g...

www.reef2reef.com

CHANGING SALT TO HAVE LOWER ALK.

I do water changes about every other week on my 50 display with 70-80 gal total system. I am currently using reef crystals and my alk. is testing at a constant 13 dkh. I would like to bring this down to around 8 or 9. what is the best way to switch salt mixes? I am thinking about redsea blue...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Hydrochloric Acid will probably work fine if you give enough time for the chlorine to evaporate before doing the change.

CO2 needs to be removed, but there's no Cl2 (chlorine) involved.

 

[Chucky]

Sodium bisulfate (DIY or Seachem acid buffer) or hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid).

I generally do not recommend it int eh display tank due to the very large ph drop, but in new salt water you can lower it as low as you want, then aerate it to blow off the excess CO2.

Sodium Bisulfate to Reduce Alkalinity in New Salt Water or in Display Tanks

I just want to record these calculations in their own thread to refer back to in other threads. When alkalinity is too high in new salt water or in a display tank, acid can be used to lower the alkalinity. You can easily use muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), or sodium bifulfate (e.g...

www.reef2reef.com

CHANGING SALT TO HAVE LOWER ALK.

I do water changes about every other week on my 50 display with 70-80 gal total system. I am currently using reef crystals and my alk. is testing at a constant 13 dkh. I would like to bring this down to around 8 or 9. what is the best way to switch salt mixes? I am thinking about redsea blue...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you Randy Holmes Farley! After you and I talked the other day about switching to io salt from rc I did the big wc and well if you read the thread assuming you have it wasn’t an pleasant experience to say the least

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thank you Randy Holmes Farley! After you and I talked the other day about switching to io salt from rc I did the big wc and well if you read the thread assuming you have it wasn’t an pleasant experience to say the least

Yes, I can see a big water change can be a problem from a number of standpoints.

 

[Chucky]

Yes, I can see a big water change can be a problem from a number of standpoints.

Yes sir I was trying to lower nutrients down and I have a nano system so everyone says large wc would the best way so I did and here I am lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Most companies have at least 2 kinds of salts, one with normal, closer to sea levels and the other with elevated.
So perhaps the reef crystals is their normal levels salt.

No, its not.

Normal IO typically has alk close to but lower then Reef Crystals.