AquaForest Reef Salt mixing low alkalinity

[puckstopshere]

I’m new to this hobby and have an IM Nuvo 14 with a couple of clownfish and three soft corals. The tank is about three months old and in many ways it’s looking great. Fish and corals seem healthy so far. I’d like to keep building it up and in time move into LPS corals, and I know that l’ll need fairly stable parameters once I get to that point. While most of my parameters seem normal, I can’t seem to keep the alkalinity above 7dkh (Hanna checker). Usually I test the tank water in the 6.3-6.8dkh area between water changes. PH is 8.1 using a calibrated Apera pen.

I’m using AquaForest Reef Salt and mixing to 35ppt. Following instructions exactly using a kitchen scale to measure 415g of salt for 10L of rodi water. Calibrated refractometer shows 35ppt when mixed, as it should, but then, in the mix I made tonight, the alkalinity read 6.9dkh. The ICP results on this batch of salt say it tested at 8.4dkh.

I have no idea what I am doing wrong. I rolled the salt bucket around as the directions said, I’m mixing at the temperature I’m supposed to… but I’m missing something right?

I’m not opposed to setting up to dose, but feel like I should try to get the parameters out of the salt that I’m supposed to before I start chasing other solutions.

Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Might be many things, from an off test kit to an off batch, but it’s not that far off. I’d just boost the alk in the tank with baking soda.

 

[puckstopshere]

Okay thank you! So in this situation should I turn off my ATO, use Recipe 2, and manually top off a mix of that and rodi water over the next couple days to bring it up to 8?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’d keep the ATO running and just boost the alk if you want it higher.

 

[Aquaforest]

I’m new to this hobby and have an IM Nuvo 14 with a couple of clownfish and three soft corals. The tank is about three months old and in many ways it’s looking great. Fish and corals seem healthy so far. I’d like to keep building it up and in time move into LPS corals, and I know that l’ll need fairly stable parameters once I get to that point. While most of my parameters seem normal, I can’t seem to keep the alkalinity above 7dkh (Hanna checker). Usually I test the tank water in the 6.3-6.8dkh area between water changes. PH is 8.1 using a calibrated Apera pen.

I’m using AquaForest Reef Salt and mixing to 35ppt. Following instructions exactly using a kitchen scale to measure 415g of salt for 10L of rodi water. Calibrated refractometer shows 35ppt when mixed, as it should, but then, in the mix I made tonight, the alkalinity read 6.9dkh. The ICP results on this batch of salt say it tested at 8.4dkh.

I have no idea what I am doing wrong. I rolled the salt bucket around as the directions said, I’m mixing at the temperature I’m supposed to… but I’m missing something right?

I’m not opposed to setting up to dose, but feel like I should try to get the parameters out of the salt that I’m supposed to before I start chasing other solutions.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Hello @puckstopshere,

So great to hear another aquarist has joined the community - welcome aboard!
Thanks so much for choosing our salt. Could you please share the batch code with me? You’ll find it on the lid of the bucket. That’ll help us take a closer look.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

One thing to consider is how you read the test kit. It’s only as accurate as how you perform and interpret it.

 

[puckstopshere]

Hello @puckstopshere,

So great to hear another aquarist has joined the community - welcome aboard!
Thanks so much for choosing our salt. Could you please share the batch code with me? You’ll find it on the lid of the bucket. That’ll help us take a closer look.

Hi and sorry for the delay in responding! Just noticed this response. The batch code on the bucket is 4575336. Thanks!

 

[Reefedandconfused22]

@Aquaforest following this as I am also new to the hobby and heavily considering buying a 200 gal box and switching to your salt. I’m using reef crystals right now

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Aquaforest following this as I am also new to the hobby and heavily considering buying a 200 gal box and switching to your salt. I’m using reef crystals right now

If you want to use that salt, there's no general reason to not do so based on this thread.