Best snails for brown algae/diatoms

[Atu]

IO parameters: @35 ppt - pH : 8.2-8.4 ; Ca : 440 ; alk: 11 ; Mg : 1140
I would keep salinity @ 34ppt so above would be slightly lower. On their website they say once mixed w/no circulation & heat it could last a long time in covered container.

Alk 11 is really high, no wonder you are getting some precipitation. I would measure some fresh made water after the residue is form to check it's actual alkalinity after some of it precipitates.
I would just do that to know it's real value. Keep in mind that if you have an alkalinity of 9 and you're doing water changes with an alkalinity of 11 you are gonna have some alkalinity spikes, and I would avoid them. I know some people uses HCl to lower the alkalinity of a fresh batch of water before doing theirs water changes. I just use one that matches my alkalinity.
The precipitate is not biggie, no worries about it, but be careful with the alkalinity spikes.

 

[Johnny M]

Alk 11 is really high, no wonder you are getting some precipitation. I would measure some fresh made water after the residue is form to check it's actual alkalinity after some of it precipitates.
I would just do that to know it's real value. Keep in mind that if you have an alkalinity of 9 and you're doing water changes with an alkalinity of 11 you are gonna have some alkalinity spikes, and I would avoid them. I know some people uses HCl to lower the alkalinity of a fresh batch of water before doing theirs water changes. I just use one that matches my alkalinity.
The precipitate is not biggie, no worries about it, but be careful with the alkalinity spikes.

The 11 value is based on 34ppt. I'll keep my salinity @ 33ppt so alk will be a little lower. But that is a good idea to test it if there is any precipitation in mixing container. Should be getting a bucket of IO on Wednesday.

 

[Atu]

Actually contrary to common sense alkalinity might be higher in a lower salinity mix.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/m...tion-question-yes-you-want-this-title.361380/

 

[Johnny M]

Actually contrary to common sense alkalinity might be higher in a lower salinity mix.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/m...tion-question-yes-you-want-this-title.361380/

Interesting. I'll see what happens when I get the salt and mix it. Thanks for the link.

 

[Johnny M]

Added 2 tiger conch's yesterday about 1.5" ea., they are stirring up the sand. Diatoms seem to have slowed down in spreading. Got a little gha spot on back wall. ( should I say hoorah!!???). It seems like the Astrea & trochus are doing a decent job on rockwork for the diatoms - and I guess other algae like gha bc there is none , except for the back spot previously mentioned. Made a batch today of IO in my 32g Brute. Keeping SG @ 1.025. Tested alk a few hours ago with Hanna checker - 10.6dKH. Not bad. tomorrow will be 2 weeks since last WC (using Tropic-marin salt). I think I'll wait a few more days to see how the diatom situation goes.