Instant ocean alkalinity

[logibear]

Tank has been up and running for about 3 months now. Been using purple instant ocean the entire time and my alkalinity on my Hanna checker has consistently been around 7.4. I’m very confused as everywhere I can find says that this salt should be around 10-11. My nitrate was about 8 the other day and my salinity is around 1.025-1.026. All corals seem to be doing well and fish are great, I’m just confused.

 

[Elira_6301]

My alkalinity jumps around from 12-17. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless your corals start losing tissue. Keep an eye on it. What tester are you using?

 

[logibear]

My alkalinity jumps around from 12-17. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless your corals start losing tissue. Keep an eye on it. What tester are you using?

Hanna. I’m just confused how it could be that low. I mainly have lps and softies.

 

[Elira_6301]

Hanna. I’m just confused how it could be that low. I mainly have lps and softies.

What is your PH level?

 

[KyleW22]

Have you tried testing your water after mixing before adding it to the tank? Also make sure you're rolling the salt around before scooping in case anything is settling. That said, my alk runs anywhere from 6.8 to 7.2 using Fritz salt which is lower than they claim as well.

 

[Elira_6301]

Tank has been up and running for about 3 months now. Been using purple instant ocean the entire time and my alkalinity on my Hanna checker has consistently been around 7.4. I’m very confused as everywhere I can find says that this salt should be around 10-11. My nitrate was about 8 the other day and my salinity is around 1.025-1.026. All corals seem to be doing well and fish are great, I’m just confused.

I use IO as well. I dose my corals with this 2x a week and also have an auto doser with All For areef I dose like 2x a week.

 

[C_AWOL]

Are you adding salt slowly to water when mixing? I find my alk will register lower if I accidentally make a hyper saturated solution (dumping 6 bags before my reservoir is full and my pump isn't on for example)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My barrel for mixing had lots of calcium carbonate deposits, and this can act as seed crystals for even more. That can lower alk considerably .

 

[logibear]

What is your PH level?

About 8.4

 

[logibear]

Have you tried testing your water after mixing before adding it to the tank? Also make sure you're rolling the salt around before scooping in case anything is settling. That said, my alk runs anywhere from 6.8 to 7.2 using Fritz salt which is lower than they claim as well.

I haven’t tested fresh saltwater yet. Probably will next time I do a change

 

[logibear]

I just cleaned out my mixing brute so I don’t think it is that but idk just seems weird to me that it would be so much lower than what it should be. I’ll test my next batch of water this weekend.

 

[Elira_6301]

About 8.4

Perfect!!

 

[logibear]

Fresh saltwater yesterday was 8.8 dkh so better but still kinda surprised it is that low

 

[gbroadbridge]

Fresh saltwater yesterday was 8.8 dkh so better but still kinda surprised it is that low

The Hanna Alkalinity reagent degrades quite quickly once opened.

A lot of folks refrigerate the bottle which extends the life by a long while.

If your bottle has been open more than a couple of months it is probably giving low readings.

Try a fresh bottle of reagent, or a different test like Salifert before changing too much.

 

[logibear]

The Hanna Alkalinity reagent degrades quite quickly once opened.

A lot of folks refrigerate the bottle which extends the life by a long while.

If your bottle has been open more than a couple of months it is probably giving low readings.

Try a fresh bottle of reagent, or a different test like Salifert before changing too much.

Good to know! I’ll need it anyway so guess I’ll get another one. Thanks

 

[logibear]

I’m not changing anything really. Fish and coral all seem to be just fine but was more just interested in an explanation.

 

[KyleW22]

The Hanna Alkalinity reagent degrades quite quickly once opened.

A lot of folks refrigerate the bottle which extends the life by a long while.

If your bottle has been open more than a couple of months it is probably giving low readings.

Try a fresh bottle of reagent, or a different test like Salifert before changing too much.

This is interesting to me because I have an expired alk reagent from Hanna that tests identically to a brand new bottle

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

Mine mixes to 10-12 fresh.

 

[ingchr1]

Curious, how much salt are you mixing per gallon when you make a batch?

 

[logibear]

It’s roughly 25 gallons and 11 1/2 cups. Comes out to right around 1.025-1.026