Low Alk question.

[Carz]

I have been reading 4.9 alk with my Hanna tester. According to the BRS calculator I needed 725ml of alk to raise my system up to 8.5. I have been dosing about 100ml per day for the past 3 day and testing daily. After 300ml I am only at 5.9 and just wondering if this is a normal for the alk to raise this slow. I only have a few small frags and a large 200+ head duncan in a 250 gallon system so nothing really sucking up the alk. Should I just keep adding the 100ml/day??

 

[Coolcasino]

If you are positive that you are getting accurate test result that is the way you need to raise Alk. Slowly!

 

[Reefering1]

4.9 sounds suspiciously low.. what size tank is this?

 

[Carz]

250

 

[Reefering1]

250

without doing the math- 725ml sounds reasonable and you're on track. How old is this tank, how did it get down to 4.9?

 

[Carz]

did a tear down and restart in April.

 

[Reefering1]

But what brought alk that low? Pic of tank..

 

[Propane]

If it were me I’d verify the result using another method.

 

[dschuffert]

I would raise the dKH slowly. I am curious about what salt you are using and when the last water change was. Most salt mixes have a higher dKH than you are testing as part of their formula, which could raise your dKH level.

 

[vetteguy53081]

add no more but take a water sample to a reputable LFS and have them test a water sample for you and verify. If that low, your calcium would too would be low and even Ph as alk is a stimulant with ph level. You would be seeing tissue loss, ph swings and bleaching of coral if that low.

 

[Carz]

went to the store today took the tester and water. Ended up being the Hanna Reagent being bad. Use by date was 5 months away, but I bought a new reagent and tested my water and their water to confirm. One big water change today and I am good. Hanna test equipment is really nice at times but with my MG tester and the reagent being bad 5 months early makes me rethink Hanna.

 

[Tcook]

went to the store today took the tester and water. Ended up being the Hanna Reagent being bad. Use by date was 5 months away, but I bought a new reagent and tested my water and their water to confirm. One big water change today and I am good. Hanna test equipment is really nice at times but with my MG tester and the reagent being bad 5 months early makes me rethink Hanna.

What was the result? What did the lfs when they tested with their test? I got sick of the swings with the Hana alk tester and threw it away.

 

[Carz]

thinking of going to the Red Sea test kits. Not as easy but I never had issues when I first started this hobby.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Moral of the story: never believe alk below 6 dKH without strong confirmations because it is rare and difficult to get alk that low.

 

[dadnjesse]

I have found with the Hanna Alkalinity Reagent once you open it it's only a matter of weeks before the test results start being off. I have thrown out many bottles still within expiration dates.

 

[RRA]

I love my hanna meters, but I don't trust them truly. I will daily test with them to get a good idea, if ever something seems off ill break out another to confirm before I dose or change anything. They are great but to many variables make them not truly trustworthy in my eyes.

 

[Tnops]

I’ve increased DKH by 1-2 DKH a day many times without problem. I’ve accidentally done +6 DKH overnight and everything except one plate coral was fine (even that recovered)

 

[Propane]

Out of curiosity do you gently agitate the bottle before drawing your reagent?

 

[Carz]

That I do

 

[rahger]

I have found with the Hanna Alkalinity Reagent once you open it it's only a matter of weeks before the test results start being off. I have thrown out many bottles still within expiration dates.

i don't remember where I saw it, or if it's true but allegedly keeping it in the fridge extends it life?
someone can correct me if I'm wrong though.

I have a trident and test with hanna when i change my reagents, always seems to be consistently +/- 0.2dkh.