Lowering alk

[BiggestE222]

if an lfs sold you all that, it is way too much for just controlling alk and calcium. I control using 2 part and a magnesium additive as i didnt love using kalkwasser personally, but many people find kalk easier. When using kalk u still need to dose magnesium at some point but in a low demand tank water changes will replace most of what is missing.

I also add 5 ml of magnesium per day

 

[Jaden9933]

IORC mixes up way over 8dkh @ 1.025- 1.027

I would suggest a better test kit before making any further adjustments.

Actually, I was wrong. I just retested the water in the bucket and it came out to 17 dKH. I’m not sure why I remember it as being 8 dKH but that would make perfect sense why the tank didn’t lower at all

 

[redfishbluefish]

STOP! We are not adding anything unless we are testing for it and the results show that you need to add to get back to a targeted level. Test Alk, Calc and Magnesium....determine demand....and dose that amount. Don't read the bottle instructions if it simply says add X amount every day for Y number of gallons. YOU NEED TO TEST.

 

[Jaden9933]

STOP! We are not adding anything unless we are testing for it and the results show that you need to add to get back to a targeted level. Test Alk, Calc and Magnesium....determine demand....and dose that amount. Don't read the bottle instructions if it simply says add X amount every day for Y number of gallons. YOU NEED TO TEST.

I will from now on. I’m realizing that following the bottle instructions is usually too much considering how concentrated it is and how understocked my tank is with coral

 

[redfishbluefish]

Freshly made saltwater does not have a dKh of 17. Can't happen. Unless your sallinity is WAY off or your testing is not correct.

Please have someone else measure your alk using their kits....or take a water sample to your LFS.

 

[Jaden9933]

Freshly made saltwater does not have a dKh of 17. Can't happen. Unless your sallinity is WAY off or your testing is not correct.

Please have someone else measure your alk using their kits....or take a water sample to your LFS.

My testing must be off then. Salinity should be good as I just recently had a problem with a broken refractometer and bought a new one that was much more accurate and I calibrate it between every use just to be as accurate as possible

 

[R33fDaddy]

Freshly made saltwater does not have a dKh of 17. Can't happen. Unless your sallinity is WAY off or your testing is not correct.

Please have someone else measure your alk using their kits....or take a water sample to your LFS.

I never trust my saltmix lol

I always test it prior to it going into my tank.

Knowing the salinity would help though.

 

[homer1475]

Freshly made saltwater does not have a dKh of 17. Can't happen. Unless your sallinity is WAY off or your testing is not correct.

Please have someone else measure your alk using their kits....or take a water sample to your LFS.

This right here ^^.

IORC does mix up high(something like 12DKH I think. Don't use it, so I'm going from memory.) So if your mixed up water is coming in at 17DKH, either your testing method is wrong, or your salinity is way off.

Only 2 ways that can happen.

 

[Jaden9933]

This right here ^^.

IORC does mix up high(something like 12DKH I think. Don't use it, so I'm going from memory.) So if your mixed up water is coming in at 17DKH, either your testing method is wrong, or your salinity is way off.

Only 2 ways that can happen.

I’ll try recalibration and test the salinity one more time just to be extra sure. I’m kinda hoping it my error and not the test so that I can just fix it and not have to buy another

 

[Jaden9933]

I’ll try recalibration and test the salinity one more time just to be extra sure. I’m kinda hoping it my error and not the test so that I can just fix it and not have to buy another

Is the Red Sea alk test accurate? Seems to be the brand I read the modt good about

 

[R33fDaddy]

Is the Red Sea alk test accurate? Seems to be the brand I read the modt good about

I use the Hanna Checker, I think it's the best one on the market.

 

[homer1475]

Red sea works and is fairly accurate. But is a pita to use.

I would suggest salifert for alk. It's simple to use, has a very defined color change, and is cheap.

Of course if you want top splurge, the Hanna is second to none for ALK readings.

 

[Jaden9933]

Red sea works and is fairly accurate. But is a pita to use.

I would suggest salifert for alk. It's simple to use, has a very defined color change, and is cheap.

Of course if you want top splurge, the Hanna is second to none for ALK readings.

I’ll try the salifert for now but Hanna checkers are the end goal

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

This sounds like me when I first got into the hobby. I put in a TON of ph buffer because it was supposed to buffer it at 8.3. I took some of my tank water to my LFS the next day because it wasn't raising and found out my dKh was 24...

Before you do any dosing, like others have said, you have to test. I wouldn't waste your time with other alk test kits. Go straight to Hanna and forget about the rest. I also use Hanna for phosphate. Make sure to get the ULR tester. I use red sea for calcium, magnesium, and nitrate (only until Hanna comes out with the high range nitrate).

Do yourself a favor and test every day for the next couple of weeks. You'll start to see a trend that shows you what your tank is doing. I tested my alk yesterday and found it at 7.8, but it was at 8 a few days prior. I didn't change anything because during my testing, I found there were some days it would fluctuate a little but then come back in line with what I strive to keep my level at. I bet it'll be at 7.9-8.0 tonight when I test. If it's lower, then I'll wait another day and test to see if my alk consumption has truly gone up. Only make changes once you're sure your tank needs it.

And don't forget to do your research! Buy something after your research it; don't research it after you buy it. Bulk Reef Supply has a nifty series that will definitely help you learn the basics. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/category/brs-tv/52-weeks-of-reefing

 

[Jaden9933]

This sounds like me when I first got into the hobby. I put in a TON of ph buffer because it was supposed to buffer it at 8.3. I took some of my tank water to my LFS the next day because it wasn't raising and found out my dKh was 24...

Before you do any dosing, like others have said, you have to test. I wouldn't waste your time with other alk test kits. Go straight to Hanna and forget about the rest. I also use Hanna for phosphate. Make sure to get the ULR tester. I use red sea for calcium, magnesium, and nitrate (only until Hanna comes out with the high range nitrate).

Do yourself a favor and test every day for the next couple of weeks. You'll start to see a trend that shows you what your tank is doing. I tested my alk yesterday and found it at 7.8, but it was at 8 a few days prior. I didn't change anything because during my testing, I found there were some days it would fluctuate a little but then come back in line with what I strive to keep my level at. I bet it'll be at 7.9-8.0 tonight when I test. If it's lower, then I'll wait another day and test to see if my alk consumption has truly gone up. Only make changes once you're sure your tank needs it.

And don't forget to do your research! Buy something after your research it; don't research it after you buy it. Bulk Reef Supply has a nifty series that will definitely help you learn the basics. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/category/brs-tv/52-weeks-of-reefing

Thats exactly what I did for the same reasoning. You said that the alkalinity stabilizes itself, so theoretically, if the test was accurate, will my tank stay at a steady 17 dKH? Or will it lower over time?

 

[Jaden9933]

Freshly made saltwater does not have a dKh of 17. Can't happen. Unless your sallinity is WAY off or your testing is not correct.

Please have someone else measure your alk using their kits....or take a water sample to your LFS.

I found another alk test I have. It’s Seachem so, not much better, but, it can tell me if my API test is off or not at least. Which test would I do? Total alk, borate alk, or carbonate alk?

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

Thats exactly what I did for the same reasoning. You said that the alkalinity stabilizes itself, so theoretically, if the test was accurate, will my tank stay at a steady 17 dKH? Or will it lower over time?

It doesn't stabilize itself. I tested until I knew exactly what my daily alk consumption was and adjusted my dosage until it was stable. You have to continue to test because corals grow and start to use up more minerals and such the larger they get.

 

[Jaden9933]

It doesn't stabilize itself. I tested until I knew exactly what my daily alk consumption was and adjusted my dosage until it was stable. You have to continue to test because corals grow and start to use up more minerals and such the larger they get.

Oh okay I see what you’re saying now