My alkalinity is 4.5 up to 5.2

[ou12004]

I tested my Alkalinity for the first time in a while and it was 4.5! I have raised it to 5.2 by dosing 10ml of B-Ionic 3 times a day over the last 2 days, I also bought some Red Sea pro salt and I am changing 10 gallons of water at 11.5. I don’t want to shock my corals by raising it to fast but with it that low should I up how fast I am raising it?

 

[Uncle99]

I tested my Alkalinity for the first time in a while and it was 4.5! I have raised it to 5.2 by dosing 10ml of B-Ionic 3 times a day over the last 2 days, I also bought some Red Sea pro salt and I am changing 10 gallons of water at 11.5. I don’t want to shock my corals by raising it to fast but with it that low should I up how fast I am raising it?

4.5?
I don’t think that’s possible
What test gives that result?

I try another test.

I would not move Alk more than .5dkh per day.

 

[ou12004]

4.5?
I don’t think that’s possible
What test gives that result?

I try another test.

I would not move Alk more than .5dkh per day.

2 separate Hanna checkers. I tested 2 different salt water mixes as well and they tested at 9.5 IO and Red Sea Pro at 11.5

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What is in the tank?

 

[ou12004]

What is in the tank?

LPS, SPS and softies, I use 8 tsp of kalk with 45ml of vinegar in my ATO and didn’t realize that it didn’t raise alk only maintained it.

 

[KStatefan]

LPS, SPS and softies, I use 8 tsp of kalk with 45ml of vinegar in my ATO and didn’t realize that it didn’t raise alk only maintained it.

Tank looks nice.

That would depended on demand. Alk could raise, maintain, or decrease.

 

[Uncle99]

2 separate Hanna checkers. I tested 2 different salt water mixes as well and they tested at 9.5 IO and Red Sea Pro at 11.5

Wow
Never seen it that low
Your going to melt stuff with that acidic water

 

[Dragen Fiend]

This has to be a test error. No way your corals are looking that good with 4.5 and then 5.2.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

LPS, SPS and softies, I use 8 tsp of kalk with 45ml of vinegar in my ATO and didn’t realize that it didn’t raise alk only maintained it.

Kalk can raise alk, and can raise it too much, if you dose more than needed.

In any case, raise alk very slowly if you are 100% sure it is that low. I personally am not convinced by the use of two identical kits giving the same very unusual result.

 

[radfly]

Keep a Salifert Kh kit on hand to cross check Hanna. I left Hanna long ago due to very inconsistent results.

 

[Dburr1014]

You can raise alk up to 1dkh per day but safer to do less than.
I have raised 1 dkh multiple times 2 and 3 days in a row with no ill effects.
I am 70% sps 30% lps.

 

[ou12004]

Thanks I will get the Salifert test and see where that comes out. I haven’t raised Alk to much just in case the test is wrong.

Kalk can raise alk, and can raise it too much, if you dose more than needed.

In any case, raise alk very slowly if you are 100% sure it is that low. I personally am not convinced by the use of two identical kits giving the same very unusual result.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Mines never gotten that low but i think i saw a wwc video where josh said his got in the 4s when he went on vacation. He raised it to fast and it stnd some acros. so go slow.

 

[BryanM]

I also suspect testing error. Talk looks too good for it to be that low.

Also, if you're doing regular water changes, it seems nearly impossible for it to be that low.

 

[ou12004]

Just had my water tested at the LFS with an API computer test 4.4 and a Red Sea Alk test below 5.2 on the chart. Calcium 370 and ph 7.8 mag 1367

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just had my water tested at the LFS with an API computer test 4.4 and a Red Sea Alk test below 5.2 on the chart. Calcium 370 and ph 7.8 mag 1367

Just go slow raising it.

 

[Luminous74]

I would check the salinity to be safe and ensure that the measuring device is properly calibrated.

 

[ou12004]

I would check the salinity to be safe and ensure that the measuring device is properly calibrated.

salinity is 1.024 could be a little higher but one thing at a time. Seeing some decent growth but will be good to see what it looks like at 8

 

[ou12004]

Up to 7.4 dosing 60ml of Alk and 8 tsp of Kalk in my ATO. I would like to get it up to 9 but definitely seeing better growth in all of my acros View attachment 4044524

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sounds good. :)