my alkalinity is extremly low

[Luigi Terenzio]

my alkalinity is at 1.6 and idk how my tank could be running with these parameters the tests are done by hanna testers and i tested it 3 times
my parameters
salinity 1.027
alkalinity 1.6-1.7dkh
calcium 520ppm
magneusium 1570ppm
phosphate 0.05ppm
nitrate 1ppm
ph 8.3

 

[Ruben's Reef]

my alkalinity is at 1.6 and idk how my tank could be running with these parameters the tests are done by hanna testers and i tested it 3 times
my parameters
salinity 1.027
alkalinity 1.6-1.7dkh
calcium 520ppm
magneusium 1570ppm
phosphate 0.05ppm
nitrate 1ppm

HI, what tester for Alk are you using?

 

[Luigi Terenzio]

HI, what tester for Alk are you using?

hanna alkalinity tester DKH

 

[Luigi Terenzio]

HI, what tester for Alk are you using?

it is 1 year old and the reagent is a little bit old to

 

[EnterName]

I think you might consider replacing the reagent (they go bad after a while) or getting the reference vials (HI772-11 should be the one) to ensure the hanna checker is working properly. There is no way your water is that soft with those parameters. Get a cheap test kit for alkalinity and use it until you have found the issue with your hanna checker.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

hanna alkalinity test

it is 1 year old and the reagent is a little bit old to

Easy answer, get a new reagent and you will see that number going up. Thats way to low. Calcium and magnesium look a little bit high but definitely ALk need attention.

 

[Luigi Terenzio]

I think you might consider replacing the reagent (they go bad after a while) or getting the reference vials (HI772-11 should be the one) to ensure the hanna checker is working properly. There is no way your water is that soft with those parameters. Get a cheap test kit for alkalinity and use it until you have found the issue with your hanna checker.

ill test is soon because im at school ill check it in 2 hours

 

[GSPClown94]

That has to be test error. Test alk with another method or check your tester with a known standard and calibrate if possible.

 

[get-salty]

Lets start with what brand of salt are you using?

Cal is a tad high as well as mg.
So i bet your alk is 9+ currently.

I wouldnt gamble on expired reagents, get new fresh ones.
Overall, if your corals are super happy, i would keep the parameters but would not go any higher than they are now.

 

[Luigi Terenzio]

Lets start with what brand of salt are you using?

Cal is a tad high as well as mg.
So i bet your alk is 9+ currently.

I wouldnt gamble on expired reagents, get new fresh ones.
Overall, if your corals are super happy, i would keep the parameters but would not go any higher than they are now.

I use hanna alk dkh i tested the tank it been almost 24 hours since my water change yesterday and with a brand new thing of reageant that expire 12/25 it reads 4.7 and my ph is at 8.6 so i put a little bit of distiled vinager white in the sump

 

[Fish Fan]

Do you have any large stoney corals or a lot of coralline that would be using up the Alk?

I'm not even sure if the 4.7 dKH is correct, that's very low. Maybe bring a sample to a local store and ask them to test it for you?

 

[AAZ]

How big is the tank and how big of a water change are we talking? I'd bet the farm on this certainly being a testing error/bad reagent. I don't know how familiar you are with the testing kits, but make sure you follow the directions precisely as they are written. Your Nitrate is also flirting with disaster.

 

[get-salty]

whatever brand of salt your using should say what alk it is on the label. mix up a new fresh batch of salt and take a reading to see if its true.

return the salt and switch brand if it isnt.

 

[mook1178]

Get a Salifert DKH test kit.

 

[Luigi Terenzio]

whatever brand of salt your using should say what alk it is on the label. mix up a new fresh batch of salt and take a reading to see if its true.

return the salt and switch brand if it isnt.

I use instant ocean reef crystals which doesn’t show the alk

 

[mpatterson42]

I agree with the others, I don't think you're getting accurate results, either the reagent is bad or the tester is bad. I would either pick up a salifert test to compare, or see if a local fish store has water testing available to compare.

I keep my hanna alk reagent in the fridge.

 

[get-salty]

also, your ph is 8.6 ?! that is insane !

 

[get-salty]

I use instant ocean reef crystals which doesn’t show the alk

show be around 9-10 alk

 

[Luigi Terenzio]

Do you have any large stoney corals or a lot of coralline that would be using up the Alk?

I'm not even sure if the 4.7 dKH is correct, that's very low. Maybe bring a sample to a local store and ask them to test it for you?

I have some stony but not big

 

[Luigi Terenzio]

It should go down because where the tank is in a kitchen and it’s my most flower through area of the house so it should go down and I can just put distilled vinegar