Parameters jacked up today

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I’m not sure what happened here. Over the last week or so my ALK has been running about a full point high, it’s typically pretty steady around 8.3. I have my Trident set to test ALK twice a day and combined once. My reagent is fresh. My MG has been running low 1170 and my CA 425. Today, I appeared to have a bad ALK test, as it tested around 10.5. I decided to calibrate the trident. I run 3 tests and then average them, unless one is wildly different. I then scrap that one and test a 4th time. I use Hanna for ALK and Salifert for the other two. I do subscribe to the RMM but with a trident I have to deal with it.

When I did my ALL testing 3 in a row were 8.3 CA was 20 low and MG was spot on. So I calibrated the unit. I also wanted to do a MG adjustment. I went and used the BRS calculator and it said I needed to add 1700 MLs to go from 1170 to 1300. Unfortunately I failed to subtract for rock displacement. My Mg jump to 1420. That caused my ALK to go to 12.3 and is now at 12.8, I haven’t dosed ALK since dosing MG. My CA has fallen to 387 and I have dosed about 180 MIL today. I normally dose about 150 ML of CA and 130 ML of Soda Ash. I use controlled dosing. So, my ALK is shut down by my CA is going to continue to pound away. I assume just let my ALK come down naturally. But, how should I managed my CA dosing?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The alk result may be a test error. Adding magnesium should not make it rise in thst sort of way, especially if calcium is dropping .

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

The alk result may be a test error. Adding magnesium should not make it rise in thst sort of way, especially if calcium is dropping .

OK. I think it’s time I sent the Trident in for service. It’s 18 months old and this wouldn’t be the first time ALK was way off in the last 30 days. I’ve not done anything to it other than add reagent in the 18 months.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

OK. I think it’s time I sent the Trident in for service. It’s 18 months old and this wouldn’t be the first time ALK was way off in the last 30 days. I’ve not done anything to it other than add reagent in the 18 months.

Double checking with a kit like Salifert seems a good step to me.