STUMPED! Low KH/Alkalinity

[slav621]

I have a 29 gallon tank that I am having issues with coral growth in. I was not keeping my parameters stable but starting to get back on track. My alk was reading a 4 KH on Friday. I have slowly raised it to 6 KH so far. I started with a 70% water change on Friday. I don’t know why my Alk is still testing so low. I am using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt that says it’s supposed to have a KH of 12 but a new 5 gallon bucket on Friday was only testing 7 KH. Bad salt or bad test??? I rolled the salt before making the buckets of water for my water change as well. I dosed 3ml of Red Sea Foundation B on Saturday and 3ml on Sunday. My KH is staying between 6/7. Doesn’t seem right with a 70% water change/dosing/ and using high alk salt. Thoughts???

Fish Stock is as follows:
Clown
Cleaner Shrimp
Yasha Goby
Pistol Shrimp
Urchin
5-6 snails

Coral Stock is as follows:
Small frag of Zoas
10 head Paly
Frag of Blastos (have grown the best considering they are LPS)
GSP
Green Kenya Tree (newly added- 2 weeks ago)

 

[helmsreef]

Have you tried a different tester to compare? Seems pretty odd that a fresh batch of black bucket would be that low

 

[crazyfishmom]

That absolutely sounds like a bad test. What are you using to test with? If Hannah, how long have the reagents been open? Had someone with a similar problem here recently and it seemed like it was a hannah tester reagent issue. Before continuing to try to raise your dKh based on those readouts, take some freshly mixed saltwater to your LFS and have them give you a readout. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Garf]

I have a 29 gallon tank that I am having issues with coral growth in. I was not keeping my parameters stable but starting to get back on track. My alk was reading a 4 KH on Friday. I have slowly raised it to 6 KH so far. I started with a 70% water change on Friday. I don’t know why my Alk is still testing so low. I am using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt that says it’s supposed to have a KH of 12 but a new 5 gallon bucket on Friday was only testing 7 KH. Bad salt or bad test??? I rolled the salt before making the buckets of water for my water change as well. I dosed 3ml of Red Sea Foundation B on Saturday and 3ml on Sunday. My KH is staying between 6/7. Doesn’t seem right with a 70% water change/dosing/ and using high alk salt. Thoughts???

Fish Stock is as follows:
Clown
Cleaner Shrimp
Yasha Goby
Pistol Shrimp
Urchin
5-6 snails

Coral Stock is as follows:
Small frag of Zoas
10 head Paly
Frag of Blastos (have grown the best considering they are LPS)
GSP
Green Kenya Tree (newly added- 2 weeks ago)

Is the Alkalinity test one of the dropper type, with the high and low resolution? Seeing as you appear to be reading roughly half of the expected value.

 

[slav621]

Have you tried a different tester to compare? Seems pretty odd that a fresh batch of black bucket would be that low

No I haven’t. But would a bad test read so consistently? I know I should probably get another test though. I’m testing with

Have you tried a different tester to compare? Seems pretty odd that a fresh batch of black bucket would be that low

I have not but I should for sure probably do that. I’m using the Red Sea Test Kit that’s over a year old.

 

[slav621]

Is the Alkalinity test one of the dropper type, with the high and low resolution? Seeing as you appear to be reading roughly half of the expected value.

I’m using the Red Sea Test Kit that’s over a year old.

 

[slav621]

That absolutely sounds like a bad test. What are you using to test with? If Hannah, how long have the reagents been open? Had someone with a similar problem here recently and it seemed like it was a hannah tester reagent issue. Before continuing to try to raise your dKh based on those readouts, take some freshly mixed saltwater to your LFS and have them give you a readout. Better safe than sorry.

It’s the Red Sea test kit. It’s over a year old. Would it be so consistent with the numbers??

 

[crazyfishmom]

It’s the Red Sea test kit. It’s over a year old. Would it be so consistent with the numbers??

Yes. Please don’t make any changes based on the results you’re getting from this kit. I am willing to bet that your salt mix is just fine.

 

[Garf]

It’s the Red Sea test kit. It’s over a year old. Would it be so consistent with the numbers??

10ml sample or 5?

 

[Jason_MrFrags]

bad test kit, you need to mix salt up salt bucket before mixing

 

[slav621]

10ml sample or 5?

5!

 

[slav621]

bad test kit, you need to mix salt up salt bucket before mixing

I did, thanks! I’m going to get a new test and retest.

 

[slav621]

Yes. Please don’t make any changes based on the results you’re getting from this kit. I am willing to bet that your salt mix is just fine.

I’m going to get a new test kit and retest!

 

[Garf]

5!

Are you not supposed to be using a 10ml sample? Or double your result.

 

[slav621]

Are you not supposed to be using a 10ml sample? Or double your result.

You can do a 5ml or 10ml

 

[slav621]

Are you not supposed to be using a 10ml sample? Or double your result.

Wait... Do I? Am I doing this right? Lol I am using 5 ml and the first drop I don't count. I then count the drops until the green color shows.

 

[Garf]

Wait... Do I? Am I doing this right? Lol I am using 5 ml and the first drop I don't count. I then count the drops until the green color shows.

Are you using the 1DKH resolution part of the chart on the right hand side of that guide? (3rd row across). ie 7 drops is 7 DKH when using a 5ml sample.

 

[slav621]

Yes that’s how I was doing it.. honestly wish you were supposed to double it lol.