Tropic Marine Pro Alkalinity

Jason Scalise · Jul 19, 2020

Checking to see what others are getting for Alkalinity results in fresh batches of Tropic Marine Pro.
I just mixed 60g worth and my alk (hanna) was 6.1 dKh

Although I run my DT at about 8.5 dKh....I am not terribly troubled by the NSW result of 6.1.
My AWC's are small amounts of only about .4g per day and won't lead to big swings. I also dose as needed.

In the past, I have added bicarbonate to my NSW reservoir to raise it from the 6's to the 8's...but of course 1) it drops back down over time and 2) I could be (probably would be) creating a precipitation-friendly/sediment friendly environment by doing so.

any thoughts on:
1) your Tropic Marine Pro results (if you have checked)...
2) raising or not raising the alk in the reservoir??

725196 · Jul 19, 2020

Try the regular Tropic Marin. It’s the same with different Alk and cal levels.

Jeto2004 · Jul 19, 2020

What the salinity did you mixed it up to? I get normally ~7.5-8 at 35ppt or 1.027 SG. Did you measure it once or did you get consistent readings for multiple test?

Fishko · Jul 19, 2020

I remeber i mixed some it came out to 6.8dkh 1.026. But im currently trying to get rid of my coral pro.(bought a big bag by mistake) If you mix them roughly 3:2 tropic marin to coral pro you get roughly an alk of 8.4-8.6

Jason Scalise · Jul 19, 2020

NanoReefLovers said:
Try the regular Tropic Marin. It’s the same with different Alk and cal levels.

got it. thanks.
will go with the Pro for now...as I already have it in the garage.

Jason Scalise · Jul 19, 2020

Jeto2004 said:
What the salinity did you mixed it up to? I get normally ~7.5-8 at 35ppt or 1.027 SG. Did you measure it once or did you get consistent readings for multiple test?

thanks.
Should have mentioned....
Mixed the batch to 1.026...as I always do.
Yes, multiple tests with consistent low 6's results.
I will test tomorrow as well and see.

for your 7.5-8 dKh results...are you using Pro or regular Tropic Marine?

Jeto2004 · Jul 19, 2020

Jason Scalise said:
thanks.
Should have mentioned....
Mixed the batch to 1.026...as I always do.
Yes, multiple tests with consistent low 6's results.
I will test tomorrow as well and see.

for your 7.5-8 dKh results...are you using Pro or regular Tropic Marine?

Pro
Great that you tested multiple times. Just to make sure are you at the end of the reagents for Hanna tester or is it a fairly new test kit?

melanotaenia · Jul 19, 2020

I have been using TM Pro for years and it always mixes between 7-8 DKH at 1.026-1.027 at 76-78F, usually closer to around 7.5 most of the time.

Jason Scalise · Jul 19, 2020

As it so happens, was a new Hanna reagent bottle today too.

Although temp of the NSW is very high (Garage is 104 deg...so is the water) ...I brought the sample inside to let it get to 79 degrees before testing alk.

salinity is temp corrected however. Milwaukee digital reader.

Kjames · Jul 19, 2020

I get right around 7 with TM Pro at 1.026
Using sodium bicarbonate to raise the alk in the stored saltwater. No precipitate or build up.

I experienced test results in the low 6's initially and found that it was indeed my Hanna reagent. TM sent me their alk test kit which gave me about 7. Bought new Hanna reagent and results matched the TM kit results. After consuming 5 full sized buckets of TM Pro, I find it to be very consistent. Probably going to move over to regular TM salt mix as it starts at the elevated alk that I am trying to maintain.

I'd be wary of those temps throwing your readings off, even with temp compensation in the Milwaukee.