www.reef2reef.com
Thank you I guess my syringe was accurate! Well anyways it shouldn’t matter because I’ve been consistently filling to the line. Therefore the alk is still creeping upwards. But I will re test in the morning to get the accurate reading thank you.Hanna cuvettes are off!!
I have been using a 10ml syringe to accurately fill my cuvette for awhile with no problem. I recently bought new cuvettes from saltwateraquarium.com they came and they weren't the same as the old ones and fill past the 10ml line. I thought maybe I got some bad cuvettes so I ordered more from...
That’s true I typically do the first test in the afternoon and the other test at night so maybe since the Coral’s are not actively using it that’s the issue showing an “increase”.... I’m going to test today around 3pm to see if this true. thank you!
I’m not dosing any alkalinity to the tankSorry, your interpretation is incorrect.
He is dosing constantly and alk is consumed not constantly, hence alkalinity fluctuates.
Alk does not itself fluctuate without dosing.
How about these revised, fully-qualified statements?
In our reef tanks, with growing, hard corals and a strong light that is on for a portion of each day(maybe around 8 hours), where alkalinity and calcium is dosed throughout the day in the approximate amount that is consumed each day by the tank, the alkalinity value measured by the Hanna Saltwater Aquarium Alkalinity Colorimeter (ppm) will vary. Assuming all light sources turn on and off, with the same intensity and spectrum values each day and that all feedings occur at the same times-of-day with the exact same amount and types of food, then measuring alkalinity at the same, single time-of-day will yield the most consistent values. Conversely, with the same, afore-described environment, measuring alkalinity at differing times of day will yield inconsistent values. Using more consistent, measured values of alkalinity help us make better choices about the alkalinity level in our tanks.
In general, I believe that replies on each thread should be interpreted in the context of the thread. I don't think it should be necessary to fully-qualify every reply. I'm sure that I missed some factors in the previous paragraph that directly or indirectly affect alkalinity at any moment in time.
My intended meaning of the word "naturally" is more along the line of "as a result of the living things and all the things we do to our tanks every day". Our interpretations differed, but your explanation was much more precise (mine lacked any cause). We both said "alkalinity fluctuates".
Thank you, RHF. I've learned so much from you on many threads and articles. I expect to learn much more.
Thank you so do you think its a problem or should I just not worry about it? I’ve never had my alk increasing before so I don’t know. My only concern is my salt mixes to 8 typically, so when I do my water changes I’m essentially creating a mini drop in alkalinity every week. For example my alk is at 8.7 today if I do my water change which is at 8 I’m going to create a drop in alk. Last time I did this I tested a few hours latter and my tank was sitting at 8.3. That is .4 of a drop within a few hours.
Yes this is trueWell, maybe. You cannot reverify the first reading, and most kits will have some reasonable amount of uncertainty.
I'm not claiming it is test error, but it could well be. The Hanna alk checker only claims +/- 5% accuracy. 8.6 +/-0.4 dKH fits their accuracy claim and your results exactly.
