Question about alk

[Anonymous]

The E.divisia I bought a little while back is looking really ropey (two polyps are dead and disintegrating, one is shrunken, while the remaining one is fully expanded) and, in the process of trying to figure out what's wrong, I measured my alk and pH. The pH came out at between 8.1-8.2 (I'm using a Seachem multi test kit and it's a case of trying to identify the color on a scale), so that seems OK. The alk came out at between 2.5 and 3 meq/l. The uncertainty comes from this:

Hold the alkalinity pipette vertically and add 1 drop of Alkalinity Reagent. Stir briefly. Continue adding drops (count the drops) and stirring until color turns from blue to yellow. Just before going to yellow, a lime green color will appear. The final drop is usually one drop beyond this point.

It's not clear to me whether this means I'm supposed to count the first drop as well, giving that the instruction to count the drops comes after that.

Whichever way, it seems my alk is pretty low at 2.5/3 meq/l, with most sources I've found on the internet recommending a higher level, even though they say at the same time that the level I have is the same as NSW. The kit itself recommends 4-6 meq/l.

Should I try to raise the level (seems odd to me to aim for a level not found in NSW)? If so, what's the best method? And will kalk affect alk? I'm currently dosing kalk through the Tunze Osmolator.

 

[Anonymous]

BTW, all other coral at the moment is looking fine...

 

[Anonymous]

4-6 is too high. Well, 4 is up there 6 is crazy town. 2.5 is low, but almost not too low.
http://ozreef.org/library/tables/alkali ... rsion.html if that is helpful.
You do add the last drop.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Rich, that's very helpful. Added to my favorites.

What I was confused about with the test kit was whether to count the first drop, given that it says something like "Add the first drop and stir. Now add drops, counting each drop". That kind of says to me that I should only be counting the drops after the first drop, but I'm probably doing my usual trick of trying to make life too complicated...

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe.

I agree with Rich that 2.5-3.0 meq/L is perfectly fine.

Maybe they are getting dKH confused with meq/L? Even then it would be goofed up though. 6 meq/L is crazy high...I really don't know if it's possible to get that high with all other parameters being normal before supersaturation and massive abiotic precipitation occurs.

I also think if your other corals look fine you should look to something besides wq, perhaps light, flow, or a fish or invert nibbling at it. With Euphyllia, when in doubt place it under the lowest light and flow you can find in the tank and see what happens.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Matt. Given there's very little in the tank in the way of fish or inverts, I'm thinking I might try and find a place for it with rather less light. The flow isn't too strong I don't think, but it's smack bang under the 150w MH and with the translucency I've noticed it developing in the remaining healthy polyp, it's possibly bleaching.

 

[Anonymous]

I prefer the api kh test kit.

I read the instructions and agree it is confusing.

but they mentioned an alk reference sample. Is that in the kit and did you try that?


my .02

 

[Anonymous]

Good point Bob. I'll try it with the reference.