salt

[Jaynie1028]

I am having a problem finding good salt. When I fist got into the hobby I started with red sea coral pro But my PH was always VERY low around 7ish and my ALK was always around 15 to 17 being I had to add PH Up all the time. So then I switched to Instant ocean reef crystals for a few months and I still had problems with my ALK. Alk has been running around 14 with Instant sea, so then I switched to tropic marin pro and now my alk is around 13 and my ph is low around 7 again.

My question is How do I lower the ALK and keep my PH up.
Or what kind of salt should I get?

all other parameters are good.

Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0
nitrite 0
sal 1.023
Cal 460
Temp is 79

But the PH is 7
and the alk is 15

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Do you dose 2 part and Mag?

 

[jerl77]

red sea coral pro never had a problem but i dont test my water

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

What test kits are you using?

 

[jerl77]

none ha ha ha

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Sorry that was a Q for the OP. Jaynie what test kits do you use?

 

[ecvernon]

reef crystals alk never came out that high for me. what test kist are you using. are they reliable?

 

[Jaynie1028]

I dont dose my tank.

I think my test kits are good. Im using aquarium pharmaceuticals and also Marine lab by red sea. both kits give me about the same readings. Maybe just a number off from each other. Do these kits every expire? Mine are about 2 years old. By the way I am testing the water right from the bucket before I even put it in my tank. I just made 5 gallons of RO water and used the tropic marin and the PH is at 7 (YELLOW on the chart) and the ALK was at 12. Anyone else ever have this problem? I have two good brand salts here with bad readings. Must be something I am doing wrong.

 

[Sean]

Try some new test kits look for ones with expiration dates on them like salifert and Elos

I would also recommend regular dosing of at least two part calcium.

I used to use reef crystals but recently changed to ESV salt. I'm very happy with it so far except that it's a little more involved (their are 4 part to be measured out).

 

[Jaynie1028]

Hey I dont want to dose the Cal because the Cal is running at 460/470. So I dont want to raise that. But the Ph is still low and the alk is still high.

 

[stedfast82]

I would get new test kit's even if you take salt out of the bucket's and make new water the test's that have been done on salt's do not scale out at the number's you are getting R2R had a salt study but 460 /470 wow that's a little high reef crystals and the brightwell salt are the best IMO reef crystals you have to bump up the mag IMO

 

[Jaynie1028]

Just a question can the Temp of the water change the PH a lot? also can it change the Alk?