How do I lower my Alkalinity level
- Thread starter Sea Turtle
- Start date
How certain are you of its accuracy, though? Are you mixing your own salt water? If so, what mix?
It is time that I admit I need to be re-schooled on water chemistry, because I am having a hell of a time figuring out how best to deal with my own source water (giving me problems with other organisms, I'm sure fish'll grow just fine in it as long as they don't require anything in the form of carbonate hardness). That, plus I recently read on a Wikipedia about hard water that some types of hardness can indeed be boiled "out" if the hardness is caused by specific compounds which bond and precipitate out. Oy, carajo.
In any event, assuming you're mixing your own water, you might consider starting with the source water, test that. Another thing, and for me this has turned out to be THE most important factor/question; how do your specimens look? Are they stressed at all? Not thriving or otherwise "unhappy"? If so, then definitely address the problems you find (I find a pH in a salt tank of 7.8 to be a wee on the low side, I like to keep them around 8-8.2 personally). If not, then my very best advice is don't try to fix what ain't necessarily broke, or you, too, might go kill an old fish that was doing just fine til I had to mess with it.
It is time that I admit I need to be re-schooled on water chemistry, because I am having a hell of a time figuring out how best to deal with my own source water (giving me problems with other organisms, I'm sure fish'll grow just fine in it as long as they don't require anything in the form of carbonate hardness). That, plus I recently read on a Wikipedia about hard water that some types of hardness can indeed be boiled "out" if the hardness is caused by specific compounds which bond and precipitate out. Oy, carajo.
In any event, assuming you're mixing your own water, you might consider starting with the source water, test that. Another thing, and for me this has turned out to be THE most important factor/question; how do your specimens look? Are they stressed at all? Not thriving or otherwise "unhappy"? If so, then definitely address the problems you find (I find a pH in a salt tank of 7.8 to be a wee on the low side, I like to keep them around 8-8.2 personally). If not, then my very best advice is don't try to fix what ain't necessarily broke, or you, too, might go kill an old fish that was doing just fine til I had to mess with it.
I use Tropic Marin Pro-Reef Sea Salt Mix:
http://www.saltysupply.com/product-p/tm_105818.htm
I also use my own RO/DI unit. The corals seem to be doing fine with the exception of the purple tipted torch coral. It seems a little unhappy but ok
This whole problem started when I noticed that my Alkalinity bottle (2-Part solution) was competely emplty and the calcium bottle still had about 1/3 left in it. I really don't want to just start adding a ton of the Kalk solution. How else can I fix this?
http://www.saltysupply.com/product-p/tm_105818.htm
I also use my own RO/DI unit. The corals seem to be doing fine with the exception of the purple tipted torch coral. It seems a little unhappy but ok
This whole problem started when I noticed that my Alkalinity bottle (2-Part solution) was competely emplty and the calcium bottle still had about 1/3 left in it. I really don't want to just start adding a ton of the Kalk solution. How else can I fix this?
WEll FWIW Elos did have abad batch of Alk kits go out, they are dated in a certain range though I am just not sure of the dates for the bad batchs. You could mix up some fresh sw and use the alk kit to test it and see what it says. I use the Elos alk kits myself and like how simple they are. They make a easy to use Mg kit to. I am not really fond of their CA kit though, I perfer salifert for my CA kits.
Otherwise I would just lower your alk by doing w/c's. Do 25% W/C and retest, it should natually drop also depending on your demand.
Otherwise I would just lower your alk by doing w/c's. Do 25% W/C and retest, it should natually drop also depending on your demand.
What could I add to lower it. i am open to that option. I just am a huge fan of making changes very slowly! But, if there is something I could add to lower it quickly and you think that it would be ok, I am all ears...Lawdawg":og6blbcy said:
I just got my B-ionoc 2 part solution mix in the mail. Should add a high level of calcium to bring down the alkalinity? I really hate to use up the calcium mix though.
Ok. I just ran some tests.
I tested the dKH of my RO/DI tank "mixed with salt" (1.026) and it was dKH 16. That is what my tank it currenty at. So, I tested my RO/DI water with out the salt mixed in and it was dKH 0 or even a negative number.
What should I do?? I have no idea how to add my B-ionic? HELP
I tested the dKH of my RO/DI tank "mixed with salt" (1.026) and it was dKH 16. That is what my tank it currenty at. So, I tested my RO/DI water with out the salt mixed in and it was dKH 0 or even a negative number.
What should I do?? I have no idea how to add my B-ionic? HELP
DON"T do that! It won't lower your alk it will just raise your Ca level and since we don't know what that is we don't know if adding Ca is a good idea. Knowing the alk is only half the issue.
Have you read this:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
I generally ignore pH because it fluctuates during the day anyway and its too hard to control. If you are chasing pH numbers, make sure to test it several times during the day to find the range that it wanders before you take any action. IMHO of course.
Have you read this:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm
I generally ignore pH because it fluctuates during the day anyway and its too hard to control. If you are chasing pH numbers, make sure to test it several times during the day to find the range that it wanders before you take any action. IMHO of course.
Ben":1632006m said:
That's it!!!! My dKH is really 8. I thought that there was some problem witht that when I was reading the instructions. It really didn't make sense. Thanks Ben. I guess my Alkalinity has been fine the whole time. I will test everything and let you know.
Good to hear everything is ok.
I was testing with an API kit (yeah not great, ran out of my Salifert kit) for my alk. It kept coming out 4.5dkH.
Well if I would read the instructions closer, it was really 9.0. I was testing the 10mL way instead of the 5mL.
I was testing with an API kit (yeah not great, ran out of my Salifert kit) for my alk. It kept coming out 4.5dkH.
Well if I would read the instructions closer, it was really 9.0. I was testing the 10mL way instead of the 5mL.
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