KH help

rick4him · 11/27/2008, 12:51 PM

I just tested my KH and it is around 160 ( i have a 25 gallon)

How does that sound? Where do I want that to be? My nitrate, nitrite, ammonia all seem to be fine.

Should I put some of the kent superbuffer in there? If so how much?

thanks

Michael · 11/27/2008, 01:26 PM

im not sure about the 160 as i work in dkh myself, however heres a calculator for you to look at, it should help, good luck

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

IslandCrow · 11/27/2008, 02:38 PM

I'd suggest looking at the following articles:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

http://web.archive.org/web/200211270...v2002/chem.htm

Most of us are used to dealing in either dkh or meq/L, so if you can, converting to one of those two units would help us tell you what's normal. You could also post in the Reef Chemistry forum, and I'm sure there are people there who understand whatever unit of measurement your test uses.

rick4him · 11/27/2008, 02:42 PM

Ok - I figured it out - I have 8.96 dkh - how is that?

Michael · 11/27/2008, 02:44 PM

8.96 dkh is fine, NSW is around 7, however you need a buffer and 8-10 is recommended, HTH

rick4him · 11/27/2008, 02:45 PM

does the buffer make it go up or down? I have put some buffer in, but didn't know what it effected.

Michael · 11/27/2008, 02:57 PM

it will increase it, the calculator i posted earlier will let you know how much to dose

WaterKeeper · 11/27/2008, 03:38 PM

You mean in five years this is the first time you checked alkalinity? Shame on you.

If it is still that high after 5 years then you may not need to adjust it at all. Continue to do what you are doing and leave it alone unless it falls. Hopefully, tested more frequently.

Michael · 11/28/2008, 12:23 AM

as waterkeeper rightly mentioned you dont need to add anything at present, sorry i should have clarified that, your dkh is fine its in the recommended zone 8-10, dont add any buffer unless it drops out of this zone, its fine right now

rick4him · 11/28/2008, 01:29 AM

Hey thanks! (by the way - my experience is in fresh water, planted tanks - I'm new to saltwater!)

thanks for the help though.

tmz · 11/28/2008, 10:47 AM

Your alkalinity is fine. A good habit for sw is to avoid dosing anything unless and until you are able to accurately measure it in your tank and determine if you need it to maintain target ranges or sea water levels.
It is likely overtime that you will need to dose calcium,alkalinity and magnesium depending on the slat mix you use and the amount of calcicying organisms in your tank. You have time to wairta nd test these things before dumping stuff in there though.

11/27/2008, 12:51 PM	#1
rick4him Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 70	KH help I just tested my KH and it is around 160 ( i have a 25 gallon) How does that sound? Where do I want that to be? My nitrate, nitrite, ammonia all seem to be fine. Should I put some of the kent superbuffer in there? If so how much? thanks

11/27/2008, 01:26 PM	#2
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	im not sure about the 160 as i work in dkh myself, however heres a calculator for you to look at, it should help, good luck http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

11/27/2008, 02:38 PM	#3
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	I'd suggest looking at the following articles: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php http://web.archive.org/web/200211270...v2002/chem.htm Most of us are used to dealing in either dkh or meq/L, so if you can, converting to one of those two units would help us tell you what's normal. You could also post in the Reef Chemistry forum, and I'm sure there are people there who understand whatever unit of measurement your test uses. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

11/27/2008, 02:44 PM	#5
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	8.96 dkh is fine, NSW is around 7, however you need a buffer and 8-10 is recommended, HTH __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

11/27/2008, 02:57 PM	#7
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	it will increase it, the calculator i posted earlier will let you know how much to dose __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

11/27/2008, 02:42 PM	#4
rick4him Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 70	Ok - I figured it out - I have 8.96 dkh - how is that?

11/27/2008, 02:45 PM	#6
rick4him Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 70	does the buffer make it go up or down? I have put some buffer in, but didn't know what it effected.

11/27/2008, 03:38 PM	#8
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	You mean in five years this is the first time you checked alkalinity? Shame on you. If it is still that high after 5 years then you may not need to adjust it at all. Continue to do what you are doing and leave it alone unless it falls. Hopefully, tested more frequently. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

11/28/2008, 12:23 AM	#9
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	as waterkeeper rightly mentioned you dont need to add anything at present, sorry i should have clarified that, your dkh is fine its in the recommended zone 8-10, dont add any buffer unless it drops out of this zone, its fine right now __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

11/28/2008, 01:29 AM	#10
rick4him Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 70	Hey thanks! (by the way - my experience is in fresh water, planted tanks - I'm new to saltwater!) thanks for the help though.

11/28/2008, 10:47 AM	#11
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Your alkalinity is fine. A good habit for sw is to avoid dosing anything unless and until you are able to accurately measure it in your tank and determine if you need it to maintain target ranges or sea water levels. It is likely overtime that you will need to dose calcium,alkalinity and magnesium depending on the slat mix you use and the amount of calcicying organisms in your tank. You have time to wairta nd test these things before dumping stuff in there though. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.