Kh value

whitetail187 · 09/14/2015, 03:21 PM

Using sailferts kh/alk test my dkh level is around 15.1 and alk is 5.4. The test says natural seawater is between 7 and 8 dkh. What's the best way to lower this?

Docdiggy · 09/14/2015, 05:05 PM

What's the difference? Is the alk a ppm reading. I'm confused with your measurements.

shifty51008 · 09/14/2015, 05:06 PM

Let the tank lower it with time, do not add any suppliments.

Docdiggy · 09/14/2015, 05:07 PM

If anything is too high it should drop on its own. 15 dkh is real high if your not dosing. Test your wc water.

thegrun · 09/14/2015, 06:19 PM

I agree let it come down on its own. If you are using a high alkalinity reef salt you may need to switch to a salt with lower alkalinity numbers at least until your levels come down.

whitetail187 · 09/14/2015, 07:01 PM

I buy my water from Lfs as reef water. Not sure what brand they use. I top off with their fresh rodi as well

shifty51008 · 09/14/2015, 07:04 PM

Are you dosing anything? Kalk, ph buffer, ect?

Scubajoe1 · 09/14/2015, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docdiggy

What's the difference? Is the alk a ppm reading. I'm confused with your measurements.

Doc one is in dkH and other is in meq/l (milliequivalents/liter).
the ppm reading would be about 270 or so.

Docdiggy · 09/14/2015, 09:57 PM

Ahhhh ok. I really only use dkh.

whitetail187 · 09/15/2015, 04:52 PM

Not dosing at all

Buzz1329 · 09/15/2015, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitetail187

I buy my water from Lfs as reef water. Not sure what brand they use. I top off with their fresh rodi as well

If you can afford it, maybe it's time to consider buying your own RO/DI filter and mixing your own saltwater?

That likely will give you more control over your parameters. (And probably save you $ in the long run while making your life a lot easier.)

Good luck,

Mike

whitetail187 · 09/16/2015, 03:54 PM

Talking to others I think I may have misread the test as the liquid did not stay the color it started to change to

shifty51008 · 09/16/2015, 04:05 PM

You want to read it the first time the vial changes color completly, if you let it sit all triton (sp) kits will change colors back because the liquid seperates.

kinnadian · 09/16/2015, 04:18 PM

Yeah at that point I would suspect your test kit or your method. That level is unlikely.

CStrickland · 09/16/2015, 05:26 PM

When I get a number I don't like, I just retest until I get a better one

If you still get 15 after you reread the directions, make sure you're in good light for the color to show, check that your salinity hasn't crept up, kit isn't expired, etc. You could also call the lfs, they ought to be able to tell you right away what they aim for in the water they sell and they should be willing to test some just to double check. 15 isn't that hard to believe, but I would let it come down under 12 at least by doing waterchanges over a few days. No point in buying more water from them to dilute it if they are selling it at 15

Just to cover bases, ph buffers screw up alk. I'm assuming that when you said you aren't dosing that would include them.

whitetail187 · 09/21/2015, 06:08 PM

Don't use ph buffer and have purchased new reef water from different Lfs and it checked out at 13. May use part regular salt during next 25 gal water change. My pH is 8.1 and cal tested slightly above recommended.

09/14/2015, 03:21 PM	#1
whitetail187 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 78	Kh value Using sailferts kh/alk test my dkh level is around 15.1 and alk is 5.4. The test says natural seawater is between 7 and 8 dkh. What's the best way to lower this? __________________ Using Tapatalk

09/14/2015, 05:06 PM	#3
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	Let the tank lower it with time, do not add any suppliments. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

09/14/2015, 07:01 PM	#6
whitetail187 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 78	I buy my water from Lfs as reef water. Not sure what brand they use. I top off with their fresh rodi as well __________________ Using Tapatalk

09/14/2015, 07:04 PM	#7
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	Are you dosing anything? Kalk, ph buffer, ect? __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

09/15/2015, 04:52 PM	#10
whitetail187 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 78	Not dosing at all __________________ Using Tapatalk

09/14/2015, 05:05 PM	#2
Docdiggy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Worcester MA Posts: 645	What's the difference? Is the alk a ppm reading. I'm confused with your measurements.

09/14/2015, 05:07 PM	#4
Docdiggy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Worcester MA Posts: 645	If anything is too high it should drop on its own. 15 dkh is real high if your not dosing. Test your wc water.

09/14/2015, 06:19 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I agree let it come down on its own. If you are using a high alkalinity reef salt you may need to switch to a salt with lower alkalinity numbers at least until your levels come down.

09/14/2015, 09:57 PM	#9
Docdiggy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Worcester MA Posts: 645	Ahhhh ok. I really only use dkh.

09/16/2015, 03:54 PM	#12
whitetail187 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 78	Talking to others I think I may have misread the test as the liquid did not stay the color it started to change to __________________ Using Tapatalk

09/16/2015, 04:05 PM	#13
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	You want to read it the first time the vial changes color completly, if you let it sit all triton (sp) kits will change colors back because the liquid seperates. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

09/16/2015, 04:18 PM	#14
kinnadian Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 187	Yeah at that point I would suspect your test kit or your method. That level is unlikely.

09/16/2015, 05:26 PM	#15
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	When I get a number I don't like, I just retest until I get a better one If you still get 15 after you reread the directions, make sure you're in good light for the color to show, check that your salinity hasn't crept up, kit isn't expired, etc. You could also call the lfs, they ought to be able to tell you right away what they aim for in the water they sell and they should be willing to test some just to double check. 15 isn't that hard to believe, but I would let it come down under 12 at least by doing waterchanges over a few days. No point in buying more water from them to dilute it if they are selling it at 15 Just to cover bases, ph buffers screw up alk. I'm assuming that when you said you aren't dosing that would include them. __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

09/21/2015, 06:08 PM	#16
whitetail187 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 78	Don't use ph buffer and have purchased new reef water from different Lfs and it checked out at 13. May use part regular salt during next 25 gal water change. My pH is 8.1 and cal tested slightly above recommended. __________________ Using Tapatalk