Really low alkalinity 3.2dkh???

ibrat82 · 01/30/2016, 09:48 PM

Don't mean to start another thread but my numbers seem really really low. I just tested alk for the first time Vince my tank is only a month old with nothing but 2 clowns in there, dry rock and sand.

I got a reading of 3.2 dkh using selifert. That seems really low since I should be in the 8-9 range.

Since I don't have any corals is it still important to keep this in that 8-9 range, if so what's the best route? Kalk or 2 part dosing?

Water parameters are

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 8-10ppm
Ph 7.6-7.9
Phosphate 0.00
Temp 77
Alk 3.2 dkh ????

snulma1 · 01/30/2016, 10:27 PM

Are you sure you arent measuring in meq/L?

Breadman03 · 01/30/2016, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snulma1

Are you sure you arent measuring in meq/L?

If you were, your alk would be pretty spot on, as I suspect it is. Check this handy chart.

Sk8r · 01/30/2016, 11:26 PM

WE do always state things in dkh.

brianr24 · 01/31/2016, 06:43 AM

I had the identical thing happen to me a few months into my setup also.sorry I don't have a definitive answer why. I use reef carbonate to dose back up. Also check ur magnesium get that stable. I have a feeling mine was caused by bad batch of instant ocean. Was putting every thing out of wack on me.I started testing and dosing my water Chang batch before adding to tank. Then I changed to coral pro.good luck.

gone fishin · 01/31/2016, 08:18 AM

I posted in your other thread. Double check your not reading the meq/l column.
If that is not the case then I would retest and do a test with the bottle of known alkalinity that comes with the salifert kit.

ibrat82 · 01/31/2016, 12:25 PM

I was doing the wrong. It's at 5.4 dkh. Still low. Is that typical for a new tank?

That seems to be right since Hanna is reading 101 ppm which is around 5.5 dkh.

What's the best course of action? Kalk or start dosing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gone fishin

I posted in your other thread. Double check your not reading the meq/l column.
If that is not the case then I would retest and do a test with the bottle of known alkalinity that comes with the salifert kit.

PatW · 01/31/2016, 06:13 PM

I add Alk directly. I have the Alk additive from Bulk Reef Supply which is just soda ash dissolved in RODI water. Kalk has a really high alkalinity, so if you can't directly dose Alk easily, you could use it. You would also be adding calcium at the same time which might be a problem. You can also use sodium bicarbonate for Alk. That is just baking powder and is readily available. Whatever method you use, I have heard no more than .5 DKH per day.

whosurcaddie · 01/31/2016, 09:32 PM

You need to get some sodium carbonate and bicarbonate. Any alk supplement will have this. I use kent coral builder but it doesn't really matter. You could probably find it in bulk on ebay.

jayball · 01/31/2016, 11:25 PM

5.5 dkh does not seem right in a new tank unless you had a bad batch of salt. What is your salinity? If that checks out (target 1.024-1.026) than what is your cal and mg?

Ohioreef1700 · 02/01/2016, 07:37 AM

Dose!!

ibrat82 · 02/01/2016, 01:40 PM

Salinity is 1.024-1.025 i'm using aquavitro salinity for salt. I'll be measuring magnesium and calcium tonight. more tests to buy lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayball

5.5 dkh does not seem right in a new tank unless you had a bad batch of salt. What is your salinity? If that checks out (target 1.024-1.026) than what is your cal and mg?

jayball · 02/01/2016, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibrat82

Salinity is 1.024-1.025 i'm using aquavitro salinity for salt. I'll be measuring magnesium and calcium tonight. more tests to buy lol.

Did you have a precipitation event? Lots of hard chalk covering pumps/heaters and the like?

If you are going to the LFS for tests you may want to have them test a sample of your water for ALK/CA/MG. I would suspect the test (or the test procedures) with a measurement so low and nothing in the tank to suck it up (can't imagine you have much if any corraline algae or anything else that sucks down ALK with the tank so new and started with dry rock).

EDIT: Also have you had large amounts of percipitate in the mixing container you use? there were a few complaints about this from a few places after a quick google search.

ibrat82 · 02/01/2016, 04:26 PM

Hi

I do have a lot of chalk like powder over the rocks, pumps, overflow wall. Is this the reason?

I don't have a lot of precipitate in the container. I do notice that I have to always put less salt when mixing than the recommended for example it calls for 1/2 cup per gallon. If I'm mixing a 50 gallons of have to put 50 1/2 cups but 30 will get me to 1.024. I don't know if this is bad salt or if people have issues with it but maybe this is the reason for low alk?

QUOTE=jayball;24297580]Did you have a precipitation event? Lots of hard chalk covering pumps/heaters and the like?

If you are going to the LFS for tests you may want to have them test a sample of your water for ALK/CA/MG. I would suspect the test (or the test procedures) with a measurement so low and nothing in the tank to suck it up (can't imagine you have much if any corraline algae or anything else that sucks down ALK with the tank so new and started with dry rock).

EDIT: Also have you had large amounts of percipitate in the mixing container you use? there were a few complaints about this from a few places after a quick google search.[/QUOTE]

ibrat82 · 02/01/2016, 05:31 PM

So I tested calcium using Hanna checker and its reading 305 . Calcium is also low.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibrat82

Hi

I do have a lot of chalk like powder over the rocks, pumps, overflow wall. Is this the reason?

I don't have a lot of precipitate in the container. I do notice that I have to always put less salt when mixing than the recommended for example it calls for 1/2 cup per gallon. If I'm mixing a 50 gallons of have to put 50 1/2 cups but 30 will get me to 1.024. I don't know if this is bad salt or if people have issues with it but maybe this is the reason for low alk?

QUOTE=jayball;24297580]Did you have a precipitation event? Lots of hard chalk covering pumps/heaters and the like?

If you are going to the LFS for tests you may want to have them test a sample of your water for ALK/CA/MG. I would suspect the test (or the test procedures) with a measurement so low and nothing in the tank to suck it up (can't imagine you have much if any corraline algae or anything else that sucks down ALK with the tank so new and started with dry rock).

EDIT: Also have you had large amounts of percipitate in the mixing container you use? there were a few complaints about this from a few places after a quick google search.

[/QUOTE]

01/30/2016, 09:48 PM	#1
ibrat82 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 292	Really low alkalinity 3.2dkh??? Don't mean to start another thread but my numbers seem really really low. I just tested alk for the first time Vince my tank is only a month old with nothing but 2 clowns in there, dry rock and sand. I got a reading of 3.2 dkh using selifert. That seems really low since I should be in the 8-9 range. Since I don't have any corals is it still important to keep this in that 8-9 range, if so what's the best route? Kalk or 2 part dosing? Water parameters are Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 8-10ppm Ph 7.6-7.9 Phosphate 0.00 Temp 77 Alk 3.2 dkh ????

01/30/2016, 11:26 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	WE do always state things in dkh. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/31/2016, 08:18 AM	#6
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I posted in your other thread. Double check your not reading the meq/l column. If that is not the case then I would retest and do a test with the bottle of known alkalinity that comes with the salifert kit. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/30/2016, 10:27 PM	#2
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	Are you sure you arent measuring in meq/L?

01/31/2016, 06:43 AM	#5
brianr24 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: P.A. Posts: 256	I had the identical thing happen to me a few months into my setup also.sorry I don't have a definitive answer why. I use reef carbonate to dose back up. Also check ur magnesium get that stable. I have a feeling mine was caused by bad batch of instant ocean. Was putting every thing out of wack on me.I started testing and dosing my water Chang batch before adding to tank. Then I changed to coral pro.good luck.

01/31/2016, 06:13 PM	#8
PatW Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 275	I add Alk directly. I have the Alk additive from Bulk Reef Supply which is just soda ash dissolved in RODI water. Kalk has a really high alkalinity, so if you can't directly dose Alk easily, you could use it. You would also be adding calcium at the same time which might be a problem. You can also use sodium bicarbonate for Alk. That is just baking powder and is readily available. Whatever method you use, I have heard no more than .5 DKH per day.

01/31/2016, 09:32 PM	#9
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	You need to get some sodium carbonate and bicarbonate. Any alk supplement will have this. I use kent coral builder but it doesn't really matter. You could probably find it in bulk on ebay.

01/31/2016, 11:25 PM	#10
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	5.5 dkh does not seem right in a new tank unless you had a bad batch of salt. What is your salinity? If that checks out (target 1.024-1.026) than what is your cal and mg?

02/01/2016, 07:37 AM	#11
Ohioreef1700 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 660	Dose!!

02/01/2016, 04:26 PM	#14
ibrat82 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 292	Hi I do have a lot of chalk like powder over the rocks, pumps, overflow wall. Is this the reason? I don't have a lot of precipitate in the container. I do notice that I have to always put less salt when mixing than the recommended for example it calls for 1/2 cup per gallon. If I'm mixing a 50 gallons of have to put 50 1/2 cups but 30 will get me to 1.024. I don't know if this is bad salt or if people have issues with it but maybe this is the reason for low alk? QUOTE=jayball;24297580]Did you have a precipitation event? Lots of hard chalk covering pumps/heaters and the like? If you are going to the LFS for tests you may want to have them test a sample of your water for ALK/CA/MG. I would suspect the test (or the test procedures) with a measurement so low and nothing in the tank to suck it up (can't imagine you have much if any corraline algae or anything else that sucks down ALK with the tank so new and started with dry rock). EDIT: Also have you had large amounts of percipitate in the mixing container you use? there were a few complaints about this from a few places after a quick google search.[/QUOTE]