Alkalinity

spdjnky · 04/28/2016, 11:51 AM

I used Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium in my 75 gallon reef aquarium that is 7 months old now and it raised my Alkalinity to 13.4 from 11 dKH. My Cal went from 380 to 420 like I wanted and the Mag has stayed at 1280
It's just the ALk should I worry or what is the best way to fix

spdjnky · 04/28/2016, 11:54 AM

410 ppm on the Cal

gallegos · 04/28/2016, 11:59 AM

I think the parameters are ideal with the change. Alk is to high still IMO. I shoot for 9dkh and 450 cal for accelerated growth

spdjnky · 04/28/2016, 12:06 PM

I am just getting ready to start adding more corals have went slow but the Alk test from red sea I don't like and Im not really sure where the ALK is best

heathlindner25 · 04/28/2016, 12:18 PM

TM doesn't mix that high on alk, somethings wrong on testing possibly?

gallegos · 04/28/2016, 12:24 PM

Natural sea water has an alk of 7dkh. In a Reef ideal is 8.4. For accelerated growth you can go 11+ but you tend to see colors fade and burnt tips. Not always but sometimes. What corals are you wanting to get? Lps? Sps? Acropora?

WWIII · 04/28/2016, 12:30 PM

I'd say to let it go down naturally on its own and test your freshly made saltwater. If that salt is mixing near 13 dkh I would consider getting a different salt and dosing calcium/alkalinity/magnesium as needed. First thing is to get a second opinion on the test. Either different test kit or go to your fish store and have them test it.

spdjnky · 04/28/2016, 02:48 PM

The only thing I can attribute it to is the Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium I used
as far as the test I'm using the red sea one and I hate it because Im not sure of the color change

spdjnky · 04/28/2016, 02:50 PM

As far as corals go Im liking LPS more but new to everything

cloak · 04/28/2016, 05:30 PM

Check this out.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php

HTH.

spdjnky · 04/28/2016, 06:22 PM

Thx what test do u use

WWIII · 04/28/2016, 07:14 PM

I use red sea test. Usually when it starts to change colors it only takes me another couple "drops" to get it to turn completely red. So as it starts to turn red I add a little bit more to make it completely red. Then I take the number in between that range. My alkalinity is 10 dkh so it starts to change at .70 ml and is completely red at .72 ml.

.70 ml is 9.8 dkh and .72 ml is 10.1 so I just call it 10. The end color should be pretty much red when you're done. I personally think red sea alkalinity test is a decent one. If it takes you a whole syringe to reach the endpoint color of red I'd say your alkalinity is definitely a little high. I would suggest water changes to lower it, but test a freshly made batch of saltwater to see what that alkalinity reading is.

spdjnky · 04/28/2016, 08:30 PM

It just makes me wonder or use a TM only once before and didn't have any trouble with the alkalinity
I have just changed 32 gallons last week and my alkalinity was 11 so everything was fine

04/28/2016, 11:51 AM	#1
spdjnky Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Schenectady,NY Posts: 165	Alkalinity I used Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium in my 75 gallon reef aquarium that is 7 months old now and it raised my Alkalinity to 13.4 from 11 dKH. My Cal went from 380 to 420 like I wanted and the Mag has stayed at 1280 It's just the ALk should I worry or what is the best way to fix

04/28/2016, 11:54 AM	#2
spdjnky Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Schenectady,NY Posts: 165	410 ppm on the Cal

04/28/2016, 11:59 AM	#3
gallegos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Rio Rancho New Mexico Posts: 162	I think the parameters are ideal with the change. Alk is to high still IMO. I shoot for 9dkh and 450 cal for accelerated growth

04/28/2016, 12:06 PM	#4
spdjnky Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Schenectady,NY Posts: 165	I am just getting ready to start adding more corals have went slow but the Alk test from red sea I don't like and Im not really sure where the ALK is best

04/28/2016, 12:18 PM	#5
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	TM doesn't mix that high on alk, somethings wrong on testing possibly?

04/28/2016, 12:24 PM	#6
gallegos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Rio Rancho New Mexico Posts: 162	Natural sea water has an alk of 7dkh. In a Reef ideal is 8.4. For accelerated growth you can go 11+ but you tend to see colors fade and burnt tips. Not always but sometimes. What corals are you wanting to get? Lps? Sps? Acropora?

04/28/2016, 12:30 PM	#7
WWIII Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 158	I'd say to let it go down naturally on its own and test your freshly made saltwater. If that salt is mixing near 13 dkh I would consider getting a different salt and dosing calcium/alkalinity/magnesium as needed. First thing is to get a second opinion on the test. Either different test kit or go to your fish store and have them test it.

04/28/2016, 02:48 PM	#8
spdjnky Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Schenectady,NY Posts: 165	The only thing I can attribute it to is the Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium I used as far as the test I'm using the red sea one and I hate it because Im not sure of the color change

04/28/2016, 02:50 PM	#9
spdjnky Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Schenectady,NY Posts: 165	As far as corals go Im liking LPS more but new to everything

04/28/2016, 05:30 PM	#10
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Check this out. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php HTH.

04/28/2016, 06:22 PM	#11
spdjnky Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Schenectady,NY Posts: 165	Thx what test do u use

04/28/2016, 07:14 PM	#12
WWIII Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 158	I use red sea test. Usually when it starts to change colors it only takes me another couple "drops" to get it to turn completely red. So as it starts to turn red I add a little bit more to make it completely red. Then I take the number in between that range. My alkalinity is 10 dkh so it starts to change at .70 ml and is completely red at .72 ml. .70 ml is 9.8 dkh and .72 ml is 10.1 so I just call it 10. The end color should be pretty much red when you're done. I personally think red sea alkalinity test is a decent one. If it takes you a whole syringe to reach the endpoint color of red I'd say your alkalinity is definitely a little high. I would suggest water changes to lower it, but test a freshly made batch of saltwater to see what that alkalinity reading is.

04/28/2016, 08:30 PM	#13
spdjnky Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Schenectady,NY Posts: 165	It just makes me wonder or use a TM only once before and didn't have any trouble with the alkalinity I have just changed 32 gallons last week and my alkalinity was 11 so everything was fine