dKH Question

weeftard · 03/10/2010, 12:53 PM

well, it looks like the search function is down, can any one give me a short and sweet version on how to bring down my dkh? im a little high at 12 and want it around 9 or ten.

Sugar Magnolia · 03/10/2010, 01:06 PM

Best way to accomplish this is by doing water changes. 20% or so every week until the number comes down. What kind of salt are you using? How old is the tank?

Michael · 03/10/2010, 01:07 PM

what salt are you using?

if it has not got a dkh level as high as you are measuring then stop dosing alk and water changes will lower it, if the salt has high params then you could swap salts.

weeftard · 03/10/2010, 01:12 PM

Yea see heres the thing lol i'm doing weekly w/c and its not budgeing, i beleive the salt is seachem. tanks been running for 3 months but i think its the culpret in my difficulty with frogspawn and hammer tissue loss. im just wondering if theres a way to lower it with out lowering ph

weeftard · 03/10/2010, 01:13 PM

yea i havent dosed alk since i started the tank months ago. its gota be the salt !

Sugar Magnolia · 03/10/2010, 01:14 PM

Have you been doing weekly cleaning of any mechanical filtration like hob filters, skimmer, etc? Trapped detritus in these things can cause elevated nitrates.

weeftard · 03/10/2010, 01:18 PM

My skimmer gets dirty quick so i clean it at the very least once a week. My filter pads, i look at as one time use, once their dirty i trash them its not worth the hassle to clean them.

Sugar Magnolia · 03/10/2010, 01:20 PM

Okay, but have you removed the mechanical filtration and cleaned it? Just removing the filter pads doesn't get the detritus that settles on the bottom. Take a quick look in there and see how much gunk is settled. I take mine off the tank monthly and give it a good rinse with hot water.

weeftard · 03/10/2010, 01:30 PM

i clean the collection cup with hot water like you stated, once a week, my filter pads for my wet dry get replaced once a week. i dont see any build up in the sump or the skimmer. Im thinking the salt has to have a high dkh, my ro water is soft as it should be no dkh at all.

weeftard · 03/10/2010, 02:19 PM

So i guess thats all there is to it, switch salts. any sugestions on which to go with?

Madratter · 03/10/2010, 03:26 PM

Another possibility is your source water. If you aren't using RO/DI water but are using tap or well water then that can have enough hardness to get the levels way up there once you add salt.

If that is what it is, changing salt probably won't help you much.

weeftard · 03/10/2010, 03:55 PM

I use my own ro water. any idea on what salt has a low dkh?

submersible · 03/10/2010, 07:56 PM

Have you tested the water change water?

Michael · 03/11/2010, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weeftard

So i guess thats all there is to it, switch salts. any sugestions on which to go with?

tropic marin pro plus is around 8 dkh, and a pretty good salt

weeftard · 03/11/2010, 06:39 AM

well i went out and bought oceanic salt, the dkh was 10 so im happy with that and the stuff disolves in mins. it was crazy! but on a more depressing note, my fire shrimp died last night after being in the tank a month and a half. i atribute it to the dkh swing. im going to try and get every thing stable and where i want it befor getting another shrimp

Michael · 03/11/2010, 07:25 AM

apparently thats a great salt, probably a good choice, best of luck.

mike

weeftard · 03/11/2010, 08:58 AM

I appreciate your help mike.

w16227 · 03/11/2010, 10:47 AM

Reef dkh ranges can be 7-12 with little ill affects (just keep it stable) - so this is most likely not the root cause of any stress on the corals.

Same with the shrimp. Check the "shell" --- might just be a molt (shrimp tend to hide after a molt).

If you continue to have coral issues- post all the relevant information that you have. Give us all test results and how you tested for them. Post your tank size and equipment. Post your livestock - including other corals.

An example - the corals may be having an issue with ammonia and/or nitrate. High nitrate can be caused by your canister filter. Canister filters have their place in some tanks - but in reef tanks they can cause high nitrates unless they are cleaned regularly (full clean - not just replacing the media).

good luck

weeftard · 03/11/2010, 04:11 PM

Well im sure it wasnt a molt he did molt three times. There is no sign of ammonia in the tank, i dont run a canister filter for fear of starting a nitrate factory. Im putting every thing on hold untill every thing is in check as far as dkh.

03/10/2010, 12:53 PM	#1
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	dKH Question well, it looks like the search function is down, can any one give me a short and sweet version on how to bring down my dkh? im a little high at 12 and want it around 9 or ten.

03/10/2010, 01:06 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Best way to accomplish this is by doing water changes. 20% or so every week until the number comes down. What kind of salt are you using? How old is the tank? __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

03/10/2010, 01:07 PM	#3
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	what salt are you using? if it has not got a dkh level as high as you are measuring then stop dosing alk and water changes will lower it, if the salt has high params then you could swap salts. __________________ 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)

03/10/2010, 01:14 PM	#6
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Have you been doing weekly cleaning of any mechanical filtration like hob filters, skimmer, etc? Trapped detritus in these things can cause elevated nitrates. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

03/10/2010, 01:20 PM	#8
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Okay, but have you removed the mechanical filtration and cleaned it? Just removing the filter pads doesn't get the detritus that settles on the bottom. Take a quick look in there and see how much gunk is settled. I take mine off the tank monthly and give it a good rinse with hot water. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

03/10/2010, 01:12 PM	#4
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	Yea see heres the thing lol i'm doing weekly w/c and its not budgeing, i beleive the salt is seachem. tanks been running for 3 months but i think its the culpret in my difficulty with frogspawn and hammer tissue loss. im just wondering if theres a way to lower it with out lowering ph

03/10/2010, 01:13 PM	#5
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	yea i havent dosed alk since i started the tank months ago. its gota be the salt !

03/10/2010, 01:18 PM	#7
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	My skimmer gets dirty quick so i clean it at the very least once a week. My filter pads, i look at as one time use, once their dirty i trash them its not worth the hassle to clean them.

03/10/2010, 01:30 PM	#9
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	i clean the collection cup with hot water like you stated, once a week, my filter pads for my wet dry get replaced once a week. i dont see any build up in the sump or the skimmer. Im thinking the salt has to have a high dkh, my ro water is soft as it should be no dkh at all.

03/10/2010, 02:19 PM	#10
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	So i guess thats all there is to it, switch salts. any sugestions on which to go with?

03/10/2010, 03:26 PM	#11
Madratter Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 223	Another possibility is your source water. If you aren't using RO/DI water but are using tap or well water then that can have enough hardness to get the levels way up there once you add salt. If that is what it is, changing salt probably won't help you much.

03/10/2010, 03:55 PM	#12
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	I use my own ro water. any idea on what salt has a low dkh?

03/10/2010, 07:56 PM	#13
submersible Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brandon, FL Posts: 317	Have you tested the water change water?

03/11/2010, 06:39 AM	#15
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	well i went out and bought oceanic salt, the dkh was 10 so im happy with that and the stuff disolves in mins. it was crazy! but on a more depressing note, my fire shrimp died last night after being in the tank a month and a half. i atribute it to the dkh swing. im going to try and get every thing stable and where i want it befor getting another shrimp

03/11/2010, 07:25 AM	#16
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	apparently thats a great salt, probably a good choice, best of luck. mike __________________ 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)

03/11/2010, 08:58 AM	#17
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	I appreciate your help mike.

03/11/2010, 10:47 AM	#18
w16227 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: chicago Burbs Posts: 479	Reef dkh ranges can be 7-12 with little ill affects (just keep it stable) - so this is most likely not the root cause of any stress on the corals. Same with the shrimp. Check the "shell" --- might just be a molt (shrimp tend to hide after a molt). If you continue to have coral issues- post all the relevant information that you have. Give us all test results and how you tested for them. Post your tank size and equipment. Post your livestock - including other corals. An example - the corals may be having an issue with ammonia and/or nitrate. High nitrate can be caused by your canister filter. Canister filters have their place in some tanks - but in reef tanks they can cause high nitrates unless they are cleaned regularly (full clean - not just replacing the media). good luck __________________ call me "w" - easier to remember Current Tank Info: 125g All Glass rr, 50g sump/fuge, RKE, T5 Retrofit Lights, Deltec Turbo Skimmer, PM Kalk Reactor

03/11/2010, 04:11 PM	#19
weeftard Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 111	Well im sure it wasnt a molt he did molt three times. There is no sign of ammonia in the tank, i dont run a canister filter for fear of starting a nitrate factory. Im putting every thing on hold untill every thing is in check as far as dkh.