I need help with low alkalinity.

WhiteTang · 07/04/2014, 10:08 AM

Hello everyone!

I did some water test today and i saw that my alkalinity is very low.
What could be causing this? and how can I bring it within normal levels?
For reference here are some all the water parameters:

salinity: 1.025
temp: 26°C
ammonia: 0
nitrites: 0
nitrates: 0
PH: 8,2
Ca: 400 ppm
Mg: 1460 ppm
Alk: 89,3 ppm (5 dKH or 1,79 meq/L)

swk · 07/04/2014, 10:26 AM

Seems strange with your mag and calcium at the level that they are to have alk that low. Sure the test was correct? Did you check it again, or with a different test kit?

triggreef · 07/04/2014, 10:31 AM

doesn't seem strange at all. Depending on inhabitants it gets used up fast. Maybe time for a 2 part dosing system. makes life easy as long as you remember to make sure you dont run out.

WhiteTang · 07/04/2014, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggreef

doesn't seem strange at all. Depending on inhabitants it gets used up fast. Maybe time for a 2 part dosing system. makes life easy as long as you remember to make sure you dont run out.

I did some research and It looks like I need something like this:
Seachem Reef Carbonate (for alkalinity)
Seachem Reef Complete (for calcium)

What would you suggest?

JMorris271 · 07/04/2014, 12:46 PM

KalK

07/04/2014, 10:08 AM	#1
WhiteTang Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 435	I need help with low alkalinity. Hello everyone! I did some water test today and i saw that my alkalinity is very low. What could be causing this? and how can I bring it within normal levels? For reference here are some all the water parameters: salinity: 1.025 temp: 26°C ammonia: 0 nitrites: 0 nitrates: 0 PH: 8,2 Ca: 400 ppm Mg: 1460 ppm Alk: 89,3 ppm (5 dKH or 1,79 meq/L)

07/04/2014, 10:26 AM	#2
swk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wine Country CA Posts: 2,593	Seems strange with your mag and calcium at the level that they are to have alk that low. Sure the test was correct? Did you check it again, or with a different test kit? __________________ Member of Wine Country Reefers Current Tank Info: 75 gal SPS dominant reef. Geo calcium reactor with masterflex pump, Deltec 1455 skimmer, 2 mp40QD, mp10wes, lit by a 6x54 dimable ATI sunpower and controlled by Reef Angel

07/04/2014, 10:31 AM	#3
triggreef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Hampton, CT Posts: 2,917	doesn't seem strange at all. Depending on inhabitants it gets used up fast. Maybe time for a 2 part dosing system. makes life easy as long as you remember to make sure you dont run out. __________________ 200g DD Marineland. Acro and monti heavy with some birdsnest, LPS, and zoas. 125g FOWLR

07/04/2014, 12:46 PM	#5
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	KalK